The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-11-12

The last period in the morning
DIR. Schmucker talked on Botany in
the High School, to the High school
teachers while Divisions two and
three were given "a Grammar Les
son" by DR.. Rigdon.
In the afternoon Prof. Watkins
conducted very helpful music drill
from half past one till two. DR..
Rigdon spoke on Matter and Meth
3D." These may exist in four rela-
tions; bad matter and bad method;
bad matter and good method; good
matter and bad method or good
matter and good method.
No. amount of method will help
us to teach a subject we do not
know. We must get the matter be-
fore we can apply the method. Elo-
cution is a fine thing but no amount
of elocution will enable a man to
express himself If he has nothing to
say. The greatest word in the vo-
cabulary of life is the word and.
Take both matter and method and
you have the ideal teacher.
The audience were again favored
by whistling solo by Miss Storm.
Joseph N. Jacob gave his declama-
tion which was greatly enjoyed by
the large audience.
Prof. Watkins sang two selections
which were enjoyed as Prof. Wat
kins' solos always are.
DR.. Schmucker gave his last talk
on the Meaning of Fruit" A seed
is not only plant baby but with in
heritance enough to live or till it is
able to work for itself. All farmers
know of the necessity of rotation of
crops. 1t is probably due to the fact
that plant roots throw off a secre-
tion which poison the soil. Our ex-
hausted soils are due to pollution
more than exhaustion.
Anyway the worst place to plant
an acorn is under an oak tree, or
chestnut under chestnut tree. So
Nature has provided ways for seeds
to be carried to new soil. The wings
of the maple, the parachute of the
dandelion, and the ticks and burrs
made to be carried by fur bearing
animals In the case of fruit enough
edible pulp has been placed around
the seed to furnish food for man and
animal. So they carry the seed to
distance from the tree and the seed
is thrown into new place.
In closing DR.. Schmucker compli-
mented the teachers on their atten-
tion and interest and also urged
them all to work to improve them
selves and their profession. There
are coming into our hands boys and
girls careless and thoughtless-so
that they are stronger and finer men
and women because of little of the
impress of your character on their
lives.
The entertainment on Wednesday
evening given by the Commonwealth
Ladies' Quartette of Boston, Mass,
was of an exceptionally high order,
and was we'll appreciated by the
hearers. ...
THURSDAY.
Rev. George S. Wendell of the
Baptist church led the devotional
exercises.
After the music period DR.. Rigdon
continued his talk on Grammar.
In the study of pronoun be
ready without using a book to work
out the construction of the pro-
noun in the order of their difficulty.
First be able to recognize the pro-
noun; End, classify them; 3rd, de-
velop their construction; 4th, parse
them; 5th, fill blanks; 9Th, form
original sentences illustrating con-
struction.
After intermission DR.. Chas. H.
Gordinier, of Cumberland Valley
Normal School, was introduced and
spoke on "The First Lesson" Obedi-
lesson as the most comprehensive.
The amount of power measures our
responsibility. Obedience is the great
fundamental law of life. The ideal
life is the life of perfect obedience.
Obedience in life always means gain.
Disobedience means loss. If we dis
obey we must suffer. If the civil
law is broken the loss is great not
only to the individual but to his
friends, the community and the state.
In the spiritual law the same result
obtains. Moses disobeyed and lost
entrance to the promised land.
AS to the school room first the
obedience must be prompt; next we
must secure implicitness of obedience.
Make reasonable requirements and
be sure that it is carried out to the
letter. Lastly obedience to be per-
feet must be cheerful.
The last period in the morning
was occupied by DR.. Gordinier in the
High school division and Prof. Oden
C. Gortner of Mansfield State Nor
NAL School who spoke on "The Daily
Program" giving a great amount
of practical help to the teacher of
ungraded school on the arrangement
and carrying out of the program.
Have a systematic arrangement of
your work for the day. Give time
for recess and recreations. Give
most difficult work early in the
morning while the mind Is fresh.
Vary your program so that the diff