Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-24

they would write thereon the result of their ex
perienee in this respect. Some discussion arose
on this motion between the mover, Mr.. Vail Of
Bradford, and Mr.. Sprague of Worcester, in
which the rule excluding females from speaking
was involved The latter moved an amendment,
that the slips be passed to male teachers as we'll
as females, to which it was objected that there
was but one male teacher Of a primary school in
the State. To this Mr.. Sprague replied that
this fate made the absurdity of the rule the more
apparent, as here was subject before the meet.
ing for discussion, in which those who take part
in it have no experience or personal knowledge,
while all who have experience and qualified to
discuss it excluded by the rule from speakingi
The motion put and rejected. Mr.. Vail
then moved that the ladies present be requested
to give their views to the meeting The President
rulsd the question to be cut Of order
Mr.. Buckley, Superintendent of the schools in
Brooklyn, n. Y, and Mr.. Northend of New Bri.
tain, Conn, made very sensible and excellent
speeches, both in opposition to the system of con-
fning small children to their seats in school for
such length of time as now prevails. The latter
said that he would have every one Of the children
in the primary schools spend at least one half Of
the three hours in the forenoon and afternoon
sessions in the play ground.
Mr.. George b. Emerson of Boston was greatly
rejoiced 10 hear such sentiments from such
sources. He would not have any child under
eight years Of age confined to its seat in school at
one time than one hour in the forenoon and
one hour in the afternoon, nor more than two
hours in the day.
Mr.. Brown of Manchester followed. He did
not see how less time than six hours a day
could be assigned for the primary schools. espe-
cially in the cities In his opinion, the best mode
of obViating the evils complained of, is by intro
ducing diversity Of exercises so as to bring all
the faculties of the mind into play, and thus to
increase the interest in the exercises, and avoid
the WEAKNESS which would otherwise be felt
A recess of FIVE minutes was then taken to al.
low such as wished, the opportunity of leaving
to visit the panorama.
On again coming to order, the President intro
duced F. A. Sawyer, of the Brimmer School, Bos-
ton, as the lecturer assigned for this hour
Mr.. Sawyer spoke of education as a broader
and wider system than was generally understood
and some Of the branches not usually included
would be treated OF in his address. The first
branch is the physical education of the animal
system, so thatit should be capable of the exer.
else Of all its faculties in the highest degree
For this education, parents are chiefly respon
sible. Marriages should be avoided where
disease or infrmity in one or both Of the parties
would be likely to entail an imperfect and defec-
tive organization on their offspring. The neces-
sity of more attention to moral culture and train
ing was next enforced This was, however, better
done in the family and by voluntary association
than by civil authority. The school teacher has
not time for it,by direct action. but may do some
thing incidentally. On the parent the great re.
sponsibty Of this culture, however, must chiefly
devove, as generally, best situated for it and
from the force of circumstances best adapted to
IT, II is impsrtant, then, that the weight of this
responsibility should be duly impressed upon his
mind. The pupits il our churches are often too
high. They preach too often over the heads of the
parents, and generally over the heads of the
children. Too little of the preaching of our day
is addressed to the children. A case was stated
of clergyman in Boston, who, once a month,
breaches to the children and, in the opinion of
the speaker, that monthly sermon is worth more
than all the other services of the minister.
Another evil in education is the amount Of in
telectual work required in our schools, and the
little time allowed for it. The youthful brain is
kept constantly excited, and kept SO strained that
it is capable Of sound normal action The
brain is over-exercised and overloaded with facts
which give the mind no healthy exercise. Sound
practical education requires no such stimulating
operation. Much of what passes for education
is no more such than the prattle Of the parrot is
the wisdom Of the statesman. We hasten pupils
forward too fast, and impose too heavy burdens
upon them.
The speaker closed by saying that he was aware
that on the points ne discussed, many differed
from him, but, il it is expected that the moral ed
ucation of children is to devove on teachers of
common schools, two or three years should be
added to the period of their attendance.
Mr.. Philbrick Of Boston arose and controverted
the positions laid down in the lecture, in relation
to moral culture. He believed that no teacher
could take the highest position in his profession,
who did not feel, while he was cultivatng the in
teleet Of his pupils, that he was under iobiga-
ton, also, to train and cultivate the moral senti-
ments.
Mr.. Sawyer rose'to make an explanation which
should leave no Interpretation as to the true
position taken in his lecture.
Rev. Mr.. Richardson OF Worcester liked the
spirit Of the lecturer, but he had made one mis-
take; hs had undertaken to separate the physic-
81, moral, and intellectual natures and educa.
tions. The pulpit had undertaken to separate
them, but it was all violation of the order of our
natural organization. God has made our physic-
al, moral, intellectual, and religious natures to 90
together, He has made US one in them ALL and any
system that would separate them must be false.
EVENING SESSION.
at half pest six o'clock the meeting again re.
assembled, and Jonathan Kmbsll, Esq., princi
pal Of the Dorchester High School, was intro.
duced, and proceeded tie deliver an able and elab
crate lecture on 1.-THE material element in on,
civilization" taking the ground that there wa,
too much Of that element in our system Of school
education.
When he had concluded, Rev. B. g. Northruu
Of Saxonvile introduced the following resolution,
complimentary to the late President:
Res0lved, That to our late President, d. b
Hsgar, under whose administration for the las
three years, and though whose earnest and Judi
eious efforts, to great degree this association ha,
attained unprecedented prosperity, and come L
be recognized as an institution Of increased pow
er and importance in this Commonwealth. W,
tender our grateful appreciation OF hisseryces In
behalf Of this association.
| ReSolUed, That our cordial thanks are due I,
1 him, also for his long continued, efficient an,
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