Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-04-19
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION

! The third regular meeting Of the Giouces-
ter County Teachers Association was held
! in the Court House last Saturday. AT the
morning session eighty per cent Of the
teachers OF the county were present, while
only so per cent. were in attendance at the
afternoon session.
The session was opened by reading a
chapter Of scripture by Prof. Hartman, Of
Magnolia, who also lead in the Lords Pray
Ier.
Secretary Handle read the minutes Of the
last meeting.
Prof Twitmyer, Superintendent OF the
public schools of Wilmington, Delaware
who has charge Of 800 teachers and $4,000
pupils was the first speaker. He was a
rapid talker and his thoughts covered wide
range Of the teaching profession, the points OF
which tended TO impress on the teachers the
seriousness Of their task. Teachers troubles
Frequently arose from not understanding
their community, or the community not
understanding them, /" be said. There never
! was a time in The history Of education
when there was better understanding OF
the teachers problems and a generous spirit
toward them than now; more money is
spent and greater things are expected. One
cannot reckon the labor of teachers in
dollars and cents, because their labor is one
of the spiritual forces. Keeping school and
teaching school are two different things.
The hand Of ancestry lays hands on us to
improve our great opportunities. There is
1 better work in our schools than at any
other period, and better teaching than there
ever was. You are under obligations to
put better work into the school room than
you ever did.
Teaching methods have improved, and
| teaching isn't so hard as it used to be-
Scholars are not studying language but be-
ing taught what language is. The best
teacher is not the one who is solving the
hard problems for her boys and girls, but
but teaching them how to solye them them
selves, and seeing that they do it.
Teaching is begetting in the boys and
girls the same mental, moral and spiritual
movements that are in the teacher-buildlng
character in those in whom you come in
hcontaet.
| 1.-THE Recitation was the theme Of an
intensely practical lecture by Alexander
Forbes, Of Mt Holly. "The Recitation is
the teachers opportunity for instructions, ;"
he said.
We quote few of his declarations:
Teachers who deal in words susceptible
of double meaning, may be sure the bad
construction is placed on them.
The teacher must appear before her class
without book if the scholar is denied one.
She loses the dignity Of her position in the
use Of the book.
The question given should contain no
part Of the answer, the child should have no
help from the question.
a well skilled teacher will never give a
question until she have the attention of the
whole class; you cannot have this if you
have book in your hand.
The child should GO into the class reason
ably prepared to answer every question in
the lesson.
The purpose of the recitation is 1st, To
test the fidelity Of the child.
Rule out curious questions and stick to
the text.
I'd. To test the comprehension Of the
child
The child may think he knows, but it is
your duty to know that he knows.
Condemn only when necessary.
Commend at every opportunity.
Encourage children to ask questions.
Is the child glad to stay away from
school, then be assured it is due to a lack
Of preparation or Of interest in the conduct
OF the recitation.
In matters Of discipline Mr.. Forbs said:
1.-The child never respects the teacher who
gives him his own way" !"
Give every child an opportunity to take
part be heard.
The child has no business to ask to have
question repeated; no child in the State
/ is good enough to have questions repeated
to it.
Have your questions in the order Of the
subject.
Every lesson should end with some nm
solved question.
! Supervising Principal Burns, Of Pauls-
4 bo~r rood n ;nrkruet;va r,ar,or a,, ftClrf7ar