The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1907-10-25

ed by Mrs Jennie Farrer Avery, of
Dewey, aud Prof w. II. Kramer and
Miss Keenan,, OF Silver City, with Miss
Carrie Hastings as organist.
Each morning Prof. Simmons pre-
seuted the subject of psychology in the
true teachers point OF view. He devot-
ed two hours daily to instruction. In
the forenoon his subject was pedagogy.
These talks laid down the laws of the
mind which govern the teaching art.
He dwelt especially with attention,
memory, acquisition of ideas, appercep-
tion.
In attention, it was demonstrated
that the secret of arousing and holding
the attention was to create deep felt
interest in the subject under cousidera-
tion. 1t was shown that this could be
done by connecting matter otherwise
uninteresting with our personal welfare,
or with matter that is interesting, fur
thermore, any subject becomes inter
esting which presents changing aspects.
Memory was shown to be no separate
department OF mind but only one of its
many aspects, and that training the
memory for any one group of facts, cul-
tivates the memory for that group, and
that group alone. What enters the
mind together has tendency to come
out together, ami the way to have good
memory for any fact is to associate it as
firmly as possib with as many facts as
possible, also get the impression through
as many channels as possible, viz: hear
ing, seeing, smelling etc.
The best system that fact can be
woven into, for the sake of memory, is
a science, so other things being equal
he remembers best whose knowledge is
best classified.
Some people have strong memories
and weak intellects, others vica versa,
While others again have both strong
memories and intellects.
The vigilant teacher studies his pupil
more than he does his books. Thus he
is enabled to cultivate each power and
faculty of mind as it unfolds its silken
wings. Should he begin to cultivate
any embryonic faculty too soon, he rem
ders it dormant; if he waits too long, it
wastes away for want of nourishment,
and the door of hope is shut in this di-
rection.
In the afternoon Prof. Simmons pre-
sented the art side of teaching In a
word he put into practice the principles
developed in the forenoon. One after
noon he presented an actual and origin
al lesson which Socrates taught to
Meno's slave This lesson is the acme
of perfection in the art of questioning
Prof. w. Fl Kramer's talks on geo
graphy and spelling were much appre-
ciated, and all we're sorry that he was
obliged to give up his work on account
Of illness.
Mrs. Avery, who has made specially
of Language Lessons has been an in
spiration to the teachers by making her
methods so clear and forcible and illu.
strating with such practical exercises
Lessons in spelling, literature, geogra.
ply aud grammar Jared alike in awak.
ening a deeper interest in speaking and
writing better English. In this work
she used the new text books, lately
adopted by our state, showing her en-.
dorsement of the same.
In spelling she compared the sentence
to bouquet of flowers and encouraged
the enjoyment and use of the right word
as we would new flower.
After finishing country in geogra
} ply, she recommends the writing ol
letters to home friends, telling what i,
) most noticeable in the imaginary stay
} there while preparing lessons. We wer,