Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-08-17

NsHtu ON MOnuay, Aug. 10 at lH.lo
o clock. The exercises have been open-
ed each day by music, Miss Inez BOYER
presiding at the piano and Prof. Dodd
leading the singing.
The devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Dunsway of the Bap-
fist church on Monday.
Miss Lille Catrow and c. w. Mil
Ter were made secretaries.
The instructors are DIR. Henry K.
Sanford, of Albany n. Y. and Mrs.
Adah Dodd Ponce of Dayton, Ohio.
The morning session was devoted to
enrolling teachers distributing pio-
grams and to Introductory talks 10y the
instructors.
DIR. Sanford spoke first in the after
noon on primary reading. He thinks
children can learn words of more than
one syllable in the first year. They
should learn TO read the words they
use in talking. Have words on board
ard erase at stroke sitter they have
been pronounced. Work rapidly and
drill in quick sight reading.
Mr.. A. J. Wilkinson of Graft on dis
cussed one feature of the teachers
grade sheet, He objected to a teacher
marking pupil as, good, bad, dull,
etc, on this grade sheet for his sue
cessor. He thought this was likely TO
prejudice the succeeding teacher.
At $50 Mrs. Ponce discussed the
philosophy of perseverance, reciting
extracts from Burns, Poe, and Paul
Lawrence Dunbar the negro poet, tn
bore upon her subject.
Tuesday, Aug. IA: After singing
prayer was offered by Rev. A. u. VIII
son of the u. b. church.
DR.. Sanford discussed educational
papers, saying that teachers could not
keep upwith their profession unless
they read school journals. He thought
few journals were worth full readii
but several were necessary that the
teacher might get what ideas he need
ed.
Mr.. Thunhurst of Pittsburg next
discussed the teaching of geography.
This subject has given many Of our
teachers much trouble and all appre-
ciated this talk. He told the teachers
how to read pictures and get the mean
ing; how to imagine mountains and
valleys; how to tell slopes by the map.
He advised giving several lessons on
slopes and streams, and the relation
of each TO the other Still other lessons
should be given TO teach soils, coarse
and fine.
Three fourths eff the time devoted to
geography should be used in teaching
pupils how to study. Four reasons for
teaching cities and towns were as fol-
lows: educational centres, manufac-
turing centres, trade centres aud gov
ernmental towns. After careful teach
ing of the first 30 or 40 pages of gee
graphy he would give 10 per cent of
the time in writing out the geography
of certain district and drill carefully
afterward.
DIR. Sanford followed with plea for
broad minded teaching of arithmetic.
Permit individual methods when no
essential is concerned
Mrs. Ponce followed with de.
scription of her journey across the
great American desert to California.
She described the Columbia river as be-
ing IL to 35 miles wide and 800 to 1900
feet deep. Not all large trees are in
Yosemite Valley. She found them al
along the Pacific slope. She next dis
cussed literature and told how to study
a masterpiece. A few should be read
and studied till they become a part OF
us. This will give us the key to the
others. Many people read from a
gambling spirit. CANT lers don't
gamble solely for money but for the
uncertainty which produces fascina-
ton. "keep a "thoughtn book in
which to copy the best thoughts of
masterpiece. Keep sword" book in
which to write all strange words. Pre-
nounce new word fifteen or more
times. A proper study of this "word"
book will increase the vocabulary and
give smoothness to the speech. I
At l. 30 Mrs. Ponce continued, talk
ing on books. The first books were
tablets of stone, then followed scrolls
papyrous and parchment. q
DR.. Sanford followed with general
discussion of the cultivation of hear
ing and sight. He gave many inter
esting iIlu STATIONS.