The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-05-17
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

The seventeenth session OF the
Wayne County Teachers Association
met in the beautiful village of Equi-
nunk, May 10th and 11th.
On Friday evening Miss Jane Gill
christ gave a recitation entitled
Patsy" This was followed by an
address given by DR.. ID. w. LaRue
of East Stroudsburg normal school.
1t was full of interest and instruc-
tion for all engaged in educational
work.
Saturdays session opened with
music, after which Rev. Samuel Toll
ley offered prayer. DR.. LaRue then
gave a talk on THE Relation Be-
tween Language and Grammar or
Basic Principles Underlying the
points were brought out, among
them the following: Grammar should
be postponed until late in the
course; Language should be taught
from the beginning in an informal
way and the conversational method
was highly recommended Among
the first steps in teaching language
the initiative method should be en-
ployed, then the more formal work
may be attempted, thoroughly criti-
cized by the teacher, after which the
pupil may be taught to criticize and
correct his own work. This talk was
followed by short discussion.
The next period was taken by Miss
Elizabeth A. Baird, her subject be-
ing How | Teach Geography" First
she would teach the world as a
whole, bringing out the interdepend-
ence of nations, the influence of one
nation on another, causes and effects
in the geographical world. Asia,
the country of contrasts, was taken
as an example. In teaching climate
take a map of the world and com
pare with the countries already stud
led. In teaching mountains Miss
Baird would not advise learning
long lists of names, etc, but teach
mountain ranges that have direct
influence on the climate and life.
In teaching river systems make them
real by means of pictures and stor-
les of life along the waterways. Let
children talk to one another about
their lessons. In the study of for
est regions talk OF the animals
Teach population by comparisons
Use a geographical reader.
Miss Gilchrist then gave a recita-
tion entitled Fishing" followed by
Mrs. Alma ]. G. Dix, president oil
Teachers League of Wayne county
She spoke very eloquently in the in.
J terest of the league, reviewing the
work and arousing much enthusiasm
| New members are being rapidly
added to the list already obtained.
Harry Pethick, of Damascus High
school, read a very practical and in
/ structive paper on Some Present
Country Problems" from which the
! following is quoted: Il know thai
in many ways the natural advan
tages of our country schools are fal
ahead of any city schools in exist
ence with it's eXcellently planned
systems and courses. There are
however, ways in which we are be
hind in our rural communities ant
it is the grasping of some opportuni
! ties that | think we are missing tha
we can talk over here. We are none
! too careful about ventilating oul
buildings properly. Are there five
schools among those represented
! that have ventilating system othel
| than direct ventilating from the win
dows? Then again, there is the reg
ulation of heat and humidity, the
atmosphere being usually too dry tC
be healthy. We cannot have expen
sive systems in our small township
high schools, but there are practica
methods which with study and effor
we could install where the problem
is seriously affecting the health o.
every child under our charge.
we do not look after the making O
a healthful, sanitary environment, {
good clean schoolhouse and school
yard, abundant light and fresh air
who Will? The conditions are fright
full when we think of them. There
are twenty million boys and girls il
the schools of our country. Fiv,
million of them have defective Wis
ion. There are in the country a
enlarged tonsils, or adenoids; on,
million have curvature of the spin,
or fiat foot; five million have tuber
cular trouble and ten million hav,
defective teeth. Does this affect tn
health of the child? The whole ton
of the school? A remedy. Yes
more effective teaching in health ant
hygiene.
The following officers were thel
elected for the coming year: Prof. r.
7. Davies, president; Miss Daniels o
Hawley, vice-president; Miss Fran
ces Dillon of White Mills, secretar
and treasurer. Executive commit
tee: Arthur Hopkins, Seelyville
Miss Vera Murray, Honesdale, AM
Miss Ada Hopkins, Aldenville.
ANNA G. SEAMAN,
Secretary.