Charlevoix county herald., 1909-03-13
The Teachers
-"-'' Institute
Was Well Attended and Much
- Interest Manifested.
BY Com'r Milford.

When the Teachers Institute was
called TO order at 200 p. m. Fri1ay
the assembly room OF the new high
school building was crowded and the
hall and recitation rooms adjoining
were also we'll filled. Over eighty per
cent of the teachers of the county
were present together with goodly
number of patrons and high school
pupils and the general expression of
ri feeling that was everywhere in
evidence certainly speaks well for the
schools Of the county.
The first number was high school
chorus and the fact that they were
cheered to the platform as often as
they would come will show that they
we're appreciated and also speaks VOL
umes for the music teacher who has
charge of the music in our schools.
Deyotionals were conducted by Rev.
Grigsby after which some announce
ments were made by Mr.. Bell and the
Commissioner.
Supt. 1. B. Gilbert Of Traverse City
took MIR. Masselink's place on the
program. He took for his subject,
"The Child, Its Growth and Develop
ment."
He outlined the several stages Of
development that may be expected to
enter into the life OF the pupil. Space
will not permit us 10 give even an ac-
curate sketch OF his paper and talks
on this subject but his discussions
showed clearly that he was at home
with the subject and that he had
given il a vast amount OF study.
TeAhers VINO listened To him cannot
help but have some new ideas of real
child life.
Teachers often say that they can
not understand why this boy or girl
seems at times to do so well and at
other times seem TO be unable To do
good work in school. Supt. Gilbert
was able to explain very clearly these
seeming moods in childhood and he
made it very clear that the teacher
who is really successful in school work
must be student in other lines than
the regular course Of text books.
To study the growth and develop
ment of the child, to determine the
periods when he Is able TO do much or
little work, To find out what he likes
TO do and why, to secure the even de-
SelopmeDt mentally and physically,
these and other points Ia the study Of
human nature were shown to be very
valU4ble assets in the makeup Of the
successful teacher and Mr. Gilbert's
talks on this subject will start many
teachers on the right solution OF prob
lens that often give trouble.
Miss Coltrin of Boyne gave very
interesting paper on Reading and Lit
erature. She urged the necessity Of
preparation when poem Is To be
taught. She also advised teachers
never to attempt 10 teach a poem or
piece of literature of any kind that
they did not know and like, showing
how impossible it Is for teacher to
create an interest in anything 10
which they themselves are not inter-
ested.
Supt. Fuller followed with some
well chosen remarks urging stick
to the work" spirit. Mr.. Bell gave
sorne pointers on enumeration which
pleased the teachers. Altogether the
discussion of this very important sub
ject Was very valuable feature of the
meeting.
The Story Telling for the grades by
Miss Freiberg aud Miss Walsh pleas
ed the teachers very much. 'Oh, IL
could do like she can" was a COM
mon expression among the teachers.
l am we'll aware that not all of the
teafSlers can tell a story well but
am sure that many children ia the
lower grades OF the schools of the
county will listen to a delightful story
because their teacher heard these
teachers tell one.
Prof. Butler Of Boyne gave master
ly talk on the subject assigned him,
Geographical Influences In History. I"
We will not attempt TO give synop-
sis of the discussion or Of that which
follo0d by Supt. Woodley but will
say that no progressive teacher could
listen to the addresses given without
being benefited and without being
able to create more lively interest 10
these somewhat dry subjects.
From the amount of rubber" that
suddenly was in evidence when Miss
Reed entered the room with her class
IN number work, wa are forced to ad-
NIT that this was surely not the least
interesting OF the numbers on the pro-
MIaa Rood did NOT do much