Summer School Diary, part 2B - 1913

July 16. Address by Mrs. Nettie Gaines.

"The word teacher" carries with it more today than ever before.

The efficient teacher has character and teaches it by example, filling her pupils with a desire to be forcible and capable, even as she is. No teacher can call for enthusiastic response from her boys and girls unless she puts all the ginger in her being into her daily work with them.

Composition work starts with the story. Oral expression should come first.

In reproducing a story, the child should be allowed to use his own words, the mistakes should not be corrected, the main object being to get from the child the trend of the story with the point last. Keep on working at story telling until you get freedom of expression, using all devices that seem necessary to insure interest, enthusiasm, or rivalry.

To use the right word in the right place and to express oneself with exactness and elegance is a fine art.

July 17. Visit to the State Institution for the Insane

Among other points of interest visited by the Summer School Students and Members of the Faculty was the State Asylum.

Plans were made with the authorities of the institution for the party from the University to visit on Thursday July 17. Owing to a conflict with the penmanship class in the afternoon, the party was divided into two sections.

The first section left the campus at 1:30, visited the asylum returned by way of the gypsum plant.

Party number two took the 2:40 car, obtained transfers that took it to Coney Island.

Misses Howe, Hitchel, McEllin and Mrs. Gaines not caring to visit the State Institution went to the Indian Village to purchase baskets.

There they learned many tales of Indian History, were interested in the folk lore woven into the baskets. After the purchases were made the party wandered back toward the cars which would carry them to

"Manzanita" in time for dinner.

But where was the Insane Crowd that parted with the "Indian Crowd" at Coney Island?

It followed in the footprints (not the pre-historic of Carson) as the Insane Crowd number one to the Asylum.

The first point of interest there to both parties was the low percentage of insane persons in Nevada.

The inmates were mostly men of who had followed vocations which isolated them from society. Principally sheep herders of the illiterate class.

The second point observed by all was the splendid supervision of the institution. The present corps of officers Dr. John A. Lewis, the Superintendent, Miss Rose McLaffrey, the Matron and E. L. Bingham, the Secretary, deserve much commendation for the way in which the institution is supervised. Just one little example shows the interest they are taking in the inmates. What was formerly an old stockade enclosing a large yard has been

renovated into a netted garden plot for the growing of table vegetables, flowers and a summer lounging arbor for the male inmates.

The Students with Miss Pollock as chaperon visited the buildings and grounds. Everything and every place was not only orderly but scrupously clean.

Many of the patients of the asylum were in a most pathetic condition. The question naturally arose why are they, as they are? Who can answer? But there is consolation in knowing that Nevada is scientific in her treatment of the poor unfortunate.

As teachers, we returned from the State Institution for the feeble-minded to the State Institution for the strong-minded with many psychological problems to consider.

July 19 Trip to Carson

One of the pleasantest of the summer trips was made to Carson, Saturday, July 19, by fourteen very enthusiastic teachers.

Our merry party left the Reno depot at 8:40 and after riding for one and a half hours through the beautiful Carson valley, reached Carson City. A short stop was made there, just to let people know who we were with our

Rah, Rah, Rah, Sis, Boom, Bah. Summer School, Summer School Ha! Ha! Ha!

Then proceed to Stewart to survey the Indian School.

We were very kindly shown through the various buildings the sewing room, work shop, dormitories, domestic art and school rooms, where we saw some very giid work, proving the abilities of the young braves when properly directed.

In the recreation room of the girls dormitory Miss Berry and Mrs. Welshons very gracefully danced the barn dance, Miss McEllin at the piano: while the group of red