The Carbon Advocate

In Annual Institute Session. What They Did As Summarized by a Special.

The twenty-sixth annual Teachers' Institute of Carbon county commenced its sessions here on Monday, in the Opera House.

The forenoon was principally devoted to preliminary work and the enrollment of teachers. The officers of the Institute are as follows:

President—T. A. Snyder, Co., Supt.

Vice Presidents—Wm. McLaughlin, J. L. Potteiger, P. H. McCabe and A. S. Beisel.

Secretaries—F. J. Stettler and J. J. Bevan.

Enrolling Clerks—G. W. Hemminger and Chas. Hauk.

Executive Committee—James Boyle, Chas. Hauk, F. X. Cannon, M. J. Mulhall, W. H. Traub and Thos. J. Drumbore.

Pianist—Miss Minnie Spencer.

The enrollment of teachers up to Monday evening was 160 of a total number of 165 in the county.

Monday Afternoon.

The Institute proper was called to order promptly at 1:30 p. m., by Co. Supt. T. A. Snyder.

Miss Mary K. Plaisted, of Peekskill, N. Y., led in singing. Rev. G. W. Dungan, Pastor of the M. E. Church, of Lehighton, conducted the devotional exercises.

Supt. Snyder in a brief but spirited address welcomed the teachers and their friends, and dwelt earnestly and practically on the important work to be done during the week.

Miss Mathilde E. Coffin, of the Millersville Normal School, addressed the Institute on 'Why we teach History.' We study History (1) For the acquisition of knowledge, (2) to teach patriotism and prepare for citizenship (3) to create a love for the subject and acquire a method of study. (4) mental drill. Miss Plaisted presented the Tonic-Sol-Fa method. She gave a short history of the new notation, how it became popular in England and how and by whom it was introduced into this country nine or ten years ago. She gave a drill in hand signs to teach tone and time.

Dr. Redway took up the study of Geography and presented a number of topics included among the common errors of fact in Physical Geography.

Monday Evening.

Dr. James Hedley of Cincinnati, Ohio, lectured to a large and appreciative audience on the subject, 'Sunny Side of Life.'

Miss Jean Glenn rendered several beautiful vocal solos. Miss Zehner, of Lehighton, is her piano accompanist.

Tuesday Morning.

This session was held in the public school building.

Supt. Snyder called the Institute to order promptly at 9 o'clock.

Miss Plaisted led in singing. Rev. J. S. Newhart, pastor of the Evangelical church, read the 19th Psalm and led in prayer.

The Institute was then divided into three sections.

In the first section, Primary schools Miss Sarah B. Barber of Palatinate College spoke on phonics and gave her methods of teaching children to pronounce correctly.

Miss Coffin spoke on Primary arithmetic. She gave valuable hints as how to teach the elements of arithmetic beneficially.

Profs. Augsburg spoke on Drawing in primary schools. He started out with the box and then turned the box into a shed and added to the shed gradually, showing how to interest little ones taking them step by step.

The second section, composed of teachers of ungraded schools were instructed by Prof. Augsburg in teaching drawing in ungraded schools.

Dr. Redway spoke on Geography and how to teach it in country schools.

The third section, advanced grades, was first addressed by Miss Plaisted on the Tonic-Sol-Fa method. She used a chart giving a systematic arrangement of the new notation.

Dr. Z. X. Snyder, principal of the Indiana State Normal School, was the next speaker. He spoke on Language and mental States.

Miss Barber also presented her methods of teaching Phonics to this section. She dwelt on the peculiarities of speech of some children and how to help to overcome those difficulties.

Tuesday Afternoon.

In the afternoon the Institute met in the Opera House and was called to order by the Chairman at 1:30 p. m.

Miss Plaisted gave a short drill in singing.

Prof. Augsburg took up drawing and showed the cube and cylinder.

Miss Coffin addressed the Institute on the 'Successful Teacher.' She emphasized good health, time, personal appearance, refined manners, good language, sufficient knowledge, professional skill, warm sympathy, love for the work and high ideal as among the most essential qualifications of a successful teacher.

Miss Barber gave a drill in Aesthetic Gymnastics. All the teachers joined in the exercise.

Dr. Redway discussed topics which were suggestions for the study of geography out of doors. Exercises of this kind are to the pupil the most useful part of his course in geography inasmuch as it brings the pupil face to face with nature.

Psychology was discussed by Dr. Snyder who showed how important it is for teachers to know their children. His idea is, principles first, methods next. The Dr. is an earnest speaker. Every word he says means something.

Tuesday Evening.

Miss Glenn sang several solos, Miss Barber recited, 'The Lighthouse Maid.'

Hon. Charles T. Steck delivered a lecture on, 'The Hero, Recognized and Unrecognized.' The lecture was a master-piece of oratory, and was replete with sound sense.

Wednesday Morning.

The Institute again assembled in the public school building and was called to order at 9 o'clock.

The three sections joined in singing.

The devotional exercises were conducted by Rev. J. H. Kuder, pastor of the Lutheran church of Lehighton.

Supt. Snyder announced that the sad intelligence had reached him that Rev. Dr. Higbee, State Superintendent of public Instruction had been stricken with paralysis late yesterday afternoon at Mifflinburg, Pa., where he had been in attendance at the teachers' County Institute, and that he was in a critical condition.

On motion the following resolution was passed unanimously and ordered to be telegraphed to the State Department.

Resolved, that we the teachers of Carbon County assembled in Institute at Lehighton, do sorrowfully, express our sincere regrets to hear of the sad misfortune that has befallen our highly esteemed State Superintendent, Dr. Higbee, that we deeply sympathize with him in his serious affliction, and that we sincerely wish him a speedy recovery.