, 1861-12-30
EDUCATIONAL ANNIVERSARv.
Stale Teachers Convention at Bloom
tnEton.

B4ooaSGTos, December 26, 1851.
the Convention assembled at a. H., Presf
dent Wells in the chair. The Committee m N
frogramme submitted IN order for business
which was accepted rather than adopted. and
an order passed that all resolutions intended
Tor tue action of the Association be submitted
to the Committee on Programme.
The President, Mr. Wells, then proceeded
to addrcss the Association in semi-uarratiye
style, giving an outline of the advancement Of
education IN our own times. He spoke Of the
production OF Colburn's First Lessons, forty
years ago,as the great starting point Of modern
improvement in textbooks, and rs marking a
new era in education. There hare been about
Y, ,00o, 900 copies Of this little book sold, and
now all other works OF the kind arc modelled
on the same plan, go that the souz Of Warren
ColbuTn's First Lessons may be said to be re-
produced by the million annually, Next fol-
lowed Mrs Wizards historical works. which
have still an abiding reputation and large s:le.
Mr. Russell, continued the President, WIS
the first man to open the subject Of Normal
Schools for the special instruction Of teachers
IL the United States. This was in the year
1873. He also established the Journal of Eux-
cation, which afterwards assumed the name of
the A4,ndts eT Education in 1880, under the
charge OF Mr. G. Wood It forms valuable
record OF the state Of education at that day
In 1921, James D. Carter, Of Massachusetts,
wrote series Of articles on Normal Schools
and JAS. D. Gallaudet moved in the same
work in Connecticut, the same year The
year lS50 was marked by several important
points. In that year, the first Teachers, Semi
nary, proper, WIS established by Mr.. Hall, Of
Andorer, who produced. several lectures on
education, which were published and were re-
garded is the best Of their kind at the time
The American Institute for Instruction was
established the same year by Geo. B. Emerson
and olhers. Their Journal was a valuable pa
per, and the only one that promises to excel
it is DR. Barnard's Journal Of Education,
Ihe speaker claimed that the Essex County
(Mass.) Teachers Association was the first
county association in America. DR.. Barnard
held the first Teachers Institute On the CONT
first Normal School vas established at Ley
lrgton, Mass, by Horace Mann, Geo. B, En-
erson, Carter. Gallaudet and others, The
State Of New York in 1874 made an appropria-
ton Tor carrying on Normal School for i've
years. David Z. Page was called to fill the
clair, as Principal. In his last interview with
Horace Mann, before entering upon his cAarye,
Mr. Mann said to him-*tMr. Page, Won mast
succeed OF die" Hc did both, Now that
Institution ranks high, having been the instru-
ment of much good. The first State Teach
ers s. ASSOCIATION M was organized in New York,
IN 1919. They sent delegates to 4 similar As
sociation to be held in Massachusetts after
wards, in tho same year. at these conYeu-
tlons tue question Of the abolition Of corpo-
real punishment was warmly discussed. It
was then held that because some teachers had
taught for q year or more without iuilictIny
any corporeal punishment, MI might do so, q
mistake which subsequent experience has dis
61pated- The question noH is, '.uow little
may VIC whip? not whether ne use the whin
at ALL"
Referring again to Normal Schools. Mr
wells said the teachers Of the east were often
the strongest opponents Of the measure.
lied capacity Of State ASSOCIATION broGght
forward the measure, and by their active ef-
forts secured the establishment of our nrcsent
Normal University
On1itting various other topics which the
speaker touched upon, he concluded with
some pertinent remarks on Object Teach5nr-
as the true and natural method for instruction
20 lar as teachers could be found qualified to
conduct school exercises on that principle:
but cautioned against the failing already no.
ticcd Of giving sort Of Object Instruction to
please the Board Of Education.
Mr. Nells's address was well received, and
many seemed to regret that time would not
allow him to deliver all that he had prepared
for the occasion.
Next followed an essay by Miss Stocking Of
GalEa, On the Importance Of History In Com
mon Schools, an ably written article, showing
an accurate knowledge of her subject and i
high appreciation Of its merits. This was fol-
lowed By drill exercise by Mr. Fitch, sue
ceeded by remarks from Gee. Hicks Of Galena.
when the Convention took recess Of two
hours for dinner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was opened by class
exercise in map driving, by Mr.: Woodward,
of the Jones School, Chicago. The audienc,.
were delighted and instructed, but the time
allotted was too brief for anything more than
the merest outline of the plan
After brief recess and a sprightly musical
entertainment, an amateur discussion ensucd
on the question, Ought Free Public High
Schools to be sanctioned participated in 81
Messrs. Haslet, Gew and Blodget.
BIZ. Johanet, Of Joliet, gave 4 clear and
practical talk On Grammar Schools. It is
scarcely necessary to follow the exercises of
the remainder of this convention further iu
after the style Of Teachers Institute, and the
time allowed to each effort is necessarily too
short to admit Of completeness in any one,
There Is much talent, wit and beauty here in
the assembly. The influence Of the gathering
will be good, and the teachers present will 20
home refreshed and encouraged in their work.
The evening session was occupied by Pnesi-
dent Sturteyant, of Jacksonville in strong
address on the '"Sphere Of woman, and the
education necessary for it." Unfortunately
for that worthy gentleman, his remarks were
misunderstood BY many Of his audience. He
is really In fAror Of high mental culture for the
female sex, but on such different scale from
that now practiced, that many construed
him to be opposed to anything higher
than such training as would make wo-
man a pretty plaything, a sweet freside
creature, whose highest sphere should be to
make the world happy for the lords Of crea-
ton Nothing is farther from the real views
of this liberal educator. But when public
speaker fails to make his ideas clear to his
hearers, venerable though he be, be must
abide the impression they make till time and
occasions may set them right.
~- A letter from Washington, giving an
account Of the recent fight at Drainesville,
esys:
"0ur good fortune must have resulted 1aree-
y from the formidable nature sud position Of
Easton's Battery. These howitzers, Of the
largest c1ass, have bore as large as mans
hat, and throw grape and canister, at short
range, With fnghtfu1 tumu1t and effect. They
az undoubtedly superior to all other guns for
These big howitzers arc great deal better
than rifle cannon for field business.
E a Connecticut soldier writes home that
the Commissary at Annapolis has given the
boFs SO much mule meat that the cars Of the
whole regiment have grown three and half