The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-10-15
MUCH HOSPITALITY
SHOWN TEACHERS
AT LAKE COMO
INTERESTING AND INSTRUCTIVE
MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER
FIRST AND SECOND.


BY the hospitality shown the teach
ers they were convinced that the
people of Lake Como welcomed.
Friday Evening session was
held at the NJ. E. church. Rev. Emil
conducted the devotional exercises
The Lake Como choir rendered a Sc
lection, solo by Miss Florence Gill
christ and recitation by Miss Jennie
Gilchrist were much appreciated
The lecturer, Mr.. G. F. Hoban, sup
erintendent of Dunmore Public
Schools, was introduced. Besides
thoroughly acSuainting the audience
with the ways of the English schools
he described many peculiarities and
historical settings of the British
Isles. The lecture was exceptionally
instructive and large audience was
present to enjoy 1t. The teachers
appreciated the strenuous efforts
made by the lecturer to be present
at their meeting.
The day session was held at the
school house Saturday, Oct. 2. Rev.
Emil conducted the devotional exer-
cises. Robert Sanford presented the
subject High School Libraries"
The library is one of the essentials of
success and is the eliminating of all
school work. The object of a school
is to fit boys and girls to become citi-
zens of the township, commonwealth
and nation, to put them in position
to further educate themselves. The
test of education is to read discrim-
inately and to practice what is read.
Children should appreciate library,
not use it as past time and should
| be educated to choose books suited
| to them. The best books are those
used as lights to pilot the child to
| highest literature. The object in
teaching child to read is to create
an interest and interest them. Fore
ing child to learn by heart is
practice more fitted to a jack-daw.
Reading dime novels indicates trait
to cultivate. Substitute good books
and give the boy a start, then after
creating an interest, substitute heav-
ier books and also the classics. The
classics required in school work need
not be in the library. A child should
buy his own books and by furnishing
them it defeats the purpose. The
library is incomplete without refer
ence books. Research work adds to
ability.
Mr.. Koehler opened the discussion
| by stating that many books are not
suited to the children; most of them
are too old. The history and ply
siology can more effectually be
taught in story form, told by the
teacher in the lower grades. Too
much time is wasted with text books,
when the children cannot f1uently
read them. 1t is too much to ask a
child to write reproduction of
story before telling it. 1t takes an
enthusiastic teacher to teach classics.
Mr.. Dooley discussed the dangers
of a discriminate library. A few
! good books well read are more essen
tial. Teach rather than read the
| classics. The popular literature is
stagnating the literary efforts of the
country.
Mr.. Oday gave some experience he
has had in the kinds of literature
used in the grades and stated the fact
that very few High school pupils did
any other reading of classics except
the required list. AS they have
love for popular literature rather
than the classics and will soon be the
| teachers how can they instill the love
for the classics in the pupils. Few
love poetry and it is not necessary for
them all to love it. Reading de-
do oi, h14 60
tion or work. Popular novels were
discussed and the question was
whether they were right or wrong.
Mr.. Dietrich stated that tastes
change and new books ought to be
available. Miss Gillen and Mr.. Ken
nedy further discussed the subject.
Maggie Smith read a paper on
Primary History" The Importance
of teaching history, the method of
presenting it by beginning with BIZ
ographies and leading to actions of
communities, studying the boyhood
of prominent men, then leading the
learner to understand the later de-
velopment of character, incidents
relating to the lives of great men,
connecting events transpiring with
past historical events, the use of pic
lures and poems were all we'll dis
cussed in the paper.
Florence Gilchrist rendered solo.
Mary A. Menner read a well-pre-
pared paper on Teachers Pensions"
Contents of Children's Minds on
Entering School" was the subject
Vincent Van Horn presented. He
stated the tests given in determining
the knowledge of the children at that
time. The tests reveal the fact that
boys have more concepts than girls.
City children have better concepts of
objects in motion, while country
children have concepts of animals
and nature, although all their ideas
are queer. 1t is the function of the
Primary teacher to surround children
| with rich enVirOnment