Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 257, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 November 1917 — North End Teachers’ Institute. [ARTICLE]

North End Teachers’ Institute.

The teachers of Wheatfield, Kankakee, Keener and Walker ships met at the Primo at Wheatfield last Saturday in a joint institute, with John D. Matt as president and R. A. Conn as secretary. It was the first institute of its kind in the county. This session differed from the regular sessions in the nature of the work presented. In fact, the teachers played a comparatively passive part. The institute was called to order at 9:30 o’clock, and Rev. R. E. Emerick opened the session with prayer. The operata, “The House • That Jack Built,” was well rendered by g> pupils of the Wheatfield schools, trained by Russell Wooden. This was followed by a clever and well presented Mother Goose comedy by Miss Grace Poole’s primary pupils. After a vocal solo by Mr. Wooden, Prof. Thomas F. Moran, of Purdue University, delivered the address of the morning, "Teaching American History in 1917.” He forcibly presented the fact that American history must now be taught differently from the methods ordinarily used. History is now being so rapidly formed that we can no longer afford to burden the minds of the children with unimportant dates and events. He conclusively proved that no longer are the minor details of the Omnibus Bill and the Missouri Compromise and such matters in order, but that the child should be taught live history, American ideals, national and international laws in their simplest fundamental principles, international relations and their significance, history that makes for loyalty and patriotism. The forenoon’s session was closed with o vocal solo by Miss Bertha Hershman. The afternoon began with a model lesson in primary reading, conducted by Miss Minnie Tinkham. Miss Poole’s primary boys then presented a little military drill. This was followed by a short talk by Rev. Emerich on the Y. M. C. A., its aims and its accomplishments. Following this, Mr. Alex Jensen played a violin solo, and Mrs. M. B. Fyfe sang a solo, “Sons of America.” Prof. Moran then delivered the afternoon’s address, “The March •of Democracy.” He showed how the democracy, the highest form of has evolved from the absolute monarchy, how the major European struggles have for many years been- conflicts between democracy and autocracy, how existing European nations represent different stages in the march of democracy, from the Prussian monarchy to the French, Portuguese, Swiss and unstable Russian republics; how Pan-Americanism means the protection and cultivation of the great American republic; how the change of conditions since the time, of Washington has changed the relations of the,world’s greatest democracy,the United States; and how that republic has been forced into the stupenduous conflict to crush Prussianism and insure the privileges of government of the people, by the people, for the people. The session closed with a quartette of the DeMotte seniors. A number of patrons of the different units attended this session and expressed their satisfaction at having grasped the opportunity of participating. . They and the teachers were served at intermissions to pie, sandwiches, coffee, little cakes and other dainties prepared by the Wheatfield domestic science classes. The next joint institute will be at -DeMotte un Saturday, Dec. B,and Walker township holds its next at Walker Center on the same date. The teachers would be especially glad to welcome their patrons and other visitors at any of their institutes and extend to them a. hearty invitation to visit their in their schools.