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Johnson County Historical
& Genealogical Society |
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(This is as appears in July
25, 1907 edition of The Paintsville Herald
The Institute Submitted by: Walter Preston On Monday morning at 9 o’clock the first session of the Johnson County teachers’ Institute was held at the Sandy Valley Seminary. The Rev. Chas. Martin conducted the opening devotional exercises, and after some routine business the Rev. John Martin delivered a witty and scholarly address of welcome to the teachers. The response was eloquently given by Mr. G. M. Johnson. Superintendent Milton McDowell is to be congratulated upon the fact that practically every teacher in the county was present at the institute on the opening day. Our Superintendent of county schools is a gentleman whose modesty veils an unusual number of excellent qualities. He is a splendid executive officer, while his insight and foresight bring him into cordial relationship with the pupils, the teachers and the general community. Under his administration our schools will soon rank with the best in then State. The Superintendent introduced Prof. A. S. MacKenzie, the institute instructor, who is Dean of the Department of English and Psychology at the State College in Lexington. In his opening address the instructor dwelt upon the importance of the first day at school. The teacher who lacks self-confidence is lost from the start. Success in any line of human activity is the result of belief in ourselves. Let us follow the Shakespearean maxim, “To thine own self be true”. Each person has had a unique experience, and to some extent we are all original. Let us dare to be original, and the children in the classroom will emulate the spirit of their teacher. They will develop a character which will be free and clean. The mountain peaks are giving us the daily lesson of inspiration – look upward. A discussion of the senses was ably led by M. L. Robinson and C. S. Holbrook. The other afternoon topic was The Teacher, a subject which was handled in fine style by W. M. VanHoose and Miss Emma Johnson. In his supplementary remarks Prof. MacKenzie pointed out that the journalist and the teacher are colleagues in the education of humanity. Every good newspaper is worthy of the interest of the teacher, and the county paper may at times be used in the classroom to increase interest in reading, geography, and other topics. Every good teacher should be a regular subscriber to the local paper in order to keep posted in the current events of the community. If every newspaper in the State were interest themselves in the aspirations of the teaching profession, results would soon be obtained. The Paintsville Herald is for us now and always. On Tuesday after the opening exercises the Rev. H. M. Gibbs and others addressed the members of the institute, giving words of hope and encouragement. The Recitation was ably discussed by Mrs. Josie Daniel and Melvin Hall. Attention was dealt with by W. C. Hall and Henry Burke. The institute instructor, Prof. MacKenzie, in the course of his remarks, took occasion to say that he was surprised and delighted to find that Johnson County was one of the most enlightened counties in all Kentucky. Sandy Valley Seminary, he said, was taught by instructors of ability, and Principal Turner had already made a reputation that extended far beyond the Blue Grass. The citizens of Johnson County were law-abiding and up-to-date, while the teachers were alert intelligent and thoroughly in earnest. Spelling was discussed by Blaine Clark and Miss Prudence Williams in an entertaining manner. Language was well handled by G. M. Johnson and Miss Zora Daniel. Grammar was expounded successfully by C. B. VanHoose and Miss Anna Lee Spencer; while the topic of writing received fine treatment from Frank Harris and Beecher Stapleton. Mrs. J. R. Turner is to be complimented for the very splendid music provided the institute. Wednesday’s session included discussions of Memory and Imagination, History and Geography, while Judge Kirk gave a splendid lecture on temperance. Each night entertainments of various kinds are being held, and they are appreciated by large audiences. Next week we hope to give an account of the other institute items, but enough has been done to show that this is the most practical and enthusiastic institute that has ever been held in the county. We again congratulate our honest, earnest and talented Superintendent of Johnson County Schools. Prof. McDowell, County Superintendent, is to be congratulated on the selection of Prof. A. S. MacKenzie, of the State College, Lexington, as instructor of the Institute. Prof. MacKenzie is both clever and scholarly. He is a gentleman of the highest type and has won the respect and admiration of the teachers of Johnson County, who regard him as the ablest instructor that has yet had charge of a Johnson County Institute.
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This page last updated on:
November 22, 2009 |
