The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1905-11-08
TEACHERS ANNUAL INSTITUTE.
Proceedings Of the Meetings Held In
Marienyille, Oct. 80 to Nov. 3.


The Annual Institute of the teachers Of
Forest County was held in Marienville,
Pa, last week, and was the most success
ful ever held in the county. Supt. d. w.
Morrison spared no time or expense in
securing the best talent for day instruct
ors and high class attractions for the eve-
ming entertainments. He showed his
confidence in his teachers by dispensing
with the time tickets. That this was ap-
preciated was very clearly shown by the
regular attendance of the teachers and
their intense interest during all the ses-
sions. The day instructors were DR.. ].
George Becht, Miss Cora M. Hamilton,
DR.. George 2. Bible and Prof. A. j.
Mooney.
DR.. Becht's first address was on the
subject of Live Teachers and Living
Teaching" A fter description and con-
trasting the dead teacher with the live
and living teacher, the speaker discussed
Dayidson's principle that every rational
scheme Of eduction is determined by an
aim or ideal more or less consciously set
up. Illustrations from practical work
we're given to show how in the lowest
forms of school activity this principle OBJ
tains. To keep alive IL is necessary for
the teacher, first, to make daily prepara-
ton of what he is to teach, and secondly,
to read or study some matter aside from
the daily work, in order that he may not
narrow too much. In the second and
third periods Rational Discipline" was
discussed. A contrast was given between
ancient and modern methods. The old
system meant repression and blind obe-
dience. That ideal grew not out of the
needs of the child but was rather relig-
ious conviction than an educational one.
Play is an important element in child's
life and should be directed, not repressed.
The critical time OF discipline is during
the period of adolescence. At this time
the body grows so rapidly and we are apt
to misunderstood the attitude fthe child. |
The teacher should be sympathetic and
keep in mind this fact: That the imme-
diate motive of discipline is order, but
that the highest motive is to develop char
acter. Habit in Education" was dis
cussed, followed by discussion of "The
Study of Geographical Names" Many |
traditional theories and legends were
given to show what history and tradition |
may be found in a geographical name.
In "A Page of Pennsylvania History"
he showed the magnitude of Pennsylva-
MAS educational system, the difficulties |
encountered in establishing it, and our
duty as teachers and school officers to |
support its influence. A high tribute was
paid to Thaddeus Stevens, the great COM
moner. whose speech in the Legislature
saved the public free school system. The
closing address was general resume of
the weeks work. The speaker discussed, |
as matter of local interest, the free
scholarships available for Forest county |
pupils at the Clarion Normal School. He |
spoke of the generous benefaction and |
dwelt particularly upon the lesson that it
serves. The donor, unwilling to have his
identity disclosed, had furnished an ex-
ample of true giving. In conclusion, the |
teachers were urged to consecrate them
selves to their work and to magnify the |
profession of which they are part. He |
the opinion that the institute
was one of the very best he had ever at
tended and congratulated the Superin.
tendent and the teachers on the success
full outlook for the schools of the county.
Miss Hamilton in her talk on the "Pur-
poses of the Primary School," gave as its
purpose to make the pupils interpreters
OF life. Only small fraction of what a
child learns is learned at school and then
only by very unnatural methods. The |
natural method is by observation and the
asking of questions on the part of the
pupil. When child comes to school he
has vocabulary of from 500 to 800 words.
1t is the teachers work to get the child to
recognize these words in a new form
that is-change the learning through
hearing to learning through seeing. En-
large this until it becomes working vo-
cabulary. In her talk on Primary Read
ing she said the power of imaging is an
important factor and must be taught in
the primary school. The teacher must
not forget that the pupil has rights and
that it is the teachers business to furnish
the right material for their proper growth.
Story telling is the teachers ally in teach
ing. AS the aim in teaching Primary
she said, "Teach the child an
effective use of the English language"
The aim of the teacher is to prevent mis-
takes in language instead of correcting
them. In her talk on Number Study in
Primary Grades, Miss Hamilton said that
too much time is spent on figures, too
little on real thought. In her talk on
Seat Work she said that very little study
can be done below the fifth grade. The
child must be given seat work that will
result in growth and practical livable pro-
ducts. The child must be taught to be
producer rather than consumer.
DR.. Bible, in his first talk, spoke on the
oral expression of Literature and Adj
vanced Reading. There are many chill
dren who are often more easily interested
in a selection or an author by hearing the
teacher give correct and pleasing rem
dition of a selection than from the purely
literary analysis. The pupil should have
a good example in the teacher. For this
reason the teachers should practice oral
reading and frequently read to their pu-
pills. Expression is the most effective
way of giving out sentiment and our best