The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1919-09-05
Teachers INSTITUTE
IN SESSION THIS week
AND is VERY
WELL ATTENDED
Speakers Give Able Addresses Stress
ing Most Important Points Neces-
sary to Good Teaching.

Inc Medlna county Teachers Insti-
Iute opened four day session at the
congregational church Tuesday morn
ing at $50. The speakers that have
Ghus lar appeared on the program are
Prot. Vernon Riegel of the State De-
partment of Public Instruction, Co.
Il41mbus, O.; Mrs. Frances Richard. of
Miami University, Oxford O.: and
Mrs. Lillian Burt of the State Denart-
ment of Health. p'- '
MIR. Riegel first spoke of the one
room rural school pointing ont it's
weaknesses. In so doing. he stated I
that the fail, the cradle, the OK cart
etc;' had passed away, the farmer
had improved his home, the automo-
o1le had come, but the rural school
alone had not changed. Mr.. Riegel
gnen pointed out what might vet he
zone IN these schools while thew are
yet with us. Without doubt the teach
ers IN these schools were much en-
couraged and will attack their prob-
lems with more hope and energy.
While admitting that manv teachers
succeeded without normal training he
stated this was no argument against
properly trained teachers. Pronerlv
trained teachers do not remain 81
long in the trial and error" stage
tney are more susceptible to super
VISION, they have pedagogical vo-
caoulary and are able to discuss
school problems much more intelIi.
gently than the unframed teacher.
Mr. Riegel further pointed out verv
emphatlcally that child becomes ed
ucated by participation and in sur
mounting difficulties. The tasks as
signed are often impossible for the
chlld and often the child has his work
done for him by the teacher. a d.
rect violation Of the principle of ed,,-
cation by participation.
Mrs. Richard so far has been dis
cusslng English in the grades. She is
an excellent example of the embodi>
ment OF what she teaches. She is q
very fluent speaker very ready with
preeept and example. She captivated
her audience at the very first lecture
and has retained the attention of ali
tne teachers in her subsequent talks.
She tirst laid the psychological basis
1or English work, followed this with
methods Of telling stories, then took
UP the problem of correcting faulty
sptxA winch was handled in a wav to
be helpful to high school teachers as
well as grade teachers, her fourth
lecture on composition writing was
treated in a reasonable way. Ger
talnly this advice and helps will be
aids to all teachers in their approach
ing work. O''~'
just before the noon intermission
on Wednesday, Mrs. Lillian Burt
spoke on Rebuilding Americans /"
lhls talk was given in excellent stvle
and while on a subject just now be-
coming discussable in public was so
treated that all understood and none
could take offense. Following this
talk, Mrs. Burt distributed some verv
excellent literature on the subject.
Inc attendance at the institute is
good. Many of the new teachers from
a distance are showing their interest
by being on hand. The teachers of
Wadsworth exempted village are at
tending the institute here this year
and Supt. Elliott of that place man
ltests an interest in joining the educa-
tlonal interests of the county.
The superintendents of the districts
are practically all in attendance and
a feeling of good fellowship and a
spirit OF cooperation is in evidence.
All look forward to two more days
OF help and pleasure.