The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-26

was called to order at 10 o'clock in the
Honesdale High School building Satur-
lay, Feb. Goth, 1909. With the excep-
lion of Dyberry, every district had
one hundred per cent. attendance.
There were fourteen visiting school
teachers from other districts. Principal
H. A. Oday was unanimously appointed
chairman, which position he accepted
with his customary enthusiasm. Super
J. J. Koehler was also pres
ent.
The first subject, "Cbild Study, was
we'll presented by Miss Mabel Dexter, of
Dyberry. The following valuable sug-
gestions were given: The teacher should
study the child, not only in school, but
at home, so as to supply home defcien-
cies. Children are divided into two
classes, active and passive. The active
directed, and the passive child must not
The teacher IS often the only source of
moral education the child receives.
Child study is necessary for success in
teaching, and we can have no true
teacher without it.
"Common Sense Didactics" by Henry
Sabin, of Iowa, was reviewed by Miss
Mary Higgins and Miss Bessie Dudley.
The papers were we'll written, and the
delivery of Miss Higgins deserves special
commentator. Teachers should give
more attention to delivery enunciation,
etc., both for personal benefit and for
use in the schools. The chapters given
contain the following useful points. The
book was written as result of visits to
schools and institutions, to give, espec-
tally young teachers, a brighter view of
the teaching ngprofession Mr.. Sabin says
Education means training for life. The
secret of success lies wholly in the spirit
of the teacher, and none but true ladies
and gentlemen should be employed in
our schools. Discipline is source of
power. A teacher with we'll disciplin-
ed mind can make the best possible use
of her knowledge. We should make the
child's knowledge practicable. Let it be
factor of his future success, for the
child is educated only when he reaches
up to the full height of the opportuni-
ties which God and Nature throw in his
way" The teachers dress and manner
and health affect the entire school /;
therefore keep in mind the works of
Coleridge "O'er wayward childhood
wouldst thou hold firm rule, and sun
thee in the light of happy faces, Love,
Hope and Patience let these be thy
graces, and in thine own heart let them
first keep school," In the next four
chapters Mr.. Sabin considers the know
ledge most important to the future man.
Intelligent reading he places first, next
in usefulness language and spelling,
then writing, not according to system,
but fairly rapid legible hand. In his
tory he would deal mainly with lives,
not dates, and in arithmetic cultivate
reasoning but work principally with small
numbers. furthermore, the child re-
quires manual training, but at the pre-
sent time this is in backward state.
The moral training of many children is
left to the teacher. We should teach
children to Judge themselves, and to de-
eide courses of action. Certain habits
are the basis of moral training, such
habits should be brought to the pupil
constantly. The two ends of school
government are the establishment and
maintainence of order in and about the
school, and the enabling of the child to
form habits of self control. Praise WISE
ly bestowed for merit should not be
neglected. Discipline should influence
when with the teacher.
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j. j. Koehler, Mr.. Haldeman and Mr..
Oday, and the subject of why children
leave school in the grammar grades was
taken up. The following reasons were
given by experienced teachers: The
immediate want of money, improper
preparation, or inability forharder work
of the grades, dislike of discipline and
inability to see the value of an educa-
ton.
After quintet by five girls of Eighth
grade, "The Ship of State" Miss Frances
Gray read paper on "School Hygiene
Mies Theresa Soete read suggestive
paper entitled "Perils of the School
Room" We are advised to take a
greater care for prevention of fires; to
Danish the common drinking cup, the
soap and towel as germ bearers. The
vacuum cleaner was advocated for oul
schools as the dust on the floor is both
unhealthy and unpleasant. 1t pays t.
protect life it especially pays to protect
the health of the child.
Institute adjourned until 1:45 P. NJ.
Institute called to order by Chairman
Oday at las. The first number on the
program was "The Art of Questioning
by Miss Nellie Tambyln. The art oi
questioning is one of the first and most
necessary of the successful teachers
many qualifications. The object of put.
ting question to pupil may be to
find out what he knows, to discover his
misconceptions and difficulties, to secure
activity of his mind, or to test the result
of what you have taught. We must
awaken the curiosity of the pupil and
place him ina receptive mood. A ques-
ton must be clearly and simply stated
Avoid questions requiring simply an af
firmative or negative answer. Require
your answers in statement form. With
the minimum of your words draw out
the maximum of words from your pupil
Collective answers are not advisable,
Let one question grow out of the pre-
ceding one. Written questions also hold
an important place in the school, serv-
ing as a means, not as an end.
The substance of Miss Lovejoy's dis
cussion on "Home Economics" is else
where given. Director Stocker com
mended this excellent introduction Of
Home Economies into Honesdale, ad
vising at the same time the introduction
of Agriculture into the Honesdale high
school. Mr.. Oday explained that two
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