Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-15
CITY AND COUNTY

W OrcSster county ISncherb' Association.
The eighth semi annual meeting OF the
Worcester County Teachers Association was
commenced in this city, yesterday forenoon,
at the City Hal, the president, II. l.. Read
of Fitchburg IN the chair After prayer by
Rev. Mr. James, the secretary, II. Z. Rock.
well of Millbury read his report of the last
meeting at Westborough, which was approved
Rev. Merrill Richardson of Worcester was
then introduced, and delivered the opening
address, which was one of much eloquence,
effect, and practical bearing, on "The best
method Of teaching Grammar" The object
OF studying grammar was stated to be to be
able to read and write the English language
with correctness and proprety, and yet lie
said hardly one tenth of those who graduate
at our high schools can say they are able to
do so. The fact was, too much time was
given to the study of rules, and too little to
practical effort. The father of English gram
marians, Lindley' Murray, himself never in
culcated the theoretical system now pursued
100 exclusively in our schools; he merely
elucdated certain rules to be applied merely
as helps to the learner. 1t really required
more time and labor to become a good
Ing hoh oNhOltl Alitill " acquire l-dllU,
Greek, and the mathematics merely; but
in order to do it a more practical system
must be pursued in our schools than is now
the custom. ParSing should not he attempted
before the age of twelve or fourteen. Previous
to that time, instruction in grammar should be
impaired by requiring children to write de-
scrptlons Of every day things around them, in
their own words, to he corrected by the teach
er, commencing with the simplest sentences
When they hdye written sentence then let
them punctuate. Then let them diate, de.
scribing the uses Of things, depicting the beau.
ties Of nature, or o,her circumstances, as they
may comprehend, but be careful always TO con-
fine them to such subjects only as they are
perfectly familiar with, and can comprehend
in all their relations, thoroughly. Afterwards
they may embellisl or enlarge. This was the
method Of Franklin. When a boy, he used
TO read an essay by some distinguished au.
thor, and then describe the ideas suggested in
his own language. Let the scholar practice
sufficiently the expression OF his best thoughts
or ideas in his own language, and th.re need
be no difficulty in acquiring the ob, Get sought.
An interesting discussion was then partici-
pated i'll between Messrs. Richardson, j d. E.
Jones, and Ii. r. Greene of Worcester and n
Eddy OF Oxford. Mr. Greene urged the i'm
porIance 0t analysis for those scholars who
were TO pursue the. classics Mr.. Eddy said
he had advocated views similar in some points
TO those advanced by Mr.. Richardson. Much
benefit would be derived from having the
teacher correct the bad grammar of the st hoar
IN his first efforts at composition, as proposed,
and also from having tile pupils correct each
other. lie favored the practical system.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The convention reassembled at p o'clock,
when Messrs. Carter of Fitchburg, j. c. New
ton of Worcester, and D. b. Hubbard OF Graf
ton, were chosen a committee on nominations,
TO report Saturday morning officers for the
year ensuing; and Messrs. Willard of Ster
ling, Russell Of Fitchburg, and Searles of
Sutton, committee on resolutions.
IL. e. Rockwell, principal Of Milbury acad
envy, made an explanation Of his method of
teaching grammar, quite tuly endorsing M.
Richardson's views, requiring pupils daily to
write on some subject corrected by the
teacher. Messrs. Russell of Ftchburg and
Willard Of Sterling made some remarks COM
mandatory Of The practical system. Rev. Mr..
Richardson then spoke at some length in
defence Of the practical method of teaching
alter which, at his request, Mr. ii. II. Greene
OF the Worcester high school analysed a
sentence 10 illustrate the system OF analysis
now adopted. Mr.. Richardson questioned the
utility Of this mode of teaching grammar.
Mr. Greene said he liked MIR. Richardson's
method as applicable TO beginners, but thought
Tue system OF analysis adapted to the more
advanced pupils
Rev. DR., Hill made some interesting re-
marks showing the Importance OF intoxicating
high breeding and respect for those in author.
ity, and regard for God and tine right. in the
training oil children. Rev. Mr.. Shippen said
il you teach a child loyalty to truth he will
respect the representatives OF that authority
in the person Of the teacher or parent The
conscience Of the child should be cultivated
and appealed to. Some remarks from Rev
Mr. Soutler closed the afternoon.
In the evening, at Ina past seven o'clock
an interesting and instructive lecture was de
livered by Rev. b. q Northrup of Saxonville
ON "The Relation of Mental Philosophy Il
Education" lie spoke Of mental philosophy
as of interest to teachers as one of the appro
pirate school studies. The common explana.
ton Of its neglect in the preparatory course
OF teachers is the fact that they are not re.
quired to give instruction in this department
but it will not only be found a most useful
S'"uy iVi "uF"hccu ciasses, put many OF JUS
leading principles can be proiitably taught in
familiar oral lessons to those pupils who have
not sufficient time Or maturity to pursue the
science. Among the practical questions which
mental philosophy suggests 10 teachers, the
lecturer gave the following -
!. what is the mind, its faculties and laws
OF growth What, more especially, is the
juvenile mind ?-for it is far more difficult 10
comprehend the juvenile mind than the adult,