West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-08-24
TEACHERS INSTITUTE
Being Held at Terra Alta this Week
Full Report or the Proceedings

The institute was called to order
at II O'Clock Monday morning by
Supt. Carrico who also conducted
the devotional exercise.
Miss Nettie Herndon acted as
organist.
After brief opening speech the
superintendent introduced Miss Su-
san F. Chase of the normal school
at Buffalo, N. Y. She expressed the
hope that there would be a nearness
of feeling between the institute and
herself. Miss Chase has a very
pleasant manner.
DR.. {. w. Dean of Bridgeport,
Conn, an instructor of last year,
was called forward and gave short,
prepossessine talk.
Prof. u. S. Fleming, the newly
elected principal of the Fairmont
Normal, followed with a reminis-
cent talk, mentioning persons who
had gone to school to him at King
WOOD and Masontown about 30
years ago. Prof. Fleming is a vet
eran educator, having an experience
of 3S years. He is pleasantly re-
membered by several of our older
teachers and his appearance was
roundly cheered.
Our State superintendent was next
called on. He said that while West
Virginia is great in its material de-
velopment, the welfare of the public
schools has not been keeping step
with the general march. He point
ed out some civic duties in which
teachers could lend a helping hand,
and he urged them to be faithful IN
this school work.
Enrolment blanks were distribut.
ed for signing in Ink during the noon
recess.
The session closed with the famil-
lar ''West Virginia Hills"
At 1910 p. m. the institute recon-
vened and Mr.W. II. Hartman and
Miss Rosa M. Barnes were named
as secretaries.
The enrolment blanks were taken
up amid a buzz of low voices, a
clinklng of silver coin, and the rust
ling of one dollar bills.
Miss Chase talked interestingly
on the first day of school, lllustrat-
ing her points by lengthy quota
ton from the pedagogical treatise,
clean MitchelPs School,"
After recess, DR.. Dean talked
on school organization. He spoke
of the injury to pupils of being put
back whole grade because deficient
in only single branch, and declar-
ed that a school should be organized
with the individual in mind and not
the class as a whole. He does not
favor teaching much arithmetic to
the lowest grades. In writing, a
single exercise a week can be made
sufficient. He recommends giving
one day week to a special program.
Each study should be taught gener.
ally at some particular time and in
cidentslly at all times. He thinks
three classes in arithmetic, three In
geography, and four in reading are
enough Spelling should come be-
fore the morning recess. In the
morning, arithmetic should precede
recess. The four periods into which
the school day divides itself should
be given to arithmetic, geography
and history language study, and
reading, in the order named. There
need not be a recitation on every
subject for every day of the week.
! Supt. Miller, now taking the floor,
said the school laws are conradic.
tory in places and need revision.
lie said our State leads some Others
in providing a regular course Of stu
dY for the common schools, although
the system is not yet what it needs
to be. Pupils should not be dis
couraged by being put back for want
OF proper grading. The centraliza.
ton Of country schools should be
encouraged. II will lead the way
to more high schools. At present,
country pupils have but one half the
opportunity enjoyed by those in
towns. One-fourlh Of the school
enumeration Of the State is not en-.
rolled in the common schools, al
though 5000 can be accounted for
| by their attending in other schools.
| lie closed by calling attention to
the good which may come TO a com.
munitY by putting into the country
schools such papers as Country
| Life in America"
Prof Fleming spoke in behalf Of
the Fairmont Normal and Of higher
education generally. RE pointed
] crf tbat la d.. lies II o. o---.-....