The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-08-18

for pupils. He believes that the work
should be made interesting and pleas
ant for the pupils, but at the same
time they should be taught to do good
hard work. Their ability and power
to do this work will give them self-re-
spect and self-confidence, both of
which are necessary if they are to
help themselves.
Geography, Real or Not" was the
subject of Supt. zemers talk.
Throughout this talk he made a
strong plea that teachers make
geography live subject to the pu-
pills instead of the dry uninteresting
one that it often is Teachers should
realize the bigness of the subject as
almost all other subjects depend upon
it to a certain extent. The work
should begin with observation of ma
ture by taking the children on field
trips where they can see things for
themselves. Things that cannot be
actually seen should be developed in
their imagination.
Thus geography can be made real,
live subject to the children. The book
can be used as guide, but never as
the whole source of information.
TUESDAY MORNING
The devotional exercises on Tues
day morning were conducted by DR..
| Corson.
Teaching Pupils to Help Them.
selves" was the subject of DR.. Cor
| sons address. He said that the test
of true teaching is how much self
helpfulness it gives to a pupil. This
cannot be told at once, but we can
watch the growth in child from day
to day. The great problem that the
| teacher must solve is how to teach
the subject matter so as to give chill
dren the power to help themselves. A
teacher can not do this unless she is
| able to reproduce in her own mind
the perpleXities which confront the
child. She must see things from the
child's standpoint. DR.. Corson EN-.
phasized the Importance of patience
in dealing with children.
Mr.. Zemer then spoke on History,
Inspirational or Not" He emphasized
the Importance of the attitude of the
teacher toward the work II the
teacher has a growing, changing ideal
in her work, then the teaching will be
inspirational and not mechanical, as
it otherwise would be. He also en-
phasized the Importance of giving
pupils some motive for studying the
lesson assigned. Their curiosity
must be aroused if they will do good
work during study period.
One hundred and ninety teachers
had enrolled by Tuesday noon.
A social will be held at the high
school building this evening to which
all teachers are invited.
MONDAY AFTERNOON
The first address Monday afternoon
was given by Supt zemer, his subject
being Efficient Schools" He said
that the school is complex organiza.
ton, there being many factors to be
considered in the complete organiza.
ton. Too many persons think of a
school simply as building with its
equipment, etc, is being all there is
of the organization. But this is only
a small part of it, as the child is the
most important part of the organiza
ton and his training is the important
function of the school. In all institu.
tions-the state for instance--it has
been found that an outside law which
does not bring the desired results but
that there is something inherent in
the individual which must be brought
out by proper leadership or training
for the best results. This applies to
the work in school as well as in other
study this inherent law and realize
its significance in the training OF
children. The process will no doubt
be slower and require more patience
but will bring the desired result in
the end, that is, the making Of good
citizens.
DIR. Corson spoke on "The Cultiva
tion of Personality" In his morning
talk he had mentioned the Importance
of strong personality in success
full teacher. The question, "Can per
sonality be cultivated?" is often ask
ed. DR.. Corson said that he thinks Il
can. The factors to be cultivated are
self-respect and self-control-physical
ly, intellectually and morally, and
self-helpfulness, the quality of being
able to work out suggestions given
adopting them to the needs of the
school in question.
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