The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-10-06

few remarks on the characteristics of
the true learner, by Prof Gregory,
who then proceeded to lecture on
reading and elocution, showing the i'm
portance of the study of Reading, as
furnishing the key to literature and
opening the way, to lifelong intelli-
Egence. The lecture, with exercises in
the articulation of elementary sounds,
and in reading, occupied the time until
IL o'clock, when the subject of Gram
mar was taken up, and the modifica-
ton of nouns were discussed.
The afternoon was occupied mainly
with the subject of grammar. The
subjects under discussion were Pro.
nouns-declinab and indeclinable !;
Personal Pronouns, Parsing, &c.
In the evening, Prof. Sill delivered
beautiful original Poem, at the Con-
gregational Church, which was listened
to by large and highly appreciative
audience.
Thursday-Morning session opened
with devotional exercises by Prof. Hol-
den, of Kalamazoo, followed by a few
remarks on elocution, by the same gen
tleman. The Institute was occupied
mainly during the day with the subject
of grammar and lectures on clocution.
The closing hour Of the session was
occupied by Prof. Belts, of Niles, in
advocating new method in teaching
children to read.
In the evening, Prof. Holden deliv
cred q lecture on Individualities.
Friday-Sesslon opened with usual
DEVOTIONAL exercises. Prof. Gregory
then resumed the subject of the train
ing of the intellectual powers. The
power of attention was explained with
methods of its cultivation. The prin-
ciples of mental association and the
cultivation of the memory were ex-
planned. This was followed by Lee
ture on the subject Of Tense of Verbs,
by Prof. Sill, showing the two elements
of tense, viz: time and state. The
history Of the formation Of tense. was
given. Mr.. Gregory then resnnnd the
subject of the cultivation of the memo
ry. Children are disposed to exercise
the memory instead of the reason.
Thinking was defined, and it was urged
that children should be taught to think.
Tn the afternoon, Mr.. Robinson, a
pupil from the Asylum for the blind at
Flint, gave Lecture on Music. This
was followed by Lecture on Verbs,
their c!assifcations and notifications,
by Prof Sill.
At 81, DIR. Stone, of Kalamazoo
College, Lectured on {" Hobbies" show
ing how the enthusiasm of hobby riding
might sometimes be used to waken an
interest in school. He gave little
sketch Of the Egyptian hieroglyphics
as an Illustration.
The closing hour Of this session was
devoted to an exercise iii Geography,
which was given as an example OF,
profitable school amusement. Two
classes, one of nine.gentlemen, the other
of nine ladies, were formed, the leader
on one side gave the name of a city
and the county in which it is situated,
and the leader on the other side was
required to give the name and situation
of a town whose initial letter was the
final letter of the town first named.
Thus the first leader gave the name of
Washington, the other replied with
Norfolk Va, the second on the gentle
mems side responded with Kalamazoo,
Mich, the second lady replied, Oxford,
England, &c. Whenever one failed to
give the town, he or she was ruled out
of the class and sat down. Much in
terest was shown by the teachers in the
exercise. @ M tHa
In the evening, DR.. Stone, of Kala-
mazoo, delivered a beautiful and in
structive Lecture on Poetry and the
Poets.
Saturday-Session opened with De-
votional exercises and Singing, after
which Mr.. Gregory concluded his leo
lures on the subject of Elocution and
also brief review of his course of les
sons on the science of teaching and
gave deeply interesting lecture on
the subject of Primary teaching and
school discipline. By the unanimous
consent of the Institute the lecture
was prolonged beyond the hour, until
III O'Clock, Mr.. Gregory, then made
his adieus to the Institute and took
his departure on the train for the East
Prof. Sill occupied the remainder of
the time of the morning session Us
in presenting the claims of
the Journal of Education.