Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-12-16
A DISTRICT
INSTITUTE

and Gearhart and Rush townships was
held in the high school room at South
Danville ON Friday and Saturday. The
sessions were well attended; varied
interest was manifested by those who
participated that augurs we'll for the
schools on the south side.
The district institute convened Fri
day evening at 7 80 O'Clock. The prin-
cipal address was delivered by Pro-
fessor l. II. Mauser, principal of the
Trevorton schools. His talk dealt in a
very practical way with those prob
lens that confront a teacher in ev-
cry day experience. Able and practical
addresses were also delivered by l. G.
NJ. Ellenberger, superintendent of the
schools of Sunbury, and $. II. Dean,
superintendent of the schools of Mt.
Carmel.
On Saturday morning the institute
convened at 10 o'clock.
A very appropriate and well prepar-
ed paper was read by Miss Mary Lyons
entitled, Some Knotty Problems. "
This was followed by discussion of
| the subject, "Should the System of
Grading and Promotion be Elastic?. "
the principal speaker being W. w.
| Fetzer, superintendent of the schools
of Northum berland county. He spoke
principally from the stand point of the
rural schools and admitted that the
problem is one which, under existing
conditions in the schools, almost baf-
files satisfactory solution. He does
not believe in holding the pupil back
unduly; at the same time he recogniz-
ed the evils that would be pretty sure
to ensue If a policy were adopted of
making promotions regardless of de-
ticiency that might exist is some
branches thus keeping the average of
the pupil down below the standard
The discussion seemed to resolve it
self into the question, whether ont Of
justice to the child and as a measure
to keep the high school filled it would
be best to educate the pupil along the
line he wishes to travel or "to balance
him up in the various branches en-
braced in the course of study. No def
mite conclusion seemed to be arrived
at, although County Superintendent
Fetzer inclined to the view that speci-
al examinations might be justified in
the case of some pupils.
Miss Beaver read most excellent
paper on "Spelling. She was follow
ed by Miss Bogart with a paper entitl-
ed, How Can We Secure Better Re
suits in English?" The paper showed
a great deal of care and thought in its
preparation.
4 paper was read by Miss Gulick
Much and Devoting Too Little Time to
Fundamentals:' which was very gen
eraly discussed. 1t seemed to be the
consensus of opinion that while some
experimenting may be defensiblc yet
it is something that should not be car
ried very far i'll the school room. Pub
fishing houses and those who furnish
school supplies we're held responsible
that are unloaded on the schools only
to be discarded after extended expert
mentation, i'll which the schools have
lost time and the pupils suffered posi-
tive detriment
Superintendent Ellenberger adverted
to the vertical system of writing, for
a time quite popular in the schools,
which he strongly condemned, declar-
ing that it disqualifies young persons
for holding positions where good pen
manship is required and that many
who have been taught according to this
system had actually lost opportunities
to secure employment. He advised
that teachers be slave to no system
! in any branch, bearing i'll mind that
the success of the schools depends on
"the genius Of the teacher. -
superintendent Dean inveighed
against the practice of ruling the
states for email pupils, introduced
sometime III the past, and which Eek
periment' has found to be rernicious,
leading in many cases to permanent
injury to the eyes of the children. He
advocated large writing and urged
that whenever practicable the black
board should be used.
d, y. DieiIcnbacher, superintendent
of the Danville schools, explained the
result that followed experiment with
the Pollard system and the vertical
system Of writing in his schools Yer
tical writing has fallen into disfavor
and the schools throughout the bor-
! ough are going back to the slauting
, system. In reading a combination OF
several systems is employed.
Mr. Wertz read paper entitled,
1.-The Greatest Difficulty Met in Coun-
try Schools; How to Remedy It,. II
was a clever production, dwelling up
) on the tender and sympathetic rela.
tions existing bewteen teacher and
, pupil. The teacher should be in close
sympathy with the parents and should
, bring them to feel that he is interest.
4. Il