The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-04-28

striKlng 1t was strongly urged that portions
of the infant school apparatus should be intro
duced into all our primary schools, and finally
recommended by the following vote: Gre
solved, That this Convention strongly recon-
med to all the primary schools in the County
to procure portion of infant school apparatus,
and set of geological specimens to increase
their interest and usefulness" After this reso-
luton report was made, describing the part
OF the apparatus which it would be advisable to
procure. The following were recommended ::
! l. An Aflthmometer, or Numeral frame. 2.
An Arithmeticon, sheet. g. Manuscript Let
tiers and Geometrical Diagrams, 9 sheets. 4.
Geometrcal Solids, &c pieces. 5. A Globe.
o: The Skeleton Map of the World and of the
United States
Profitable remarks were also made by several
gentlemen on improvements which might be
made In the higher schools. Apparatus, illus
tratlVe OF natural science, should be introduced
there but not SO far as to preclude the neces
slty OF hard and patient study on the part Of
the scholar. 1t should be remembered, that
mental discipline, as we'll as knowledge, to be
able to reason and think, as we'll as to under
stand facts, is one object of education. With
respect to general improvement it was recon-
mended that scholars read less and with more
care than they have generally done that they
write composition earlier and more frequently ;
trst writing sentences from dictation, then SEN
fences in which there are ellipses, then the
substance of a story. Beginning with the sim
plest mode, the child may be made, at a very
early period, to write correctly. On the sub
Ject OF grammar, it was urged, that too much
time was wasted and worse than wasted. It
should be taught practically: good old Lindley
Murray should be thoroughly understood by
every teacher. Wizards Rhetoric was recon-
mended, and combination of the analytic and
synthetic methods in Arithmetic. Mental A
rithmetic mad been found in the practice de-
fectlve: both mental and written arithmetic
are best. The exact and natural sciences should
be studied more in the high schools; they dis
cipiine the faculties, engage the feelings, ex-
pand the heart and lead the mind " from nature
up to natures God" On the subject Of disci.
plne, mild and affectionate treatment was
strongly urged. Here the law of love should
De supreme. A register like that which is used
In the schools in Worcester, which should ex-
hibit daily account of the conduct of the pu.
pills, both good and bad, was recommended to
all the schools.
Another subject which engaged the attention
OF the Convention, was the qualification of
school teachers. Improper persons, it was re-
marked, had been in too many instances EN-.
ployed as instructors, and the money of the pa
rents and the time of the scholars thrown away.
Inc unialthfulness OF school committees-ther
readiness to approve the unqualfed-and the
miserable compensation paid in most towns,
have contributed to this. Besides this. it is nm.
questionable that the means of educating good
teachers have been inadequate. No schools for
the teaching OF practical knowledge in this pro-
1esslon have yet been established While thu
students OF law and medicine are taught their
practice by particular instruction while eve.
ry mechanic Is made familiar with his trade by
a long apprenticeship, the teacher of youth, the
guide OF the coming generation, must 90 to his
work unfinished with practical knowledge, and
totally unacquainted with his business. A COM
mlttee on the means of improving the educa-
ton OF teachers was early appointed by this
convention, which committee, by their chair
man, E. Washburn, Esq, reported that it was
expedient to form a County Association for the
Improvement of popular education. The OBJ.
lect OF the association being principally to af.
ford facilities for the better education of teach
ers 1t is we'll known, that a school for the ed
ucation Of teachers had been strongly recon-
mended by His Excellency, and that the sub
lect has been repeatedly brought before our
Legislature without effect. The object of this
ASSOCIATION is, as far as may be, to provide this
by voluntary effort. A Constitution was report
ed and adopted, and the following gentlemen
were chosen officers of the Association for the
ensuing year.
PreSident--Rev. Jonathan Going. V;cs
President-Rev. Joseph Allen. Rec Secretary
Mr.; Anthony Chase. Cor. Secretary-Emo-
ry Washburn, Esq. DirectOrs-Gen. Salem
Towne, Rev. Alonzo Hill, Heman Stebbens,
Esq, Rev. John Nelson, Ira Barton, ESQ, Ca.
leb Hayward, Esq, Joseph Willard, ESQ.,
1t was then resolved that the President, Vice
President, Secretaries, and Directors constitute
an executive committee, to carry into effect the
recommendation in the report on education of
teachers, by taking measures to procure Lee
lures and other suitable instruction for teach.
ers the ensuing Autumn, at such time and place
and for such period as they shall deem expe-
dent. 1t is now hoped that we shall soon have
in the midst of us an institution for the educa.
ton of teachers; from which instructors NAV
go prepared for their work ; carrying with them
an acquaintance with the best system and the
best means of carrying it into effect.
During the week of the session of the Con-
ventlon, several interesting and instructive lee
lures on geology and natural philosophy, and
explanatory of the apparatus for infant schools,
were delivered by Mr.. ]. Holbrook. Animal
ed and able addresses were made by Gov. Lin
coin, and other distinguished gentlemen from
different parts of the County. The several
schools in Worcester were visited, and the sys-
tenn there adopted fully explained. On the
W"oAoj th0 Woch was one OF great interest TO
the friends of popular education, and the inter-
est remained undated to the end. A deep i'm.
preston was felt that the state of the commu-
nifty demands better course Of education that
great defects exist; that much ought to be done
and something may be done to remedy them
1t cannot be doubted that all who attended went
away resolved to do that something which in
them lies to promote SO desirable a purpose
This meeting, however, is to be regarded only
as beginning; as an earnest of better things
Let the public attention be awakened to the
subject of popular education let its friends
meet from time to time, and commune togeth-
er on it let the wise bring to it their wisdom,
and the old their experience let it be viewed
as that subject in which the interests of the
community, of coming generations, are involv-
ed, and new era will dawn on our schools
new and better systems of instruction will be
adopted, and posterity shall grow up virtuous
and intelligent, qualified to sustain their duties,