Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-08

Il lTsb Ddptlhb OHuTCIl, CODuuCt6u u6FO-
| tional exercises at the County Instit.
ute yesterday morning. The attend
| anoe of teachers remained the same,
| all being present except two.
The morning session brought for
ward a new speaker in the person of
Professor r. M. McNeal of Harris
burg, who gave a most excellent and
practical talk on the subject of "The
Nature Of the Teaching Process. " The
teacher, lie said, is often disappointed
because she fails to obtain at the
County Institute instruction that will
enable her to cope with individual
cases in the school room. whether in
point of teaching or discipline. She
makes the mistake by trying to en-
the intellect, the soul and the spirit
to deal with. The teacher is an artist
who should labor with an ideal, work
ing from underlying principles and
making method and rule secondary to
the mental process. At the same time
the speaker would not have the teach
er under value method and devices in
teaching, all of which have their prop
er places. and are of use just as the
tools in the hands of the sculptor aid
him in bringing out his ideal in mar
BILE. The artist, however, in working
out his ideals will select none but per.
feet material-marble without flaw.
Tie teacher on the other hand must
take such material as comes to her
hands: none of the children are per-
feet aud many are marked by the scars
of he edity. She has harder task
than the artist. The latter, however,
is handling dead material and the
blemishes that exist in the rough Inar-
ble,i if any, will be visible in the finish
ed work, while the teacher IS dealing
with spirit, which grows and develops,
and the flaws of mind and heart which
she finds in the child when it comes
to her hand under proper teaching may
be modified or removed. The speaker
carried the thought much further Civ
ing expression to many beautiful con-
ceptions.
Immediately after intermission Miss
Bennetts rendered solo" Madeline"
in excellent style, Miss Weiss ao-
oompanying on the piano.
Professor Albert continued his sub
ject of Tuesday forenoon" Underlying
Principles" Beginning with mo
tive.' he passed on successively to
"choice, " action" "habit," all of
which form character" which in
turn is "life." When boys violate the
rules of the school grounds try to dis
cover the motive which moved them
in many instances the motive will not
be found to be a bad one and punish
ment would be out of place. 1t is the
business OF the teacher to try to create
motive of the right sort. The talk
proved fine lesson on the laws of the
mind, principles of education, methods
of teaching and devices in teaching.
Poor memory often exists because
we have not clear conception be-
cause we have not learned to attend.
Memory is good or bad according to
our ability to get percepts. Attention
IN turn depends upon interest. Thus
We are apt to remember the details of
frightful accident or great tragedy
because we read the accounts with un-
divided interest.
Scarcely two teachers are alike. In
the institute the speaker saw the
phlegmatic, the bilious and the ner.
vous temperaments. Methods adapted
to one of these could not be used with
advantage by the others. Results should
be demanded of the teachers, but they
should be permitted to teach in their
own way to accomplish them.
Yesterday afternoon Hon. F. O.
Bowersox, of Snyder county. gave the
teachers a good practical talk on ger
eral subjects. Mr.. Bowersox is school
man himself, and he knows how tosget
into touch with the teachers, and what
to say that will interest and help them.
George Eggert rendered a solo. which
pleased the teachers very much.
Professor Albert gave talk on
MAP Drawing-What? How? aud
When?'' Professor R. M. McNeal gave
fine address on "Schonl Govern
ment.'