Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 234, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1914 — INSTITUTE WEEK CLOSED FRIDAY [ARTICLE]

INSTITUTE WEEK CLOSED FRIDAY

Teachers Pronounced It a SuccessRepublican Reporter Gives Account of the Work. The Jasper County Teachers’ Institute for 1914-15 adjourned Friday after a very pleasant and profitable week’s work. The instructors foxthe week were Mr. U. J. Hoffman, superintendent of rural schools in Illinois; Mrs. Olcott, of the Danville Teachers’ Normal of this state; Miss Ethel O. Dyer, supervisor’of domestic science, Rensselaer schools; and Miss Grace Stover, supervisor of music in the Rensselaer schools. Mr. Toffman in his lecture touched upon the psyeholbgy of pedagogy and the betterment of rural schools. His detailed discussions of these subjects should prove of help to the rural teachers in their year’s work. Mrs. -Olcott is a lecturer of most pleasing personality and good platform presence. Hpr work along primary subjects was of much''inspiration and practical help to the primary teachers. She will be remembered for her delightful stories and her beautiful manner of appealing to the little children while conduct ing Jjer model classes. During the week Miss Dyer gave four lectures designed to aid rural teachers in the somewhat difficult task of introducing domestic science into their schools. In these talks Miss Dyer gave practical suggestions pertaining to the assigned subject ‘(Shelter,” “Home and School Sanitation and Decoration.” • In the manner of presentation of her subject and her delivery, Miss Dyer proved herself an efficient and pleasing institute worker. On Thursday Mr. J. I. Coe, of the agricultural department of the high school, talked to the teachers about the Purdue short course, explaining to them its purpose and urging them to arouse community interest in this movement.

The music work by Miss Stover consisted in the training of the teachers to sing correctly those songs which they must use during the year’s work. Miss Stover made good use of the school vlctrola. Her work with the teachers was interesting and was well received. The most entertaining feature of the week was the splendid illustrated lecture on Consolidation of Rairal Schools, given on Thursday evening by County Superintendent Lee Driver, of Randolph county. Randolph county has the distinction of having the largest number of consolidated schools in the U. S. The remarkable success of consolidation in this county is well known to be due to a large extent to Mr. Driver’s constant and untiring work along this line. Mr. Driver spoke to a large audience, but those who failed to hear him missed hearing a man of large achievement and inspiring personality upon a subject that should be of common interest On Wednesday evening the teachers met in the high school gymnasium for an informal reception. The program of the evening was in charge of the Rensselaer high school teachers and because of the original character of the “stunts,” it proved most enjoyable. At the last session the teachers voted against a county association for this year, but it is generally understood that there ‘ will be a large attendance of Jasper county teachers at the state teachers’ com vention to be held in Indianapolis, Oct. 30th and 31st.