The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-23
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION MEET
IN ARIEL

The eighteenth session Of the
Wayne County Teachers Association
was held at Ariel Oct. II and -.
About 80 teachers were present to
enjoy one Of the best educational
meetings ever held in the county.
The pleasant weather made it possi-
BILE for the teachers to fully appreci-
ate the scenery, beauty and grandeur
of Lake Ariel.
Friday evening, the session was
held in the NJ. +. church. r. T.
Davies, vice principal of the Homes
dale public schools, introduced the
lecturer, DR.. Smith Burnham, Pro-
fessOr of History, West Chester State
Normal School. There was a large
audience present to listen to his elo-
quent and stirring address. Dr.
Burnham's insight into the physo-
sOphy of education and his clear
and forcible statement of the truth,
as he sees it, have great power in the
direction Of educational thought
He inspires the people with the i'm
pOrtance and necessity of properly
training the children. The practical
industrial interests of the children
should receive attention. Develop
ment of the head and hand must all
go on together. Domestic science
and agriculture should be taught,
and the instruction made helpful to
the 50 per cent. of the children who
never enter college. The children
are not for the schools but the
schools for the children Each child
should have the buildings, the
grounds, the appliances, and the
teachers needed to develop the physi-
cal, moral and intellectual nature OF
the child. School buildings should
be large, elegant and surrounded by
beautiful lawns. He deplored the
fact that the citizens of Pennsylva-
mia with all our wealth and re-
sources, should allow so many of our
best teachers to go to other states
where they receive better salaries
and more generous appreciation. DR..
Burnham's lecture was excellent and
one of the most effective ever heard
at Teachers Association meeting.
Saturday morning the session was
called to order by the President,
Prof. r. T. Davies. DR.. Smith Burn
ham talked on History" during the
first period. Read and get the mean
ing of the words in a lesson. Tell
the meaning of the words and ask
questions about the things that the
pupils do not know Have plenty of
supplementary reading. Use pict-
ures and newspaper maps. DR..
Burnham's talk on History was very
interesting and held the close atten-
tion of the large number of teachers
present.
Prof. r. T. Davies gave very
pleasing talk on Optimism. We
should not be averse to all OF the
criticisms made about us. But If a
teacher is capable and untiring in
his efforts in the interest of the chill
dren, no attention should be given
TO persons who are not competent to
make criticisms.
Miss Edna Hauenstein, principal of
the Aldenville High school, read a
very interesting paper on Trying"
The word trying is full of sugges-
tions. Let us keep our attention fix
ed upon the aim and result rather
than upon the actual number of
hours spent upon preparation for our
school work. Enter the school room
and begin the work with enthusiasm.
Be reasonable. Be sure that you are
right and then go ahead. One OF the
most influential factors in the system
advocated for the Improvement of
our schools is that the personality of
the teacher be kept in the back
ground, This may be accomplished
by yielding to reasonable suggestions
made by others. DO not be slow in
noticing all the efforts put forth by
pupils. Sometimes a little attention
and encouragement does more good
than many lessons.
First Year Language was the
name of the next paper read by Miss
Laverne Noble, primary teacher in
HaWley public schools. In teaching
Primary Language there are many
difficulties to overcome. Incorrect
use OF words, few ideas, and lack of
words TO express them, physical de-
fects. inability to articulate clearly.
These are a few of the things to
remedy. Fairy tales, fables, stories
and poems may be used for oral re-
production. The best authors for
primary grades are Stephenson,
Field, Dodge and Rosetti. The first
week in Language should be spent
mainly in telling stories. Call upon
pupils to reproduce them. Have
children dramatize the stories and
give them full opportunity to ex-
press themselves. Such stories as
Little Red Riding Hood" 1.-The
Town Musicians" THE Three Bears
may easily be dramatized. In dra-
matizing "The Three Bears" choose