Durango semi-weekly herald., 1906-02-12
La PLATA
TEACHERS
MEETING

tendants have manifested marked
degree of interest. Mr., Moody deIiv.
cred an interesting address on educa-
tional work and was followed by Mrs
o. u. Sarber. with discussion OF
the relation of the home 10 the
school. dwelling on the subject OF tru-
ancy and offering some practical sus-
gestions for minimizing the tendency
TO be truant. Mrs. Sarber discussed
the value OF Judge I.indsey's juvenile
court at Denver and it may be well
for Durango 10 undertake TO better
facilitate a juvenile court.
Mr. T. s. Parsons addressed tne
meeting on science or nature study
giving some practical ideas founded
upon experience and observation.
Mr. Edward Wells OF the CONNER
cla department. created much inter
est with his suggestions. Miss Ade-
laide' Mcclure. teacher of music, was
to have delivered an address this al
ternoon. bu; having been sick several
days, was unable to prepare her sub-
ject.
by County Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Rosepha Pulford, taking as her
subject one suggested by the pres
ence of Mrs. Shedlock at the
teachers meeting in Denver, regard
ing the art of telling stories to chill
dren:
|. When the Colorado teachers heard
that Miss Marie Shedlock of London,
England was to address them al the
state association a great deal of curl
osity was expressed as to who she
was. We found that she had been
professional teller of stories in
England and France for many years;
that only during the last fifteen years
had she devoted herself to the educa
| tiona side OF the work and with mar
velous success. When. however, this
tiny. white-halred lady came on the
platform. with ner dainty princess
dress of soft. pale green: that large
waited; before she had said dozen
words we felt as If we. were all chill
dren and Just about to listen to the
most interesting story by the most
delightful of fairy godmothers. That
Is what the children in England call
her: but to me she seemed a most
! perfect little Martha Washington.
What she told MS has so stirred
the teachers that | hear the Teachers
club of Denver has arranged for a
/ return course of six lectures to be
given In March.
She first told us tnat all art is ex-
pensive George Eliot said the same
thing when she defined genius as "a
capacity for hard work" SO finished
is Miss. Sbedlock's own art that like
all true art il causes one TO forget
the artist.
Some OF the points she made are
quite as useful to the mother as to
the teacher.
she first advises us that in telling
a story we should get into the story
as quickly as possible"
A certain judge became much wear
led by. n young lawyer who practicec
before hiln..' When the young man
began. Since the dawn of creation
the jallge mildly interrupted him by
saying. Would you just as soon pass
on. to.the .deluge?"
In telling a story be careful where
you stop for description. In telling
the story of Ulysses and Polyphemus,
after telling about the Cyclops, Miss
Snedjock said she paused to describe
| Ulysses. one tiny boy on the front
seat wiggled about and finally un-
able to wait any longer, interrupted
| her, Please" he said, won't you
tell us If they killed Polly or not?"
Do not protect children from what
they already know. We are apt %
! knowledge when it is only innocent
Of evil. Never twist the truth be
cause you fear the child may get a
knowledge of sin Miss Snedlock told
! of the careful way in which she told
the story of Helen of Troy to school.
Then 'she gave us the reproduction
OF the lesson by small boy, in
\ which he stated in the most open
way. Men should not run Off witn
| other mems wives: and SO the Greeks
Followed and stood around Troy elev.
en- years, when they sat down In a
wooden horse and went into the city,"
Miss. .SheHock was telling this to
granddaughter of Lonefellow's. who
remarked that she should think If
they had stood for eleven years they
would be'glad TO sit down anywhere,
even in a wooden horse.
Avoid asking questions while tell
ing children a story. You remember
III the "rribulations of Philip" how
the lady member of the school board
addressed the kindergarten:
Dear children, which | came out of
my house .lh1s morning, what do you
think saw in my front yard?"
Children-"A lion."
NO, of codrse not"
Children&"A fsh?"
How could there be live Ash In
my front. ,yaI?".
Chtldlen."A dead one"
mo. mo- there was kitten. Now
az the kitten crossed the yard she
emma In a .tuay ,,i,t,y N.u, ,,,h.,