Decatur Democrat, Volume 51, Number 34, Decatur, Adams County, 20 August 1908 — Page 6

THE TEACHERSGATHERHERE

AT M E. CHURCH About Two Hundred Are Enrolled—lnstructors Arrive FIRST DAY’S WORK Interesting Lectures by Dr. Armstrong and Dr. Van Ormer Responsive to the call issued byCounty Superintendent L. E. Opliger, the teachers of the various schools of Adams county, assembled in the spacious lecture room of the M. E. church Monday morning, where the annual institute was auspicuously opened at 9:30 o’clock by Professor Opliger, who called the initial meeting to order. About two hundred representative teachers, in all, had gathered to absorb the excellent instruction scheduled for the event, ana aaams county should be proud of tne gallant array of educational talent which was in evidence. It is a Corps of intelligent teachers who guide the destinies of Adams county’s youths to honorable and busy lives and this, together with other conditions accounts for our rapid progress in the all important affairs of education. County Superintendent, Opliger, the ever aggressive and consistent controller of our schools, took on an air of pride as the young teachers filed in the church after being registered by the recording secretary. His reasons for pride are ample. The schools are undergoing unprecedented progress in every department, which is sufficient enlogy to those in whose hands the interests at stake are entrusted. The convening of the session proper was signaled by a prayer by Dr. C. B. Wilcox, touching on the vital interests of school representation after which Professor Opliger in his usual pleasing and courteous manner greeted the teachers and their friends. His address was only a verification of the fact that none but harmonious relations existed between himself and teachers and that he was willing and ever ready to do all in his power to advance the interests of the great cause represented. He admonished the instructors to continue in their excellent work and pledged his unswerving support in their behalf. Notes of Monday's session as furnished us by the secretary follows: Greetings, Prof. Opliger. “We have met here this morning with the hope that these sessions will be a help to you for the work of the coming year. By enrolling in college as you have done during the past summer our schools wills fare better than ever before. To have a successful institute, there should be no strangers present. With friendly greeting to one and all, I present to you this institute. “The Teacher Before His Class, ’’ Dr. Armstrong. A good deal can be done with the child in the way of enthusiasm. There is just one thing in this world without enthusiasm and that it to rot. Enthusiasm comes from association with others. In some ways individual instruction is better than class instruction. In our schools where we have twenty-five or thirty pupils to each teacher classes are organized to create enthusiasm and to save time. These things the master must do to test ability, give instruction and inspire. The class should be arranged by the teacher with a view to compactness, and to avoid communication. Attention is imporant in a class and should be procured by the teacher. No pupil should be allowed to lounge in his seat, because a careless attitude destroys attention. Three ways of dealing wfh inattention: let it alone, demand attention, and by indirect means. Close attention may be procured by convincing the pupil that if he is inattentive he will be required to answer most of the questions. The teacher should be a magnet of interest. Some pupils are easily magnetized; others are more difficult to magnetize; still others are extremely difficult to magnetize. Constant application of the magnet to the pupil will at last magnetize the most difficult subject The teacher should exercise infinite patience in applying instruction time and time again to the mind of the pupil. The teacher should be well prepared before going before his class. His information should be beyond the knowledge of his class. The imagination of the child should

| be appealed to, which can be accoiu- | plished by the well prepared teacher. The duty of the teacher is to suggest a plan of study to the pupil, and teach ! him how to get a lesson. A program of study is desirable. The easiest lessons should be studied when the mind is the most fatigued and the hardest when the mind is freshest. The i teacher ought to suggest the principal points in the lesson to the pupils. Review points in past lesson. A general rapid survey of today’s lesson first, ■ then a serious study with a view of mastery of the lesson. Never go over several times what you already know. The power of concentration is the important thing in successful study. i “The Chief Aim and the Greatest Need,” Dr. Van Ormer. The function cf an aim in education cannot be overlooked. Aims are adequate and inadequate. The first thing for a teacher to do is to find an adequate aim for • the term's work. Aims are determined from time to time by geographical, social or personal environment The French aim in her education is determined by her army; present aims: the bread and butter aim the result of ancestral poverty; the dollars and cents aim. the result of desire for financial standing, and iniquitious distribution of money. The intellectual aim. the result of a desire for mental growth. The culture aim. the result of a desire for culture; a surface veneering, the thing that will show and shine in society. The fitting for the work of life aim. The social efficiency aim. The character aim. The true aim is determined by the needs of society. The