New-York daily tribune., 1858-08-14
FENNSYLVANIA STATE TEACHERS
ASSOCIATION.
Corf.spo ncepc. Of The ". Y. Tribune.

Corf.sponeeDc. sf The n. Y. Tribune.
ScRASToS, Pa, Aug. 10, 1853.
The annual meeting Of the Sta.e Teschers Assocs-
hcD Of Pennsylvania met here this mornirg To some
the call TO meet in Scranton seemed strange enough
for ore has to keep up with the times actively to know
that tuch city EXITS. Eight yesrs ago it was will
derness, with but one furnace and few wo:kmsn' 4
cottages within all the circuit Of the hills" Now
there are fine sreete handsome churches three rail
roads, and about Elk thousand people. hearty well
come this new. born giant Of the woods has given the
teachers of the State; and WITH the known hos ptsty
Of ScIsntoDians, the wonderful scenery around, and
the attractions of the occasion itself larger me eog
has been collected than this Association ever held
before.
Al IOl o'clock a. m. the President |. +. Stodart of
6usquehanns County called the meeting to order
After religious exercises and the usual opening
pcuucemtnts some busiDess reports we're offered and
the morning session was occupied by these and the
rcgistry Of members names. This wa, rather dun
work for start and should be attended to "out of
meeting" but some young ladies of Scranton, them
selves teachers, entertained with some admirable
sBgirg, and the general enthusiasm did not suiier
much The Hon. Geo. Ssnderson, on the part of the
citizens Of Scranton, rendered cordial welcome to
the Association in a short and graceful speech.
At2p m. the afternoon session began, with a dis
eusson on the subject of public schools in their prsct
cal workings II took wide range, but evoked a
ecnfeeson Of general sense of incompetency on the
part Of our teachers and their desire for better oppor
tunities OF study. nd-not new cryor better Ply.
Oa this last subject however, the feeling is healthier
than in former years and general impression gains
grourd that Teachers services are WORTH as Hudl-
bras remarks of everything, exactly what they IL
bring and that more pay to be gained, not by tai
but by improvement.
Tbk de bate was followed by lecture from Mr. G..
T. Lewis Of Chester County, on the study OF history
in our schools. Some of the views this speaker took
were rather startling to teachers who have never
thought of history part of education, and were roo
extreme for the meeting. Mr. Lewis would have very
early and continued attention given to this branch,
suppanng by il some branches of nstura science no
very populsr. His address, however, has caused
mach conversation on the topic, ard seems 70 nave
given new impulse to thought upon it.
The evening session, commencing at u ?. m was
opened with address by the State superintendent,
II. {. Heekock. He ia little man OF about tive and
thirty years of age, full of fire and vgor LIS enha
sissm the gives great force and iutuence 70
his speaking and raises HIM not seldom to eloquence
He showed that under the working OF the present
school system, q radical change is obviously taking
place through the State in public sentiment, and that
even the German counties are becoming awakened 70
their educational wants and duties. Old Beiks her
self 10 following her neighbors closely, and longer
deserves her bad name. Beside the grasp with which
our sturdy German yeomanry seizes an idea is perms
nspt. Even the financial revulson Of the last yesr
has not diminished the sum devoted to the building OF
school houses In Pennsylvania
G. X. Coburn, County Supe perintenient Of Bradford
then read q report mathem ahcsl study. lie dwell,
It some length on the necessity Of some kuo Wedge Of
arithmetic, &c, for success in practical life, aud on
the scientific achievements of the calculus and theu
proceeded TO suggest methods of training classes iu
the elementary branches. A crowded audience wa:
kept in earnest attention for over half an hour by
these remarks, but they were Of interest chiefly L
practical teachers.