The Institute
Washington Standard August 10, 1894
At the session Monday Mrs. Keyes opened the work on “Word-making,” and Miss Stowell gave an interesting talk on studies from nature, in which she dwelt upon the benefit to be derived from use of the eyes as a means of self-aid. Prof. Beeler gave some instructive exercises in algebra, and Mrs. Keyes and State Superintendent Bean spoke on the rights and duties of teachers. The latter made the point that duty should come first and rights afterwards, and that teachers should not be content with doing simply what duty requires them to do. Mental arithmetic was the subject of thought, introduced in the afternoon by Mrs. Keyes and Prof. Beeler, and Miss Stowell favored the institute with one of her interesting talks on “busy Work.”
Mr. Falknor gave instruction in the preliminary lines for study of the constitution, and President Getz, of the State Normal School at Ellensburg, closed the session with an address.
An entertainment was given the institute in the evening, at which the following program was rendered:
March – “Crusader,” Sousa
Address – “Our Country and Our Public Schools,” State Superintendent Bean.
Bass Solo – B.W. Hill
Song – O’Shanty Glee Club
Organ Solo – Prof. Roberts
Solo – Mrs. Bolton
Overture – “Sunrise,” Orchestra
Recitation from J. Whitcomb Riley
A.J. Falknor
Solo – Miss Ward
Selection – O’Shanty Glee Club
The exercises on Tuesday were briefly: Superintendent Bean’s diagramming and analysis of English Grammar; Miss Stowell’s resumption of her talk on “Busy Work”; Prof. Getz o Pedagogy; exercises in arithmetic and algebra by Mrs. Keyes and Prof. Beeler; reading of an essay on Miss Frances E. Willard by Miss Coulson, of Rainier; some reference to adoption of the constitution by Mr. Falknor, and a discussion of temperance in which many of the members participated.
The Institute closed its work Wednesday. There has been no previous session at which the members departed with a more satisfactory consciousness of duty will performed. Its effect will doubtless be visible in the improved work of the school-room.
Resolutions of thanks were adopted to the County Superintendent, to Prof. Beeler, to Miss Agnes Stowell, to Mrs. Keyes, to Mrs. Falknor, to Prof. Royal, to Rev. T.J. Lamont, to Prof. Brintnall, to Judge Root, to Prof. Getz, to Miss Emma E. Page, to Dr. Massey, to the Press, to the Band, to Miss Conant, the Secretary, and to State Supt. Bean, for the interest they have taken in the Institute and the aid they have rendered to make it a success.
A resolution was likewise adopted against the sin of cruelty to dumb animals.
Also one favoring a school exhibit for all the schools of the county in Olympia, during the coming winter, and asking the County Commissioners to furnish rooms in the Court house for such exhibit.
Too much credit cannot be accorded to main promoters of this work – Miss Case, the County Superintendent, Profs. Beeler and Bean, and Mrs. Keyes, who be indefatigable and industry and zeal have done so much to elevate educational work, and the object of the institute was rounded into completeness by the timely and practical comments of Miss Stowell. An incident of the closing day was an address by Rev. Dr. Massey, of Tumwater. The prominent feature of the day was a debate on the resolution that the ration of male to female teachers should be increased. The question was, very properly, decided in the negative.