The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-08-26
The lTeacIlers, Institute.

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stitutesin the city this week and 1
y with great appreciation of the im
portance OF the occasion that tn,
Telegram extends heartiest weIcom,
to IL as nm organization, as well u
To all Its individual members. All
feel the week will be one OF prof
and pleasure. clarksburg hospital
ity is royal and there is always .
high sense OF civil pride, when Tho
edncators assemble here.
Constant development of the pub
Zig school system of the state is ac-
conpanied by a keener sense OF Its
usefulness and OF gratitude for the
personal sacrifices educators are max.
Ing. The system more deeply I'm.
presses as 1t advances and there Is
q realization as never before that
education Is n basic principle OF sue.
cess in life, no matter what the line
of work in which one engages, and a
splendid new feature Is that requir-
ing the science OF agriculture to be
taught. Indeed, the public school
system is yearly adapting itself to
sufficient preparation for nearly all
lines of usefulness. without the ed
ncation 1t gives one is at complete
loss. With 1t one is quite well pre-
pared for llfe's average duties, and
can get along we'll, II his condition
In life will not let him go higher in
mental. moral and physical training
in scholastic circles.
The institute is no insignificant or
despissd part of the public school
system. A true appreciation of 1t
places the institute on high plane
{ of educational activity and classifies
1t as one OF the moulding parts of
the educational machinery not to be
dispensed with, If the best achieve
ment Is to be sought. The Institute
Manual prepared by State Superln-
tendent NJ. P. shawkey contains an
able comment on the Institute. which
1t gives the Telegram pleasure in re-
! producing as follows. for the benefit
OF school patrons In particular in or
der that they may have true in
sight into the meaning of an instl-
tute to the school system OF the
state:
The teachers institute is capable
of being an agency of great good to
the educational interests of the coun-
ty. 1t is one occasion when all the
school workers of the county meet
each other face to face. 1t should
therefore he made an extraordinary
occasion. AS to just what the ma
ture of the meeting should he, 1t is
hard to set limits. Conditions vary
from time to time and from place to
place and the realm of possible good
is SO extensive that 1t is hardly wise
to prescribe limits for this important
work.
It Is easy, however. to suggest
some things that ere too important
to be neglected in any case.
First. the institute should at, times
resolve itself into an educational
council for the serious and earnes,
consideration of the most vital edu.
cational problems of the county.
This implies general participation
in the discussions by teachers, school
officers and patrons. These delibera.
lions should be led in definite chan.
neis and should result in definite
conclusions and definite plans ant
organizations for realizing the gooi
proposed.
Second. the institute should fur
nish the occasion for mountain-toI
experiences. Without the soul up
HIT no institute is a complete sue
cess. Let 1t be the rapture of 10,
In the discovery Of new truth.
.
touch Of the sympathy that makes tn
world akln-the teacher must g
back to his work baptized ane,
with zeal and interest in his teach
ing. Poetry. music. art. oratory,
great aife. may occasion the uplif
but every institute must have 1t 0
be a failure.
Third. the institute must otfe
some study in the broad field q
methods, ways and means. Nc
merely ways and means OF perform
Ing the mechanical operations {
teaching, but ways and means
winning the hoy and girl. and wa,
and means of evolving the highel
possible good for the communit,
Under this head comes the importar
subject Of the teachers personaliI
The teacher In all his relations.
The three prominent factors in Il
institute are the teacher, the counI
superintendent and the Instructor
Il