Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-24
Mn..achu.e,t. rcaoher.' Association.

committee was appointed, consisting Of
Messrs. Sheldon of Newton, Hutchins Of Boston,
Brigham Of Dedham, and Chase Of Maiden, to
aid in the circulation Of the Massachusetts
Teacher" especially among the members now
present.
The hour, III O'Clock. P. NJ. assigned for
che lecture, was changed to 6l . P. NJ, to ena-
bic the association to hold social levee in the
latter part Of the evening.
Mr. Philbrick, on behalf of the committee on
the Presidents address. recommended that the
recommendations therein be carried out espe'
eialy in reference TO the ehlnge in school laws,
and that committee Of seven be appointed to
consider the subject and report at the next
meeting that a committee Of one from each
county be appointed to carry out the arrange
ment with the press and that the Board Of Di
reetors have power to issue irac,s for the ad
vancement Of the interests Of education
A resolution of coincidence with the friends Of
the late John B Fsrchild Of Lawrence, deceased
since theta meeting, was submitted by Mr. Pike
Of Somerville, and, after remarks by the mover
and Mr.. Guild, was adopted
The regular subject for discussion. To whal
extent, and in what way. should oral instruction
be given in the several grades OF schools :" was
taken up.
Professor Russell of Lancaster spoke earnestly
of the necessity of oral instruction. and OF the
too common neglect Of it in the schools. OF
this latter, he gave an amusing instance in mis-
own experience. He illustrated the difference
between the mechanical mode OF teaching read.
ing, in which words, merely. are represented,
and that by which, by the oral example and in
Strucnon by the teacher, the ideas given and
understood.
George B. Emerson, Esq.,, of Boston, also
urged the necessity OF oral instruction, and
spoke of the great influence Of teachers over the
moral and spiritual, as well as the intellectual
character of the pupils, exceeding in many
cases, even that of the parents He spoke
feelingly too of the influence Of the example of
the 1eocher over tina scholars--of his whole de
portment--of his book-the tone of his voice--of
every thing he said and did in their presence
Que Of the great purposes Of education is to
habituste the mind to a Of justice, to teach
them to do right, because it is right, to avoid
doing wrong because it is wrong, regardless Of
the consequences that may follow. You cannot
have text books which will instruct in these
things as the teacher can instruct orally and as
he can instruct by his department and example.
Mr.. Souther Of Worcester made few remarks
on the use of the Bible as text book in schools
The subject was then Land on the table, for the
special assignment Of the hour-ihe election of
officers.
The Committee of Nomination reported a list
OF names TO constitute the officers of the Associ.
alton for the ensuing yenr, which waa accepted,
and, on ballot Immediately taken, they were
elected as 70 lows
President-Admirsl p Stone Of Plymouth
Vice observation-disclosures Sherwin OF Suffolk
BENZ. Greenleaf Of Essex. Geo. N. Bigelow OF
Middlesex, iona Kmball Of Norfolk, E. Hervey
of Bristol, A. h. Cornish of Plymouth, A. Wood
of Barnstable, VIM. Russell of Worcester, J.
Marshall of Hampshire, Isaac N. Lincoln Of
Berkshire, james Tufts Of Hsmpden, I l.. Girls
void Of franklin, N. G Bonney Of Dukes, Rob.
ert Morrison Of Nantucket.
Recording Secretary-Lemuel C. Grosvenor of
Dorchester.
Corresponding Seeretsry-John E. Horr of
Brookline' n
Treasurer-Benj. W Putnam of Boston.
Counsellors-Chas. Hammond of Groton, Ariel
Parish OF Springfield, John kneeland Of Roxbu-
~, Josiah A. Stearns OF Boston, Homer B.
Sprague Of Worcester d. B. Hagar of Jamaica
Plain, George Allen, Jr., of Boston, James A.
Page of Boston, James S. Eaton of Andover A.
NJ Gay ofCharlestown, VIM. E. Sheldon OF West
Newton, Cephas Brigham of West Dedham.
Mr. Hagar then addressed the Association, re-
marking that he considered this Thanksgiving
week to himself in three respects:
l. That he had so long enjoyed the favor Of
the Association.
2. Thvt his laboTs in the position Of President
ware now brought to closeE and
j. That he was to have SO noble successor.
He then introduced Mr. Stone, as President
elect.
Mr. Stone SAID that in accepting the situation,
he did it in difference to the expressed wishes Of
the Association, and not from any conviction OF
his own qualifications for it. In looking back.
and considering what able men had preceded
him, he was led to distrust his own powers, and,
asking the indulgence Of the members for his de.
6eiencies, he pledged his best exertions for the
faithful performance Of his duties.
The subject Of discussion was then again taken
up.
Remarks we're made by Mr. Ansorge Of Dor
chester, and Parish Of Springfield, the lat.
ter arguing, substantially, that the teacher
should be living teacher. watchful for the inter
ests and progress Of his pupils, and then, when.
eve, oral instruction is necessary, it will nstural-
ly be given, as a matter Of course.
Mr.. Philbrck of Boston followed. He was
was glad this-discussion had taken place, but he
would caution members against extremes on these
questions. Ten or twelve years since the com.
plant wss-and it rung through all the Boston
papers, that schoolmsstera did nothing-t was
the complaint here in this Association the school
houses were described as dormaories, and the
schools as collection Of ALTERNATING animals
these were the exact expressions. Now, they 20
to the other extreme, and the complaint lie, that
the scholars are overworked. He then read an
extract from communication in the Boston
Traveller, and commented thereon.
ID. b. Tower Of Boston followed in some anus
ing remarks, which put the meeting in good hu
NOR. and was followed by Mr.. Pangborn Of the
Boston atlas, strongly in favor Of oral instruc.
ton where the teacher is adapted to giving it.
The following were announced as the Board Of
Editors Of the Massachusetts Teacher for 1859 /:
Prof. Alpheus Crosby Of Salem, J. S. Eaton Of
Anaoyer, FIoi. Tyler Of Amherst COLLEGE, j. ID.
Phh0nck Of Boston, A. p. Stone Of Plvnonth I
himball OF Dorchester, b. q. Northun of Saxon.
VILE Chas. Hammond Of Groton, w. # Adams NJ
Boston, ]. w. Dickersoh OF Westaeld W,liisna
Russell OF Lancaster, and W, G. Goldthwaite. =
Resident Editor-Charles AnsorSe1
Special Contfibu tors-Messrs TAYLOR of Ardo-
yer, and Emerson Of Boston.
Adjourned for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
About 2 p. M, the Association convened. ana
the discussion on coral instruction" was coptin.