The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-08-26
OF the Harrison County
Teachers Annual In
stitute Here \;
is QUITE INTEREs TING
With Able Presentations and
Discussions of the Pros
gram Topics.

The teachers e Institute open.
ed Tuesday morning with sing
ing "Nerarer Ny God, to Thee
led by Mrs. Blanche Runner;
after which devotional services were
conducted by the Rev. william
corder.
The topic. Elementary Agricul-
tnre." was taken up briefly by
the Rev. =. D. Hanna, OF Rowles-
burg. Me pointed out that the
farmer IS one of the richest class in
the country, all things considered,
and urged the teachers to make a
thorough study of elementary agrl.
culture and the soil in teaching 1t to
their pupils. p
Imitation Factor.
DR.. c. Minnich made an address
on the subject, Limitation as a Fac
tor in Education. g & He said often too
much attention was paid, to trying
to teach pupils to, think everything
out for themselves, when the same
results could be obtained Eby imita-
ton. and the same gain Id mental
acumen.
Imitation, he said. Is organic, in
structive. Instinct comprises all
that the nervous system is capable Of
doing without experimental out
side OF this Is imitation. He Illus
trated his remarks by showing the
Initiative tendencies IN various birds
and animals.
DR.: Minnich showed that uncon-
scions limitations Of little minds are
often the cause of pupils acquiring
warped or deformed minds, because
each boy and girl chooses some
grown up man or woman tor his or
her model, and the child's mind be-
comes like its model. For this rea-
son. he said, the number OF men and
women teachers should he nearly
equal. He mentioned various prob
lens arising from the psychological
study Of imitation.
Conscious imitation, he declared
ought to be an important factor in
education. and showed the, all
reaching effects of imitation. Mod
ern slavery to style and fashion, he
declared wholly imitation, the same
quality largely controlling our archi-
lecture, customs. even behavior and
moral conduct. Hence the teacher
should be a man or woman OF the
highest moral stamina. Mr.. Min
nich's address received merited at
ltention.
Through a mistake the Telegram
stated that Elizabeth stealey and
Alice Goodwin were appointed secre-
taries Of the institute. The names
should have read Elizabeth stealey
and Hettte Young.
Language Work.
1 After fifteen minutes intermission
the session was resumed with singing
Annie Laurie
Prof. J. Frank Marsh addressed the
institution on the topic. "Fundamen-
tals in the Teaching OF Language and
Literaturesiua, .ieS ~ b Z, $,
First he said there must be a mo-
1--we In the language work. A good
motive must be .behIpd ones work, to
do the most work with the greatest
10y. The fault with many dull and
obstinate pupils is that they do not
see the need of their studying. Pupils
should be taught that their Language
Tstudy is important to them from three
standpoints; ta) from the pupils own
standpoint as we'll as (6) business
\ standpoint. Forty-five per cent. OF the
failures in civil service examinations
were due. he stated, to their incorrect
Inse of English. (c) From an altruistic
standpoint. as good English is essen
H. =. p