Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-12-16
Teachers, ! association.

The Worcester County Teachers Association
heldits second semi-annual session, at Fitch
burg, on Friday and Saturday, the 18th and 18th
inst The President, E. A. Hubbard, Esq, hay-
ing left the county, the first Vice President, Rev
Geo. Bushnell of Worcester, presided. The
Association came to order at halfpast 10 O'Clock,
and Rev. Mr.. Trask, of Fitehburg, offered
prayer The Secretary read the records of the
last meeting. On motion of Mr.. Eddy, of Wor
cester, committee, consisting of Messrs. Eddy
Stone Of Westboro', and Hewett of Worcester
was chosen to consider the matter of re .organiza
tion. L W. RUSSELL of Fitchburg, moved to
choose Committee on Resolutions and
Messrs. H. L. Read, and L. W. Russell, of
Fitchburg, and S. W. Calkins. of Worcester,
were chosen.
After some further preliminary business,
lively discussion sprang up on the question
"Should the instructor rely chiefly on the text
book in the hands Of the pupil?'' Several gem
tlemen participated and nearly all agreed that
our teaching is generally too 5oobish, that there
is not enough of oral, familiar instruction, and
questioning in other language than that of the
book. At about II O'clock the Association ad-
joufned to meet at 2 Z. NJ.
At2 clock the discussion Of the morning was
resumed and continued briskly for one hour.
This was arrested at 8 O'Clock for the purpose OF
listening to a lecture from P W. Calkins, ESQ,
of the Worcester High School. He announced
as his subj ect, 1.-The Teaching that imparts Life.
Those faculties of the human mind which sleep
are dead and the first business OF the teacher is
- ~.
to find out what faculties are aaoake are lung {.
for it is with these that he must begin his work
He urged teachers, when beginning to teacn new
scholars, to allow them perfect freedom in their
studies and explanations at first that the teacher
might become familiar with their processes of
thought, might learn what particular faculties
need awakening and training He illustrated the
mistakes arising from misunderstanding in this
particular He spoke stongly of the necessity
for careful cultivation of the faculty of concep-
tom that the learner may be enabled to set a
vicid picture Of those things about which he
learns before his mind. He showed that the
| growth which true teaching imparts must be from
soithia, commencing with those powers already
awake; and some powers are in this condition in
almost every mind, The lecture abounded in
correct theory traced out in its practical working
in the daily business Of the teacher. At the
close Of the lecture, the meeting adjourned TO
halfpast six in the evening.
In the evening, the Convention took up tho
discussion Of the topic Rhetorical Exercises
| Composition. Defamation, &c, their value, and
how best conducted ~ At half-past seven, the
President introduced Hon. Geo s. Boutwell, to .
large audience as the lecturer of the evening
| He proceeded to read lecture on 1.-THE condi.
ton Of America previous to its discovery by Col
umbus.' He maintained the UNITY of the hun.a,
race, and showed the probability that the abort
| ginees Of America came from the old world, and
the probability that communication between
Asia and America was not unfrequent in ancient
times. He showed !. to be quite probable tina,
the Ophir Of Scripture was California The leo
ture evinced deep thought, and careful research
and study In feld Of inquiry not very otter
troddenj and was listened 10 with attention
Adjourned to Saturday morning at D O'Clock.
The Association met according to adjournment
and Rev. Kendall Brooks Of Fitchburg ofFere,
prayer. Mr.. Bosworth aud Prof. Russell spok,
10 favor Of the "Massaehusetts Teacher and i'd
claims to the patronage Of the teachers present
Quite a number afterwards subscribed for tn,