supreme aim is the character aim. the development of good men. We need character stable and strong, that cannot be trampled upon by demagogues, and that insure us our liberty. The teacher ♦ who teaches with the character aim in mind will find teaching a joy and compensation adequate. Monday Afternoon Session. “Pedagogy of Story Telling,” Dr. Armstrong. The civilization, culture and refinement of today is the accumulation of the past The things of the past have been brought to the present time by heredity. Heredity in some measure determines what we ■ are today; by the instruction of today; I and by the fine arts. The fine arts ■ have gathered together the finish t things of the past and through them > are transmitted to the people of today. The great geniuses creating the I fine arts use music, painting and lan--1 guage to express their thoughts. Stor- > ies are one of the best things in which : has been preserved the life of the past I The purpose of stories —kinds of stor- ■ ies—method of telling stories. The ■ stories we teach children are valuable because they teach language. It is better to teach correct expressions by stories than by memorizing lists of expressions. Stories teach the child > concentration, because they interest > him. The imagination of children is > cultivated by means of stories. As a . means of cultivating the feelings, stor- > ies are very valuable. Feeling must ■ be carried over into the will to result -1 in the cultivation of character. Eth- , ical lessons are best taught by stor- . lies. , There are nonsense stories, nature stories, in which must be incorporated ' human interest; animal stories which > 1 appeal to the sympathy of the child; - fairy stories, which children should be i taught, for they are rich in ethical les--1 sons; fables are the best form of stori ies to teach ethical lessons of larger s growth. Aesop’s fables have had a i great effect upon the morals of later > times. The teacher should be familiar s with the story and able to tell it in 1 an interesting manner. It is well to . dramatize parts of some stories. It is > important to have the child give the - story back to the teacher in language, I drawing and action. Music —Prof. Rausch. The guccess- . ful music teacher in the public schools I does not need to be a good singer. The . pupil should do the work under the s teacher’s direction. The purpose of - public school music is to create a de--3 sire for good songs, to teach sight , reading and interpretation of songs, t For the first month of the school year, - familiar songs should be used, and t sung correctly. The songs should be 1 pitched to suit to the child’s voice. A male teacher whose voice is pitched f low, should never sing for his pupils. The lady teacher should always sing before her pupils. Children should be ’ taught to sing lightly and with exf pression. Until the age of twelve, i- boys and girls voices are of the same 1 quality. Thirty minutes a day should be devoted to music. A seven months’ outline: First month, Ist and 2nd Works; Review of old songs, learn- *• ing to sing them correctly; 3rd and e 4th works; review rudiments; sound 1 tones; pulse notes; bars and measures, e Continue old songs and introduce two a song studies of four phases each, p. 10 i. and 11. “Mod. Music Reader,” Ran--1 dolph and “Time to Rise.’’ Outline

| will be continued from day to day until the complete outline is given. Tuesday morning’s session erf the Adams county teachers 1 institute opened with devotional services, conducted by Dr. Armstrong. Dr. Armstrong read the 23rd Psalm, and commented upin it, saying that David was peculiarly fitted to write thia beautiful Psalm. A psalm of plenteousness. I shall not want abundance of water to quench my thirst, for forgiveness, companionship, comfort, protection, jay. I shall not want anything in this world or throughout the ages of eternity.. A psalm promising abundance of everything. “Neglected Phases of Mind,” Dr. Van Ormer. We are here as the result of a divine creation. Should there be any neglected phases of mind? Why should not each phase of the mind be developed? None snould be neglected. Let us assume the Darwinian theory of evolution of man’s existence. Should there be any phases of the mind neglected? No. From the needs of society ought we to neglect the phases of mind? The answer is no. Are there any neglected phases of mind, theoretically? No. Practically are there any neglected phases of mind? Yes. Any school program shows that the volitional and emotional phases are neglected. We neglect these phases more than the intellectual because they are more intangible. The home demands reports in per cents, and the volitional and emotional phases of mind cannot be reported in this manner. The demands of the home often make it necessary to neglect certain phases of mind. The homes demand things that may be put imediately into practice as long as this condition exists the school must neglect certain phases of mind. How are these phases neglected? We neglect these things largely because they are confined to a stated interval on the school program, instead of finding the volitional and emotional in every lesson of the day. The one way to reach the emotions is the intellect The things the boys and girls will bless us for in after life is what we do for them along these neglected phases of the mind. Herein lies the greatest potency of teaching. Prof. Rauch then continued his music work, proving of great interest to every teacher. Dr. Armstrong’s lecture on the “Pedagogy of Story Telling” was illustrative of the points developed in yesterday’s lecture. He