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| Maria W. Bishop. |
Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, May 8, 1903.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE DISCUSSIONS.
Some Work by Local People that Will Interest All.
At the conference of primary teachers conducted by Miss Maria W. Bishop of the Cortland Normal school at the recent teachers’ institute in Homer, N. Y., Miss Bishop answered many questions, the interest in the exercises being much increased by the cordial and responsive manner in which the teachers present contributed to the discussions their own opinions and experiences.
The following are some of the answers given to the questions that had been handed in:
“Do we try to teach too much?”
“How should I treat a boy for stubbornness?” Let him alone, make him feel that you can get along without him and enjoy life too. Make him feel left out; that he is missing something. Catch him unawares with a question. Don’t make a fuss over him. Never coax or drive. Don’t assert your will, for then you are as bad as the child.
“Are monthly reports for pupils of any value?” Depends on attitude of parents. Takes too much time. Good in some cases. Should use sometimes. Largely an individual matter.
“How to promote habits of cleanliness.” Set an example. Create a sentiment in favor of cleanliness by keeping room and premises neat. Make them feel that the school room is as good as a parlor and should, therefore, be clean. Give merited praise for cleanliness.
“How overcome tardiness?” Have something they will miss if not present. It does not cure tardiness to make up time after school. Tell stories illustrating the virtue of promptness. Business men don’t want tardy clerks, and firemen and others can’t be tardy.
“How to stop children reading from memory.” Give them something to read that they don’t know by heart.
“How interest primary pupils?” Be alert, wide awake and interested yourself. Make work interesting by using concrete work. Appeal to right sense. Remember that children are interested in picture, in toys, in play and games. Tell stories for language work. Keep children busy, busy with their hands. Make children see reason for their work, and see some sense in what they are doing.
“Should teachers direct attention to errors, or to what is correct in written work?” On general principles, dwell on good rather than on bad. Have an ideal and try for it. It is deadly dull, discouraging, profitless business to dwell forever on mistakes. Don’t correct all errors. Aim at one error at a time.
“Nature study and geography in first three grades.” Nature work includes insects, plants, minerals, soil, rain, wind, etc. Adapt work to seasons, location, climate, etc. Have children make collections.
Miss Bishop’s talk abounded in practical suggestions and keen analysis which made the conference one of the most helpful periods of the institute.
“Neglected Values.”
Principal Albert C. Mayham of the Killiwog Union school speaking on “Neglected Values,” said in part: The teacher has a value as a man or as a woman, that is all. His vocation does not change his character, though it may reveal it. His measure is his worth, not his profession. He counts for no more as a teacher than he would as a brick layer. You should never ask, when it comes to matters of personal conduct, ought I to do this as a teacher? Be natural. Be a man or a woman first and a teacher afterward.
Our chief concern should be to do well the work of the common school, to hold to those old line evidences of an education that are shown in good handwriting, ability to read well and accuracy in figures. If these are not the first fruits of common schools, what are? The idea has gone abroad in these days that the work of the common schools is necessarily irksome and uninteresting. Nothing could be further from the truth, and the old line teachers will bear me out in the assertion that those of you who teach arithmetic will do it, not because you love Evangeline less, but because you love the multiplication table more.
Conference of Academic Teachers.
One of the most interesting and profitable periods was the conference of academic principals presided over by Principal P. M. Helfer of Marathon. The subjects discussed were: “Interscholastic Relations,” “Methods of Rhetoricals,” Completing Secondary Education,” and “Aims in English Teaching.” Principal Rounds of Homer spoke at length on the first, Principal Lansing of Truxton on the second, and Principal Wheeler of Cincinnatus on the third subject. The rhetorical work called out ideas from several teachers. Lack of time cut short the discussion on English, but Conductor Shaver devoted the next period to a vigorous handling of the subject.
A committee of principals was appointed to act with Commissioner McEvoy to formulate a plan for interscholastic rhetoricals and athletics and consummation may be expected during the next school year.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Dedication of World’s Fair Grounds.
The formal dedication of the buildings and grounds of the Louisiana Purchase exposition at St. Louis, in which President Roosevelt and ex-President Cleveland felicitously participated, was an event of interest to the whole country and was a fitting prelude to the opening of the great fai a year hence.
The exposition commemorates an event hardly less important than the Declaration of Independence and the discovery of this continent, in commemoration of which the Chicago and Philadelphia expositions were held.
The Louisiana Purchase, for which the United States paid $15,000,000 in 1803, now contains a population of 15,000,000, and in it lies the greater part of twelve states, with an area of 875,000 square miles. This territory in 1900 produced in farm products alone $750,000,000; its farm animals were valued at $825,000,000; over $2,000,000,000 has been taken from the mines of Colorado and Montana, and when this material wealth is added to the inestimable value which this territory has had in the development of the country it is made plain that its acquirement is an event worthy of commemoration on the most impressive scale.
To be exact the Louisiana purchase price was not in form $15,000,000. Of that sum paid $11,250,000 was the consideration for the territory; the remaining $3,750,000 was to satisfy claims of United States citizens against France. It is estimated that the exposition commemorating the purchase will cost considerably more than twice $15,000.
DEATH OF MISS HUSTED
After an Illness of Less than a Week from Brain Fever.
The death of Miss Lura Fancher Husted occurred at her home, 9 Arthur-ave., at 9 o’clock Saturday evening as a result of brain fever.
Miss Husted had been ill less than a week. She attended church the Sunday before her death as usual and seemed to be in her customary health. That evening, however, she complained of headache, etc., and retired early, telling her mother that she thought she was going to have the grip. Monday she was worse and Dr. Spaulding was summoned, but was unable to help her. She failed rapidly, the end coming Saturday night.
