Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-12-07

| tl Stts ouO w w q thihB ~ 40 6oAA6 ~
be accomplished. So long as the pupils
trust the teacher they can be led any
where.
The first and the last period of the
afternoon were occupied by DR.. Wall
er. Professor 7. S. Lowden spoke on
Effective and Ineffective Teaching. "
@. @. Ritter rendered vocal solo
with Miss Ida Sechler at the piano. A
piano duet was also rendered by Miss
Viola Rishol and Pearl Fenstermaoher.
The proceedings of the teachers In
stitute this year possess a general in
terest. The attendance is uniformly
good, among those present, in addition
to practically the full complement OF
J teachers, being large number OF our
townspeople, who are not identified
/ with the schools. The proceedings yes
I terday were especially fine, culminat-
ing with an address from the teachers'
old favorite. Deputy State Superin.
tendent Henry Houck.
Mr. Houck occupied the very last
period of the afternoon. His visit to
| Danvlle was the first in some ten
years. The veteran instructor has aged
considerably, but in spirit and manner
he is as young as ever. his handshake
is Just as magnetic and his laugh has
the old-time merry ring. The welcome
accorded him by the teachers, who fire..
| -, with hitv, In
the past, was a demonstrative one, and
at the same time heartfelt and SIM
cere
In his address tile deputy State sup
reintendent made no attempt to i'm.
part instruction along any we'll defin.
ed line. His talk, however, was an
old fashioned, characteristic effort. ser.
ious and mirth producing by turns.
which revealed the mans sympathetic
nature, and his varied experiences In
affairs that relate to the school room.
The special music yesterday, as on
Tuesday was feature that added
much to the pleasure of the institute.
Edward Shoevlin rendered a piano
solo. A vocal solo entitled, "Thora"
was rendered by George Eggert Miss
Mary Jenkins rendered a piano solo.
entitled, Home Sweet Home," which
pleased the teachers so much that she
was encored. During the singing by
the institute Will L. Suter accompani-
ed the piano on the cornet.
Professor T. S. Lowden occupied
two periods with his spirited and char
acteristic talks. His theme In the fore
noon was, Teaching Children to
Think" He took most advanced
ground, holding to views which clash
ed somewhat with prevailing ideas.
His object was to show that the course
of study in schools should be careful
ly graded to conform with the gradual
development of the child's mind.
He deduced the principle that the
child must have physical development.
which implies brain growth, before
there can be any moral or mental de-
velopment This brain growth is not
attained until about the age of twelve
years. The employment of children in
factories during this period of growth.
the speaker held, is crime against
the child. 1t shuts the boy or girl OF
from the sunshine, the pure air, the
freedom and play that belongs to that
period of life and prevents brain
growth, without which mental and
moral development is slow.
Researches show that in England
workmen increase in efficiency from
the age of IS to 81 years, from 81 to
40 years they seem to remain the same
but after the latter age they decline
very rapidly. 1t is shown that among
the educated classes in the same coun-
try there is an increase in efficiency
to the age of 5s and there is no per.
ceptible decrease until the age OF 65.
The obvious conclusion is that un-
der the industrial conditions in Eng
land the children of the working olass-
es are obliged to labor at an early age
and thus their brain growth and ply.
sical development is retarded with Ill
effects that follow through life.
The work of the school room should
be suited to the age of the child. The
child during the period of growth
should be given memory gems, spell
ing and things purely mechanical.
Difficult problems, even those involv-
ing percentage and interest are out OF
place during this period, although this
inh nf
schools offend.
| Professor Lose, superintendent OF
the Williamsport schools, made his
| first appearance before the institute
Yesterday forenoon, his subject being.
Modern Tendencies in the Teaching
| of Reading. " Superintendent Lose has
had twenty years experience in sup
ervising the work of teachers and ne
brought to the institute some very
practical ideas.
During his talk he emphasized the
importance of supplementary reading IN
schools. As at present arranged in
many districts from the first grade to
| the high school the child uses sixty
different books. This gives the pupils
a good reading vocabulary-theyl learn
to pronounce large number OF words
many more than when confined TO
the regular series adoptded. In sup.
Elementary reading the pupil becomes
acquainted with the worlds great
masterpieces. Only good classical lit
erature is desirable for supplementary
reading. Nature books and books on
geography should not be selected for
this purpose. The regular series OF
reading books Will always have