The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-01-21
LOCAL TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Proceedings of the Teachers Meeting
Conducted at Deer PARK.

Prof. ii. A. LOradltch, OF Oakland,
president of the association, presiding.
The institute convened at II a. m.
and opened with the song Maryland,
My Maryland, followed by a prayer
by Rev. W. H. Clary, of Deer Park.
Rev. Clary delivered the address of
welcome in which he emphasized the
Importance of the teaching profession,
showing that it is the handspring of
progress, locally and nationally, educa-
tionally, morally and industrially. He
referred to the Great Teacher as our
perfect example.
These pleasant words of welcome
were happily responded to by Supt. E.
A. Browning, giving a brief review of
the teachings of Pythagoras and others,
showing that the teachers have always
fought the vices of ignorance and sup
erstition, trying to improve and make
the world better along all lines.
Prof. Browning also announced that
we are to have the State Teachers
Association with US at Nit. Lake Park
this year and made an eloquent appeal
to the teachers 70 give the association
warm welcome and to profit by this
meeting. Prof. Browning, speaking
further, invited the opinions of all the
teachers of the county regarding the
summer Normal Schools This subject
will be further discussed at the Oakland
local institute to be held soon.
The discussion of English was intro
duced by W. E. Bishoff, in which he
took as the aim in teaching this subject
in grammar grades to be automatic
correctness in the mechanics of COM
position, as expressed by Roark !;
meaning by mechanics of composition
expression Of thought or feeling clearly,
correctly, with correct heading, proper
margin, eXactness in spelling, punctua-
ton, paragraphing, etc. Paragraph
ing was discussed at length, showing
the method of teaching this by requir-
ing outlines to be made of every COM
position before it is written. By having
as many paragraphs as there are gen
eral topics IN the outline this part of
the work is not difficult.
Prof. Loraditch opened the discussion
on spelling with comparison Of old
and new methods Of teaching, and
spoke of the strong points in both He
then presented in very logical manner
the successive steps in teaching spell
ing, beginning with its introduction by
the phonic method and speaking of the
study, meaning and use of words, use
of dictionary, derivation of words, syn
onyms, syIlabication, etc. He suggest
ed making a list of the new words in
every lesson and directing especial at
tention to these. Prof. A. w. Dewitt
offered the valuable suggestion here
that the teacher keep list Of all words
missed during the week and review
them on Friday afternoon. Prof. U.
G. Palmer made some remarks that
were right to the point when he stated
that we must get down to more thor
ough work on this subject, more thor
ough drills, better training Of the per
ceptlve powers, etc. Prof. Browning
urged that books be thoroughly finished
before laying them aside; teach uses Of
words svllabication etc.
Miss Mary O'Donnel presented well
written paper on number work. She
showed that this work should begin
with the development of the idea of
relation of number to objects. She
emphasized constant drill in making
figures, forming combinations of num-
bers, use of signs, etc, and recommend
ed applications to concrete experiences
through the actual handling of many
objects.
In introducing the subject of anth-
metic, Prof. Palmer stated that educa-
ton depends on thought power and
appealed to the teachers to get their
pupils down to reasoning as much as
possible in order to train the logical
faculties. Irof. Palmer then gave US
a model lesson in the teaching of meas
urements, dealing with plane figures.
His work was very practical and it is to
regretted that lack of space will not
permit US to give his outline here for
the benefit of those not present. Prof.
Loraditch S, ggested that Manual Train
ing is an important factor in this work,
as students are asked to make triangles,
rectangles, etc, and thus have a more
careful study of them.
Prof Browning announced that the
teachers library, which is owned by
the teachers of the county owing to
their purchase some years ago, has
been removed to the new court house
and is open to the use Of teachers at all
times.
A vote of thanks was given the stu
dents of the Deer Park school for the
excellent music interpreted throughout
the program, after which the institute