chose stories from the Bible to illustrate his points, and strongly impressed upon the audience the value of the story in the education of the child. "The Philosophy of Drill,” Dr. Van Ormer. It is necessary for many things we do in school to be retained. There are some things we forget but they have touched our souls and have left us the better. Some things we remember because we have heard them recently; others because of their intensity; and still others by frequentcy of repetition. We must drill if we would do our duty by the boys and girls. Drill results in habit. There is seme mysterious relation existing between mind and body. Every time a thing is done over it is done a little easier. It is the law of habit which makes education possible. Make educational machines of the boys and girls if you please. Drill, drill until it is impossible to make a mistake. We ought to be talking machines. Learn to talk right We must make some things mechanical so that they may be handed over to the nervous syste mwhich will do them automatically. Drill in Latin, higher mathematics and all. Mr. C. L. Walters an ex-teacher in the schools of Adams county, Jacob Huser, the trustee of Monroe township, J. D. Hale, of Decatur and Rev. Jackson, of Berne, attended sessions of the institute this morning. The presence of these friends of education in our institute was highly appreciated. o John Elzey of this city received a letter Thursday from George S. Prentice, of Hebron, Neb., telling of the death of his father, Joseph R. Prentice, a former well known resident here. He became til with acute Bright’s disease on July 29th and his sufferings continued but little over a week, the end coming at 12:20 a. m. on last Friday, August 7th. The funeral services were held last Sunday, August 9th. Mr. Prentice was a resident of this county many years ago, and will be remembered by many. He went to the war from here and soon after his return went to Kansas,where he made a fortune. Some years ago he moved to Nebraska, that he might give his children better educational opportunities. Last fall he paid his old friends here a visit, spending two weeks as the guest of John Elzey and he saw many of his old acquaintances, securing much pleasure from their greetings. He was seventy years old. His death will cai-ie many pangs of sorrow here.

Misses and Faye and Ruth Hammell returned this afternoon {rom Columbia City, Ind., where they were visiting with friends for several days. The fire boys may be up against it in regard to their special car jto Garrett. At this time the situation is decidedly against them ag the line from Fort Wayne to Garrett refuses to haul specials. If this is so the five cars from the south with its five bands will have to use the ordinary cars of the company after reaching Ft. Wayne and cannot make the splendid splurge they had expected. A meeting will be held tonight, and it will be decided then what steps to take in hopes that the northern interurban line will relent. —Bluffton Banner. o Chicago. August 17. —The national campaign will not be in full swing until <he first week in September. The two national chairmen are still busy with the work of getting headquarters machinery in running order. | Mr. Hitchcock will leave here this evening to attend the Sherman notification at Utica, and after a look in on New York headquarters will come back here for an indefinite stay. Mr. Mack has not got the New York branch of his headquarters open yet, and some time this week will go over there to start things. While each party has its headquarters here open, the working organizations have not been completed. The agencies flor collecting campaign money are in better shape than any of the other departments. The financial problem is giving both parties a good deal of concern. The contributions so far have not been large, although the Republicans have, it is asserted, received two or three rather handsome gifts from individuals in New York state. In view of the fact that the Republicans do not intend to make public the names of the contributors to their fund until after election, the identity of the men who have “helped out” at the start, and at a time when cash was badly needed, cannot be learned While the Democrats are getting money in small sums from a great many individuals the total, when compared with the estimate of expenses each week, is very small. The Republicans are planning a campaign that will cost between $3,000,000 and $4,000,000. So far the Democrats have not made plan,, for any such expensive fight. Treasurer Sheldon, of the Republican committee, who has been here for several days, has disappointed some of the westerners by insisting that all money contributed through Mr. Uphom, the assistant treasurer, with headquarters here, must be forwarded to him (Mr. Sheldon) at New York. Some of the western Republicans seem to fear that if the money ever gets to New York it will not get back into the doubtful states of the central west and the far west. Mr. Sheldon is emphatic in saying that he will not accept money from corporations —that he will respect the federal law —and he reiterates that the names of the contributors will not be made public until after the election. It is evident to most disinterested observers that this question cf when campaign contributions shall be made public will be uppermost through the campaign. At Democratic headquarters it is said that Mr. Bryan does not intend to let the question die. “He intends to insist day by day after the campaign opens,’’ said one of the Democrats at headquarters, “that the Republicans make public before the