Miss Husted felt all the time that her illness would result fatally and made her plans accordingly her her mother to carry out.
Miss Husted was born in Baltimore, Sept. 10, 1869. At the death of her father twenty-four years ago she came to Cortland with her mother. She graduated from the Cortland Normal school in 1892 and taught school for several years. She was a faithful and consistent member of Grace Episcopal church, where she will be greatly missed.
The funeral was held form the house, 6 Arthur-ave., at 1 o’clock Tuesday. The body was taken to Marathon on the 2:38 train for interment.
DEATH OF THOMAS SCOTT.
A Long Time Resident of Cortland County Passed Away.
Thomas Scott of 63 Floral-ave., for many years a resident of Cortland county, died at his home at 11 o’clock Sunday night after a short illness from heart trouble. Mr. Scott was born in England 78 years ago and came to this country with his parents when 13 years of age. They settled in Truxton, N. Y., and there his early manhood was passed.
About forty-six years ago he was married to Mary L. Kennedy of Homer, who died six years later. Twenty-five years ago he was married a second time, his bride being Mrs. Diantha Dearman of Dryden, N. Y., who survives him. Three daughters also survive: Mrs. Albert Gates of Little York and Misses Anna and Maggie Scott of Cortland.
Some forty-three years ago Mr. Scott bought a farm west of Cortland and there he lived for thirty years, but for the last thirteen years he has lived in Cortland.
Mr. Scott has been for many years a member of the Baptist church of Homer. The funeral will be held at the house tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock, and will be conducted by Rev. C. W. Negus of Homer.
Death of George E. Larrabee.
The funeral of George E. Larrabee, who died in Homer of heart difficulty on Thursday, April 30, was held at the house Sunday morning and was conducted by Rev. W. F. Kettle, pastor of the Congregational church of Homer, N. Y. Many friends were present. The flowers were very numerous, and special mention is made of the beautiful piece sent by the class in Congregational Sundayschool [sic, era preferred spelling] taught by the daughter of the deceased. The burial was in the Cortland Rural cemetery.
Mr. Larrabee was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Larrabee, and was born March 17, 1857, at their home on a hill above the Cortland county alms house. On Nov. 5, 1878, he was married to Ida May Graham of Cortland, and two children, a sone and a daughter, were born to them. All his life with the exception of a single year in Connecticut has been spent in Cortland county. For several years he conducted a meat market in Cortland. Five years ago he moved upon the Frank Copeland farm in Homer which has since been his home.
He is survived by his wife and two children, as well as by his parents, one brother, Mason Larrabee, and one sister, Mrs. Floyd Gates of Cortland.
Death of Mrs. Bangs.
Mrs. W. P. Winters received word this morning of the death on Sunday, May 3, of her mother Mrs. Eliza Bangs at Santa Ana, Cal.
Mrs. Bangs, whose maiden name was Eliza Berry, was born in Groton, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1825. She was married in 1854 to Samuel Bangs and moved to Cortland in 1873, where she resided until less than three years ago when she went to the home of her son, Fred E. Bangs, at Santa Ana, Cal. She is survived by three children, two sons, F. E. Bangs of Santa Ana, and Loren B. Bangs of Moravia, N, Y., and one daughter Mrs. W. P. Winters of Cortland.
Funeral services will be held at Groton at a time not yet decided upon.
Death of William Howe.
William Howe, long a resident of this city, died at his home on Groton-ave., Monday at 1:30 after an illness of but six days from pneumonia.
Mr. Howe was born on the hill 2 ½ miles west of Cortland, Dec. 30, 1828, and was one of the family of thirteen children of Hezekiah and Clarrisa Howe. He was married to Miss Corella Hatfield Sept. 16, 1851, who survives him. He is also survived by one brother, Hezekiah Howe of Olean, N. Y., and by an only grandson Mrs. Fred L. Howe of this city.
Mr. Howe was a veteran of the civil war, having served with the One Hundred Eighty-fifth N. Y. Vols.
The funeral was held from his late home in Groton-ave. Thursday at 2 o’clock. Rev. D. D. King of the Homer-ave. M. E. church conducted the service.
Funeral of Mrs. Francis Burns.
At St. Mary’s church, on Saturday, May 3, occurred the funeral of Brigit Burns of East Homer, who died April 30. The deceased came to this country from Ireland bringing with her the principles and character of a true Christian, and was always found honest, true and a practical Catholic. For twenty-six years she lived on a quiet, little farm near East Homer. There with her husband they have toiled together in their simple, earnest, honest way of living. She is survived by her husband, on whom this sad blow falls with crushing force. The deceased was 66 years old, having spent the greater part of her life in this country. Her death was due to pneumonia and heart trouble. She was a shining light with her neighbors and the community in which she lived and labored hard and attended to the regulations and duties of her holy religion, receiving the last rites of her holy church. ***
BREVITIES.
—The Normal school track team will meet a team for the Ithaca high school at Ithaca on Saturday.
—Widger Brothers of Solon today received a new buzz saw, five feet in diameter, for their saw mill.
—The receipts from the food sale given by the Ladies’ and Pastor’s union of the First M. E. church were entirely satisfactory, being $25.25.
—The last entertainment in the Normal course will be a lecture at Normal hall next Monday evening, May 11, by Hamilton Wright Mabie. His theme will be “Culture for Today.”
—The old home on the E. H. Brewer property on Tompkins-st., which has been purchased by H. V. Beckwith, has started its journey to Mr. Beckwith’s lot further down the street, thus making place for the new house that Mr. Brewer is soon to begin on the lot.
