The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-09-02
Some Interesting Child
Stories Told At Insti-
tute Today
AN UNFIT EDITOR.
Tomorrow Will Be Last
Day of Teachers
Annual Gathering

Yellow and deep-red astors, the
hearts of the yellow ones pure gold'
glowed warmly on the platform OF
the Miller school this morning on
the fourth day Of the Teachers In
stitute, and 3oB Instructors were
carried away for nc-ent or tw"
into the pleasant by-paths OF en-.
chantment during the singing OF
two songs by Miss Pauline Reed, OF
this city, who has very sWeek
voice OF most sympathetic quality.
Miss Reed is one OF the new teach
ers this year. Miss Virginia Shaw,
of Warrington, also sang TWO songs
and was encored heartily. A num-
Der OF songs by the audience wore
much enjoyed.
Great was the regret expressed
on all aides when 1T was leaTneu
that DR.. Murphy talked for the lass
time today, This quiet man OF
most earnest bearing has proved q
friend indeed TO the many young
teachers about TO embark on a neAS
undertaking, and through his aG-
dresses has helped them greatly.
The older teachers have also been
much benefited.
what beautiful week this has
been" said Dr.. Murphy, as he arose
to speak this morning. He then
launched forcefully into a discus
sion OF why history lessons should
never be memorized saying he Wis.
tied q class once and listoned to
children attempt TO recite history
lessons they had memoriZed anu
was most astounded that their
teacher should have permitted such
a thing. Not a child understood
the text OF the recitation and each
boy and girl was floundering pain
fully through the task. The teach
er herself apparently was unable
to tell in her own words what tho
lesson was about and she too fo.-
lowed the open book with every
word her pupil recited. After one
recitation she remarked: You
missed three words in that para
graph" And that was the way she
had been teaching history for ten
years and was accounted the best
teacher In the building.
History, according to DR.. Muir.
ply, should be taught like q chain
of beads, with every event and
item closely related one to the 9TH
er. each dependent on the other,
the chain Of no account II broken.
DR.. Murphy wrote the word WASH
INGTON on the blackboard, each
letter by itself from the top of tho
board down. After each letter he
placed the important events be.
ginning with that letter in Wash
ington's administration. They ran
as follows: Whiskey Rebellion.
Admission OF States, three, Seat OF
Government Established, Hamil.
toms Financial Policy, Indian Trou.
bles, National Bank and Mint.
Genet, Gin; Treaties, Oregon Dis.
covered, New Party Policies. This
method of remembering history
events was one very helpful to
those present. Dr. Murphy gave as
Gaotda: eSa,a:Ila Of bad history
teaching, the methods OF another
teacher who compelled her pupils
to memorize history paragraphs,
the boys the odd ones anc the girls
the even ones, each psTIg.G:l: num-
bered. The gi:is ne:aI LA ned
anything about 5a2rerilsA which
occurred in the odd faragrE2hs.
DR.. Murphy talked also or orig
inal doings OF litiie children and
drew pictures aS ohlhro1. saw. Llem
regarding various lesHods a child
was asked to iliuEtraie Little Boy
Blue" She G;G% 9 nuystacK ana
that was all. "ToR MS 2bout your
picture" sa.G She teacher.
(C1nt:lued Oh page eighth