election the names of the contributors to their fund. He intends to ‘dare’ the opposition to give the public the list cf contributors, and he wants every speaker sent out by the Democratic committee to make much of the subject.” Some very influential Republicans are suggesting that their organization - may have to do what Mr. Dayan says he will challenge it to do, but at this time, it may be said, the treasurer of the Republican committee has no thought of giving up the list of contributors until after election. o — — Sheriff Ell Meyer drove to the home of Luther Lehman. two and one-half miles east of Geneva Monday and placed the man under arrest, bringing him to the city where he was incarcerated in the county jail upon the charge of forgery. Lehman who is a young married man has on several occasions forged notes with his father’s signature thfereou. The affidavit causing his arrest filed by C. Neuenschwander, of Berne, alleges that on September 14, 1907, Lehman unlawfully, feloniously and falsely did make forge and counterfeit a certain promissory note for the payment of money in the sum of SSO, with intent thereby to defraud the bank of Berne. Lehman waived a preliminary hearing and was bound over to circuit court by Squire James H Smith in the sum of SSOO. Being unable to furnish same he was remanded to jail, where he will remain until his trial in the next I term of court unless bond is furnished I in the meantine.

Mrs. L. G. Holmes, Miss Vadie and Waiter Holmes, also Miss Lucile Hale and Mr. H. T. Gregg came over from Portland via automobile and are spending the day with the Hale family and friends. Walter was the chauffeur and made the run in one hour and thirty minutes arriving in Decatur for early breakfast. Marooned all night in the country near Decatur was the fate of Terreil Adams’ automobile from 7 o’clock Sunday until 7 o'clock this morning, and after figuring for twelve hours, Ed. Foust, who was called to get them out of the difficulty, fixed the machine in fifteen minutes and started the party back to town. Adams and Charles Leonard, of Hartford City, with two lady friends, started to Berne for supper. They had enjoyed the dinner set out by that celebrated hostelry and started home with a lovely ride ahead of them. Decatur was reached safely, but six mnes tms siae of that county seat the automobile went to the bad and stopped. The two boys climbed under it in the latest approved style a la the cartoons in Life and the other funny papers, but they were short on a knowledge of mechanics, and the machine refused to budge. Darkness came on, and arriving at the resolution that It was an all night’s stay, refuge was sought for the ladies at a neighboring farm house. Hospitality was extended, but the lady who took, in the girls had lost her husband recently, and in showing them their room, mentioned the instance and related that he had died therein. The boys crawled into the automobile to woo the goddess of slumber, leaving the girls to sleep in the house in the room that had the associations of a death bed connected with it. Naturally their slumbers were fitful and broken. About midnight one of the family, a cousin, who had been on an excursion to Rome City, came home and made all kinds of racket getting into the house. Thinking that burglars were trying to break in, it is reported that the two girls hastily robed and crawling through a window, sought refuge in the automobile. Terrell was alone, as his friend, making excuses that he wanted a drink, had sought a soft bed in an adjacent straw stack. When the matter was explained by the occupants of the house, the ladies went back to the shelter of the brick house. Ed Foust, who was telephoned for, looked at the machine once, announced that the batteries were weak, made a repair or two, and an hour from that time the entire party was back in Bluffton. —Bluffton Banner. — o INSPECTING THE LINE. Bluffton Party Makes a Trip to Celina on Inspection Tour, A party composed of W. H. Eichhorn. Lon Batson, Peter Neuenschwander and Joseph Gerber left this morning for a trip to Celina, Ohio, in the interest of the new Bluffton. Berne and Celina traction line. They will confer with city officials and others there as to plans for getting into the town best, and will also visit other towns enroute. Engineer Batson says that all along the line he and his surveying corps have been warmly greeted and assisted in every manner possible. The people of Chattanooga. Ohio, are especially anxious to secure the line for they have neithsteam or electric line outlet. Mr. Batson says that he never saw finer farming land than in that vicinity, and jhe prosperous farmers want the line and tell him to go through their farm in any way he wants to, and most of them are willing to donate right-of-way to secure the line. Walter Baumgardner and William Workman, Mr. Batson’s assistants, went to Vera Cruz today to begin the work of making the topographical may from that point.— Bluffton News, ■ — ■o ■ ■ — — AN UNUSUAL ACCIDENT. Automobile. Throws Rock Through a Plate Glass Window. The elasticy of the tires of an automobile belonging to Guy Gottschall threw a rock from the street through the big plate glass display window of the city restaurant, of which he is owner, last evening. The accident happened as Mr. and Mrs. Gottchall were riding in their machine. This is the first accident of this kind that has been reported in this city alhough in some places they are of common occurrence. At the time of the mishap a young man was standing near the window and the rock missed him not more than eighteen inches.—Richmond Paladinm.

