The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-08-27
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. f. LARSON.

THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE or 1908.
One of the fuctions of every school is
to open up the mind of the learner to
the opportunities of life. The accumu-
lation of information is but means to-
ward this end. AS we grow in know
ledge We should also learn of places
where this knowledge can be applied
to the greatest advantage both to our
own development ald to the betterment
of society
The Institute, which should be mod
el school, ought not to lose sight of this
fact. The amount of information that
can be given and assimilated in ten
days must needs be small, but there is
a great opportunity in such period to
learn what the education world is do
ing and find out about the great move
ments that are going on at the present
time.
Much information was given during
this years institute. Those who came
to learn, carried away many truths that
will make the schools stronger the com
ing year The Nature Study and Agri-
culture classes were full Of opportunit,
les for learning. These subjects are of
such nature that when true teacher
handles them there is always something
to learn 1t il only the warped and cal.
loused mind that can find nothing Of
interest in the book of nature.
Those who are keeping up with the
progress of country school education are
seeing more and more that the teachers
in the country districts must know ma
ture at first hand. Books are valuable
only as they can be interpreted, and
the Interpretation Of the agricultural
books and papers rs well az the more
elegant literature depends largely upon
the knowledge and appreciation Of the
things themselves, During the child's
early years he should be filled with
thoughts growing out of outdoor obser-
vation His powers of observation
should be trained SO that he may cOntin.
ually be adding to his stock of informa
tion and learn more and more to appre
ciate that this is world in which order
is found in all things.
Mr.. Shuttss Fundamental thought in
all his work was that in every subject
there is a certain amount of memory
work which must be done at that period
of the child's life when his mind is best
fitted TO do this work Prior to this
period comes the objective stage of learn
ing during which the powers of percep-
tion should be strongly developed This
is truth that is Fundamental in all
teaching. Ia the grade work too often
children are given material which is not
fitted to them at that particular period
They do not master a thing when 1t Is
taken up. They go over the subject but
not enough drill Is given to give them
proficiency The result is that when
they get into the higher forms the plas-
tic memory stage is over. They have
not learned to spell, they are poor in
calculation, and all the mechanical part
of education which is SO important, will
never be mastered.
Opportunity was given for the more
advanced teachers to get start in ply
sizes. Mr.. Lowth did some very good
work in that line and its effect will be
seen in the years work
The language, reading, and school
management work WAS intended pri
marily for those who have had no pro-
fessional training. Without doubt those
who avaIed themselves of this opportu
nifty will do much stronger work the
coming year rs result.
In addition to the regular class work
we were favored by having with us
many from the ontside who gave us in
sight into other phases of education,
Scarcely had we organized on the first
day when Prof r. A Moore Of the Ex-
pertinent Station visited us and gave us
talk that showed the wonderful oppor.
tunity for young men along the lines of
farming The second day Miss l.. Il.
Stearns of the Wisconsin Free Library
Commission spoke to us. We were
somewhat humiliated by the fact that
we have so few of these travelling librar,
les in our county but on the other hand
encouraged by the statement that the
Mishicot library is the first in the state
in circulation 1t il certainly great
credit to Mishicot that such a statement
can be made Let us get more of these
libraries the coming year.
On the third day $. y. Gillian of Mil.
waukee editor of the Western Teacher
gave an address on the essential feature
of school This tatture he said was
the contact of the mind of the teacher
with the mind of the learner. All other
things are accessory 10 this one feature
and all Others exist for it and because Of
it.
On the fourth day visit was taken