West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-08-30
PRESTON PEDAGOGUES.
Annual Convention Held Al Terra
Alta Last Week.
ny oREN rcKpKR,cK MORTON.

The Teachers Institute for tn,
current year convened at Terra Alta
on the morning OF Monday the Goth
Toward the close Of the forenoon,
the telescopes and suit cases had
found resting places and the gath.
ering clans had begun to climb the
stairway of the high school to make
the auditorium vocal with the hum
OF animated conversation.
About 10 O'Clock, Mr.. A. w.
Carrico, our energetic county SUI
perintendent beat rat-a.tat with
his pencil, and there was general
dropping into seats, a placing OF
hats and umbrellas, and turning
OF faces toward the music box on
the farther side of the platform.
The distribution of blanks and
notebooks and the collection Of the
same was according to PROF. San
ford's plan and was speedily ac.
complished. Within little more
than half an hour the collectors had
made the round and their pockets
were bulging with one dollar bills
and silver cartwheels.
Rev. ]. b. Feather offered prayer,
and then came the singing of DR..
Purinton's "West Virginia Hills.
MISS Nettie Herndon presiding at
the piano.
Prot. II. r. Sanford, the senior
instructor, was introduced and made
short speech, saying it is not the
time to speak to people while they
are hungry. He gave as the lead.
ing purposes Of an institute, a good
enjoyable time and the enthusinR of
the teachers.
Miss Sarah A. Griswold, the other
Instructor was then introduced.
She laid stress on the importance of
coming to institute with some
definite aim.
Mr.. Robert X. Garner and Miss
Nettie S. Herndon were appointed
secretaries, and then came an ad.
journmcnt to the dinner tables of
the boarding houses.
In the afternoon session Prof
Sanford opened with a general talk
on the duties of the teacher and
how he can best perform them.
Hon. L. &. Miller then discussed
the condition Of the public school
system of the state and pronounced
it very encouraging as a rule. While
much progress has been made,
much yet remains TO be done to
bring West Virginia to the full level
OF the foremost states. He laid
emphasis on the need of care IN
making on, the school enumeration,
on the Importance of proper grade
sheets, and on seeing that pupils
are not needlessly turned back in
their studies. The printing by each
school of a grade list at the eud Of
the term was recommended, the ex-
pense being very little. There was
also a discussion of the free text.
books and the working Of the uni
form examination law. The latter
has brought an immense amount of
work TO the state superintendenPs
Office, and this is attended TO by a
very efficient corps of special help.
ers.
Principal U. S. Fleming, of the
Fairmont Normal, then received a
warm greeting, and gave a reminis-
cent talk, dealing with his earlier
experiences in the educational field
The session closed with a talk by
Miss Griswold, in which she out
lined her work for the week.
Enrolment for the day, r84.
Al night nothing doing"
TUESDAY.
Rev. Mr. Wilson offered prayer.
Miss Griswold discussed "Read.
ing" and named as the three oh.
| jects OF It's pursuits, the impartinq
Of knowledge, the arousing Of the
power to think, and ahording a
means Of study. Memorizing With
out the use Of thought wastes men.
tai power. Reading should not bc
taught by using any one method
alone, and no method should be
used which binders the awakening
Of thought Some useful advice a,
to the mode Of taking notes wa,
given.
In discussing arithmetic Prof
Sanford, let il be known, does no
believe in dustless crayons or II
counting By the fingers.
In a talk on Language, Mis-
Griswold dwelt on the imporlanc,
Of getting pupils to talk freely II
class. They like to talk on wha
interests them, and the teache
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