Hartford City, Ind.. Aug. 18.—At high noon in the auditorium of Grace Methodist church was performed the marriage ceremony of Miss Bertha Laine to Rev. Edward Bergman, of Millgrove. On the stroke of 12 the bridal party arrived and proceeded to the altar to the wedding march played by Mrs. Naftzger. The Episcopal ceremony was performed by the Rev. Earl Naftzger. The bride's attendants were Miss Netta Haiferty and Mrs. Charles Brown, of Millgrove. The groom was accompanied by Charles Reeves of this city, and Charles Brown, of Millgrove. The bride wsa beautifully arrayed in white silk and the groom appeared in conventional black. The church auditorium was prettily decorated in cut flowers. Besides the regular congregation there were in attendance about 200 especially invited guests. Immediately after the ceremony the happy couple left for Millgrove, where the groom is pastor of the Methodist church. Miss Laine was one of the most popular young women of the city and her many friends here extend to her their best wishes for future happiness. Mr. Bergman is well and favorably known in this city, having occupied the pulpit at the Baptist church for one year, leaving here but a short time ago. He is a well educated and exemplary young man and is held in the high esteem of his many Decatur friends. Rev. Bergman is a man of magnitude. He is a consistent and untiring worker in behalf of the Christian cause and although but enjoying a short experience in the ministry as yet, he has a most promising future. The bride and groom start on their matrimonial career with the well wishes of hundreds of Decatur people. o Manager M. F. Smith of the Decatur Furnace factory Monday landed the contract of furnishing two of the famous furnaces manufacturell here for the new Wren school house which will be completed by December first. After inspecting the furnaces manufactured in various cities, the board of trustees of Willshire township concluded that the Decatur furnace is by far better in many ways than others which came to their notice. It can also be purchased at a reasonable price. The fact that the $12,000 building will be erected by Decatur contractors, the plans were drawn by a Decatur architect and the furnaces will be furnished by a Decatur firm, demonstrates that we can do the work and furnish the equipments at reasonably low figures, and do it well. Mann and Christen who were awarded the contract to build the school house, have begun work on same and will rush it to completion. Architect Oscar Hoffman drew the plans, which exactly represented the ideas of the board. o Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison and daughter, Miss Harriett, went to Fort Wayne Tuesday from where :ney went to St. Louis via the Wabash railroad. They will leave there this evening for Mexico City and after a day or two in that old city, will go to the mountains near Oaxaca, where they will join a party of friends for a month in that most beautiful and perfect clime. Mrs. Morrison has made several trips to Old Mexico during recent years and is greatly in love with the climate. When an invitation came from old friends who are there, she could not resist and though she made up her mind only Monday mor-iing she was ready for the several thousand mile journey and left early Tuesday They will no doubt see the Decatur colony there, including Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hite, Russ Harruff and Paul Wooten. They will return in time for Mis s Harriet to resume her school work at Glendale. — O—WALKED IN SLEEP. Bluffton Lady Fell Down the Stairway While Asleep. Mrs. John Franks, of west Wiley avenue, walked in her sleep at 11 o'clock Saturday night, and reaching the head of the stairs in one of the George Harnish properties, fell headlong to the bottom. She was picked up by Mr. Franks, who was aroused by the sound of her fall. Investigation showed that her left wrist was broken, but her worst and most painful injuries were in her back and shoulders, which were severely wrenched and which has rendered her helpless. She is kept in a chair, but there will be no danger of her failure to recover unless she is hurt worse than appears at this time. Mrs. Franks is not io the habit of somnambulism, and this w’as the first time she has ever walked in her sleep. She is the wife of the C., B. & C. section boss, and is aged about fifty years—Bluffton Banner.