New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-20
American institate Of Instruction.
Correspontence OF The yrtbunc


As regular report Of the proceedings has aP'
peared in The Tribune, (nor as yet in any other
paper,) send you copy Of the programme which
will give your readers better idea OF their char.
scter than any other account ls was only varied
BY the substitution Of Mr. Wymans lecture IN
place Of that Of Mr.. Rutt, who was not present,
and the reading Of an essay written by lady at
the time Mr.. Wyman was to have spoken.
TospeAk OF the Institute in the usual style Of
irdi,criminete laudation, would by no means sui!
the purpose for which ! write. Looking at it in
the light Of great educational agent and with
the eyes Of teacher, would point out It's faults
that they may be corrected, and excite similar as
sociations to emulate its excellencieS.
ORDER or EXERCISES.
oS TUESDAY.
AtIO O'clock Remains by the President
AiitI-lnuodUoory Lecture by Hon. Henry Barnard OF
Az, M Lecture by Rev.. P Cowlss Principle Of
Ipswicn Female Seminary.
At7l-Leciure by Rev. L. Whiting Of Lawrence, on
"The seboolmaS'eI's Originals"
on WEDNESDAY,.
i9o'clock-Lecturs by BArnum Field OF the FrsnEin
Atii-Lecture by C. c. Chase. Phnolph OF the High
'0 MSi PM Lecureb by J. D PhiIbrcE Principal OF the
Quincy School, Boston, on the ChNse'e'nes OIL ffue
NM ti1 L. By N''. h Aa'' '''' '''' '''''
Ats o'elock-Lecture by solomon Jenner OF Eew-York,
on Ihe "ImportsDee OF Early Training"
AtIl-Lecure by Hon A. Walker OF brooshed, on
aPolicsi Economy as study for Common Schools
Ai2iPM-LeeiuLe by EdSsr wymsn OF Louis
AtT-Ireture by Rev t. 5. Gannett ID ID. OF Boston.
The principles Of tbs several Lectures will be free
for discussion ether immediately after the delivery or at
any time Fixed on By tie Institute and al gentlemen pre-
sent are invited 10 take part In the discusioD.
Going, as l did, directly from the annual meeting
Of the New York State Teachers Association,
naturally compared the two. The result Of this
comparison was not must confess, exceedingly
Hsttering to my pride as New.Yorker. l could
but contrast the large numbers, distinguished lead
ers strict decorum careful preparation OF business
and rigid adherence to its order, and economical
nointedness in debate with the opPosltes oil all
ifha.a which characterized the late meeting 10
New.York CITY, But my modification was speed
iIy sbsorbed in feeling ofhopefuness that our oWn
managing men, unusual number OF whom were
nre,e1t At Northampton, would also draw the par.
Ale. and return home with welllearned lesson Oh
pi,dom. the fruits Of which may be made manifest
in the next years management OF our own Assocl
alton.
In one respect, however, | think the comparison
is TO our own advantage VIZ In the PractIcality oil
the Lectures. OQrs, In general, were such as ev'
ery teacher could lay hold OF for daily USE Tney
tsneht Ies sops which could be carried into every
scboolrOom. Witness the admirable lecture OF
AIR. Phelps, of the Normal School, in which were
calculated truths which should be familiar to every
teacher and evidenced in his practice, though they
are utterly unknown 10 ninety nine Of every hun
dred The Lectures Of the Institute, on the con-
trary-with exceptions, Of course-were full oil the
ambition of the schoolboy, Astounding In heightened
periods and labored figures, which could but dis
please any listener Of pure taste. Rhetoric was
made pregnant with Learniog-cr rather, Blsirs
Lectures were made pregnant with Goldsmlths
Hstories and Tooke's Pantheon; high sounding
phrases were hurled forth, filed to overlooking
with ancient Greece and julius Cesar.
There seemed, also, for an American Institute,
too wholesale a laudstion of New England and all
her characteristics We all know and feel the
admiration due to the land OF the Poutans but.
for one would prefer TO- hear its praises by others
than the praised especially on an occasion IN
which citizens from all portions OF the Union are
invited to participate. But the truth IS, this
American Institute is a NeW England Institute;
and, having existed for twenty one years without
ever holding a meeting west oil the Hudson, or
recording among it's me mbers a dozen men living
beyond that limit, the wonder is not 90 much that
it has fallen into the in6rmity OF selfpraise, as
that il still insists on the American scope.
am favorable to a national organizations aud II
this Institute vii permit itself 10 become such,
shall heartily rejoice. IL not let one be ELECTED as
soon as possible, and let this Institute, Ia common
with other local establishments, become an auxll-
arv. But am quite sure that New-York at least,
trbutDg to the support OF an institution, however
valuable which is entirely controlled by half do
zen Tor less) Boston men, who elect themselves to
the Offices and appropriate the honors, without the
grace of "hotice' given, or a" by your leave
My sole reason for these hints, is to inform the
mass of educational men, who are never admitted
behind the scenes how these things are being
done for am sufficiently unfashionable to believe
that the deliberate judgment Of the many should
control these movements rather than the less rel.
able efforts of book publishers and their agents, and
the Cery ambitions
But on the whole, no one can doubt the Amer-
can Institute has DONE and is doing, great good
For myself vas never more thoroughly interest
ed in any similar proceedings. The charming
locality OF Northampton, in no immediate vicinity
of Mount Holyoke and the Connecticut-the fine
westher-the large conoourse Of beautiful and in
telligent New England ladies' (though more intel
gent than besptifOl--the presence Of the most able
teachers in the Union-the hospitality and courtesy
Of the refined community about us-all made 1t an
occasion shall ever remember with the purest
pleasure.
The President for the next year 10 GIDEON f..
TBAYER Of Boston, also President last year, and
very able one; Frat Vice.President, Thomas
Sherwood Of Boston, Recording Secretary, John
bstcheldor OF Lynn; Corresponding 6ecretarys
Charles Brooks and George Allen, Jr both Of Bog
ton; Treasurer, VIM ID. Ticknor OF Boston. The
Curators and Censoys are also all Boston men. W.