Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1907 — COUNTY INSTITUTE [ARTICLE]

COUNTY INSTITUTE

Large Gathfringof Teachers in Town. FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL INSTITUTE Sessions Were Interesting and ln> structlve. and the Pedagogues Will be Greatly Benefitted School teachers commenced to arrive in Rensselaer Sunday, and continued to oome from all parts of the county until Monday evening, when one hundred and fifteen had arrived. The occasion of this great meeting of the teachers was the forty-second annual session of their county Institute The meetings were held in the Presbyterian church and their first call to “attention” was given by Superintendent Lamson Monday forenoon at 10 o’clock, when, after a few well chosen remarks, he presented Mrs. Emma Mont Mcßae of Purdue University. Mrs. Mcßae really needs no introduction to Jasper county teachers as she has been here on two like occasions. She spoke to the teachers upon the subject of “Literature.” Her first talks were devoted to enumerating suitable books which should be read to the students by the teachers; and others, which the students should read themselves. Her talks the remainder of the week were along the lines of the general field of Literature and were well received by the teachers.

On Monday evening her lecture at the Presbyterian church was listened to by a large and appreciative audience. Monday night Dr. Stanley L. Krebs, who is a graduate of the Chicago School of Psychology and of leoturer of note, arrived, to take part in the work. Dr. Krebs has never been connected with the institute work in Jasper county until this year, and the teachers were very_ anxious to hear his first lecture, they were more anxious to hear his second, and the interest continued until the close of the week’s work. His talks were upon the subject of "Psychology.” If we come to mention all of the good things he said we would have to publish his entire lecture. Since ; space forbids this, attention can only be called to a few of his statements. His "Bee Hive” is well worth consideration —“Be pleasant, be polite, be on the play ground, be praiseful.’ As discipline by self mastery he gave: “Give each child something to do.” The following fears of children were developed: First, undeserved punishment; second, fear of darkness;third, not growing larger; fourth, buried alive, and fifth, end of the world, As “Dont’s” we quote: "Don ? t display power but tact; don’t be too strict; don’t use the negative too much; don’t lose confidence; and don’t punish inappropriate to crime.” “Happiness,” he said, "is not found in environment.” Bunyon in prison and Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration were cited as examples of proof. Fear was given as the root of all unhappiness. A careful distinction was made between fear snd terror. “Terror,” he said, "serves the purpose of protection.” The work of Prof. L. E. Wheeler, superintendent of the Woloott schools, who had charge of the music, was very satisfactory. The talk of Prof. I. N. Warren, superintendent of our city schools, given Monday afternoon was well reoeived. Those who heard Dr. Kreb’s lecture, “Bouncing the Blues,” on Wednesday evening felt that they were at least ten years younger. The banquet given by Superintendent Lamson on Tuesday evening at the Court House seems to have put the teachers into a proper frame of mind, to grow both mentally and. socially. They all became acquainted and the homelike feeling that pervaded the whole body made the institute one long to be remembered. The last meeting was held yesterday afternoon and the teachers departed for their respective homes.