The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1861-02-27

new idea may have been discovered du-
ring the exercise. He never would pro-
ceed with an exercise until the attention
Of The whole class was sccured-short
lessons only to DO assigned, and no exer-
cises to be left till well read-would dis
card formal rules in general
Mr.. WILLARD, was in favor of assign
ing short lessons for reading exercise and
would require tho pupil to study the les
son until he had thoroughly mastered il,
committed to memory, if need be, as the
rules of arithmetic or grammar would be
learned, iuasmuch as it would serve two
fold purpose of acquiring knowledge of
the words constituting the lesson to be
read, and of assisting the memory TO ac-
quire habit of retaining easily whatever
may be placed before it to be committed.
Miss CARPENTER would not require a
reading lesson to be committed to mem
ory, verJatim ct literatin, neither the rules
of arithmetic or grammar. She would
prefer the pupil first TO acquire correct
knowledge of the principles to be known,
and then express those principles and their
application in his own language. -
Mr.. BARBER concurred with those views.
Relative to Orthography the President
believed that no correct knowledge of spell
ing could be acquired by any specific rules
that have or could be given; and that
reference must be constantly had TO the
spelling-book and dictionary. He hoped
the day was not far distant when silent
letters shall be stricken from our Ian
guage and sufficient number of letters
or characters added to the present num-
Der that each elementary sound may have
a particular character 20 representa- it. Their
no trouble would arise in giving correctly
the orthography of every word in the Ian
guage--either in analyzing or writing it.
The afternoon session was occupied for
the most part in discussing the following
points. "How should teacher present
himself for the first time before his pu-
pills, the nature of his introductory re-
marks, &c? How should he effect an
organization of his school? How as
sign the first lesson? How instruct his
pupils to acquire proper knowledge of
those lessons? How ask questions and
require answers on the subject matters
of the lessons? The expediency of
awarding prizes, &c, for scholarship
The propriety of the inhiction of cor
poreal punishment for willful and persis-
tant obstinancy TO tho rules or will of
the teacher? The views of most teachers
rs expressed on this last question were
nearly allied: that corporal punishment,
that is t1ogging should be resorted to
only as when every other means of
bringing the refractory to terms had proved
unavailing, and even then an infiction of
bodily pain will often fail of efecting re-
form when moro humane measurs are
tried in vain.
The evening exercises opened with
prayer by Rev. Mr.. WRIT and an address
from that gentleman on the subject mat
ter Of our Primary Schools, how to en-
hance their prosperity and usefulness, &c.
The evening was mostly occupied in dis
cussing points touched upon by the
speaker. Mr.. CUsHMAN made very
happy allusion to the day, (Washington's
birth dny,) the estimable traits in the
character of that great man, the labors
of the Pilgrim Fathers to establish schools
and seminaries Of learning, &c, affirming
that the only safeguard to our liberties j:
> found in the proper education of the people
= carrying out the great educational inter
ests inaugurated in the early days of the
Republic. Resolutions relative to the
death of Mrs. L. A. BRoss and Mis-.
EUNIcE GARDINER, the good inhencC
of our Educational Association, thanks tc
: the good people of Lamont for the
hospitality, &c, were presented, ant
, adopted; after which the Association ad
journed to meet at Grand Haven, for III,
: dispatch Of business, on tie first Thurs
Il day and Friday in May next The meet
6 ing was IN exceedingly interesting one
i and teachers generally seemed to feel
9 greatly increased determination to returl
9 10 their school and labor more ardentIy
III \