Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-16


Worcester County Teachers Association was
held in the town hall at Westboro', yesterday
morning. There was large attendance. The
president-Hanson l.. Reed, principal of the
high school in Fitchburg, presided, with h.
Z. Rockwell, principal of the Millbury High
School, secretary. The secretary's report was
read and approved. variety of questions
for discussion were then sent to the chair.
The first one taken up was-"Is it for the best
interest of the schools, that perfect quiet
stopped 2" Mr.. Hubbard of Grafton opened
the discussion by arguing strongly in the neg.
alive. He was followed by Hon. Nathaniel
Eddy of Oxford, VIM. T. Sleeper of Oxford,
Mr.. Marble of Leominster, Geo. B. Grassie of
Bolton, and H. r. Greene of Worcester. The
chief arguments urged against the policy of
stringent discipline for stiffness, &c, went to
show that it is unnecessary, that it would
cause the pupils to equivocate when called to
account, and that, by the occasional communi,
cation of ideas among scholars, their minds
are aroused to greater activity, &c.
E. w. Russell of Fitchburg, favored the af-
firmative. He said the best scholars make
the least noise. The best plan he had tried,
was, when satisfied that the pupil has whisper
ed, to inquire into the matter at once, and, af-
ter certain number of violations, apply the
penalty, There was considerable labor in
this, but it was necessary, unless more salts
factory plan could be devised.
Mr.. Grassie of Bolton, re-afirmed tile posi-
tiOu tn ken nv him in tho norniup that If was
impossible TO carry on school without some
noise. No teacher can say he has ever had
day pass without more or less whispering. He
opposed having any arbitrary rules, because
they were sure to be broken.
Rev. j. D. E. Jones of Worcester, spike at
some length. He doubted whether in the most
active schools there is as much knowledge as
wisdom. The use of the term perfect still
ness" creates difficulty. Absolute stiffness is
neither attainable nor desirable A degree of
quietness was necessary. Different individuals
have different standards. A primary teacher
often had parcel of young savages commit
ted to her care, She cannot subdue them at
once, nor accomplish what she desires, nor
are they fully subdued after passing through
several grades. They ought at length to be
brought to see what they owe to the teacher
and to themselves. With regard to the report.
ing system, he did not conceive he was respon-
sble for the lie which a child might tell, in an
swer to a question which ought to be asked.
Freedom can be enjoyed only under law, and
respect for authority must be indicated. The
speaker related an incident of frequent occur
renee in his office, illustrating the difference
between ''young America" and young Ire
land" in the matter of politeness. The form
er will march up with hat on and demand
rather than request a permission to enter a
certain school. If asked whether his father
allows him to wear his hat in the house, his
reply is, "No." The latter, who has never at
tended school in this country, wipes his feet
on the mat takes off his hat, waits his time
and respectfully atks the desired permission.
The speaker did not believe in fogging as a
general custom, but submission must be
taught Teachers who make the least noise
about it, govern the best, as pupils who make
the least noise study the best generally.
Mr.. Grassie of Bolton reiterated his opposi
ton TO the enforcement OF stringent rules
talsehood must be expected from the system.
The teacher should take it for granted in the
outset that his scholars will do their duty,
after appealing to their moral sense and self
respect. Mr.. Hubbard of Grafton continued
the discussion
After short recess, Rev. T. W. Higginson
of Worceste delivered his lecture upon "Phy-
steal Education" which was listened to with
great attention. The lecture was then dis
cussed by Messrs. Eddy of Oxford, S. G.
Stone of Westboro', Geo. Z. Marble of Leom-
mister, Jones of Worcester, and Hubbard of
Grafton, all Of whom endorsed it.
In the evening there was lecture by d. B.
Hagar, Esq, of Jamaica Plain, president of
the American Institute of Instruction. His
subject was, "The cultivation of the reasoning
powers, and the influence of schools in rela-
m 10 -, IL, IL
the essentials to correct reasoning, under five
heads, as follows The first requisite was, a
of appropriate facts; second, a
proper selection OF facts, their proper arrange
ment and classification fourth, retention of
facts in the memory in a fixed order fifth, the
conclusion.
In the second place, he explained how these
essentials may be attended to in the school
room, by cultiyating Il spirit of investigation,
and love Of learning; consulting various
books and authorities acquiring knowledge
in school as it must be acquired in after life,
by studying subjects rather than books exclu.
sively. He favored the topical system of in
and recommended familiar discus
sions on philosophical questions. He said,
teachers should influence their pupils choice
of reading The lecture was able and nstruc-
tive, and was well received by the large audi
ence who listened to it.
This forenoon lecture will be delivered by
Rev. Chas Hammond, principal of Lawrence
Academy at Groton.
The HIGH SCHOOL THEsAURUs.-The seventh
number of this sheet is published this week, and
wish to call the attention of all interested in the well
fare of our High School to the importance of sus-
tanning valuable an auxiliary to its success.
There is probably way in which genuine inter
est in composition writing and true literary taste
be better cultivated in a school than by the effort to
prepare articles which shall be worthy to meet the
public eye. Latent talent is developed, and orthOg-
raphy, punctuation, and grammatical and rhetorical
principles receive practical application, which the
ordinary composition exercise rarely effects. The
Ihesaurus has thus far been highly credable to the
school which sustains it, and the pupils now ask a
little assistance in the way of subscrptions in order
TO place II upon a more permanent basis. The eN-
pertinent has been tried in other places with the best
results, and we know of one such paper the Port
folio" of the Springfield High School, which has
maintained vigorous existence for the last twelve
years. viii not those of our citizens who shall have
the opportunity afforded them ofsubscrbing for the
Thesaurus within the next few days avail themselves
of it, TO confer a benefit upon the school, and do
themselves pleasure? Copies of the paper can be
procured and subscriptions received at the book
stores of Messrs. Mellen, Sanford. and Ward