Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1920 — TEACHERS ARE IN SESSION [ARTICLE]

TEACHERS ARE IN SESSION

REGULAR COUNTY INSTITUTE BEING HELD IN THIS CITY TH(S WEEK. (G. H. Hammerton). Tuesday P. M. In his opening address Tuesday afternoon Prof. Elson continued his account of the making and importance of the constitution, giving some of the conflicts which arose when the constitution which had been adopted by the convention, was sent to the different colonies for ratification. He gave the names of the state, which in turn ratified it, and the bitter struggles and debates which were carried on in the the different colonies. The professor then took up the different amendments of the constitution, giving a careful outline of that with which ‘each amendment dealt, down to the prohibition or 18 th amendment, and the 19th amendment or the suffrage amendment. The professor added that he thought a separate woman’s party would be the biggest piece of nonsense of which he -could conceive, and he plead that none of us would advocate such a thing. Following these remarks he spoke of the defects of our constitution, and the manner by which,in his judgment, these defects might .be removed. At this period County Supt. M. L. Sterrett announced that ExCounty Superintendent Louis H. Hamilton would address the teachers at this time. Mr. Hamilton took for his subject, “The Study of History apd the Newspaper.” In his address he insisted that the teacher, be a reader of some good newspaper, that they might acquaint themselves with the things that are transpiring, which is really the making of history. Not only the institute but every one in the county should be proud of the men who have contributed so much to the school and civic life of our county as has Mr. Hamilton. The afternoon period of Prof. Evans, whose subject was “How I would teach a Lyric,” was spent wholly by him in reading several typical Lyrics. In connection with this he gave illustrations of how they should be read and taught to the class. In his remarks he says there are only three great strains of literature, i. e., Lyric, Dramatic and Narrative. He gives as the qualifications of a lyric the following: Subjective, Brief, Intense, Musical, Unity and Simple. Wednesday Morning. After the opening by singing Mrs. Brouhard took Dp the explanation of the Aldine and Beacon method of Primary work. Mrs. Brouhard having been very successful in the teaching of this method, was able to present it to primary teachers. Following this Prof. Evans came before the institute with his keen imagination and tbok for his subject “The Ballad.” After giving in his unique way the characteristics and qualifications of a ballad, he took up the reading and explanations of a few ballads. Dr. Elson, in his morning address, continued his explanations, on the amendments of the constitution stating that from the fact that only nineteen amendments, out of eightteen hundred which had been proposed, had been added. That the most important congress eves, held was the first one ever held, because of it having to give tone ana power to that body. He gives a careful explanation of the formation of the President’s cabinet, how it gradually grew in number, giving the names of each department and those at the head of these departFollowing this the Dr. took up the growth of political issues and showed that the two greatest leaders were Hamilton and Jefferson.