LOCAL ADDRESSES AT COUNTY INSTITUTES. 



As last yeai% we have tried to obtain from each County Institute held 

 during the past year, an abstract of one of the best addresses delivered 

 at the main session of the Institute, as well as of one given at the 

 Woman's Section hj local speakers. We regret that some of the speakers 

 have failed to respond to our request. But we present a series of ab- 

 stracts containing valuable and interesting reading, and comprising one 

 of the most important portions of our report. 



THE INFLUENCE OF HOME TKAINING AS SEEN IN THE SCHOOL ROOM. 



MRS. MARGARET LA CHAPELIiE, Harrisville, at Women's Section ALCONA COUNTY 



Institute, Harrisville. 



How often we hear the anxious mother say. "My child is so different since he 

 started to school; he is so rough, and is not contented at home, a.s before." This is 

 true to a certain extent, but is the school entirely to blame? Every child is a fac- 

 tor in the great school of children, and if your child goes to school with good hab- 

 its well formed, he will help to make the school better. 



A child need not be in the schoolroom more than two days before the teacher can 

 judge something of his home training, although his parents may be total strangers 

 to her. A child who has been taught to obey at home will obey willingly at school. 

 And right here we might say that many children will obey their teacher when they 

 disobey their parents. Why? Ask yourself. Children who are allowed to do their 

 work in a slovenly manner at home are the ones who have their desks always in 

 disorder and their books dirty and thumb-worn. 



Another thought regarding neatness is this: I think many parents commit a sin 

 for which they will have to answer when they allow their children to go to school 

 with dirty hands and faces. Of course the teacher cannot allow tliem to remain 

 in the room in such a condition, and they are sent to the wash basin and thus are 

 subjected to the ridicule of the rest of the pupils. 



THE HABIT OF NEATNESS 



is or should be formed in the home and fostered in the schoolroom. 



In regard to a child's literature, the home exerts a great influence. If the parents 

 are careful in th^ selection of reading matter for their children, the teacher's work 

 will be -made more pleasant and the cliild will receive more benefit. A few days 

 ago a litfle girl brought a large book of poems to school to show me what Santa 

 Clans brought her, and she was so pleased as she pointed out to me poems written 

 by Longfellow, Whittier, etc. Do you not think she will cultivate a love for good 

 reading by forming the habit so early in life? On the other hand, I have pupils 

 who have no desire to read "Evangeline," "Snowbound" and other good selections, 

 because they have been allowed to read trashy literature in their homes. 



In regard to manners— if a child is not taught to be mannerly before he goes to 

 school, it is much harder for him and for his teacher. Not long since. I was com- 

 pelled to remind a large boj' that it was not mannerly to wear his hat in the house. 



