The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-09-10
Reported for the REPUBLICAN by Prof. J. A. Ban
field.

State Teachers, 1nst1tutes
The Institute held in this village,
commenced on Monday, Aug, s1st, at
the School House, and was opened by
prayer by Rev. H. Worthington. Prof.
A. S. Welcb, of the State Normal
School presiding.
l0.-Prof. Wood of the State Uni
versity commenced course of lectures
on Arithmetic. 9 In this lecture he has
tily discussed, the number of figures
possible.-is the cipher figure only
like numbers can be Z added-nota-
tion-numcration- addition, giving as a
definition, addition is the operation OF
combining several numbers in one
equivalent number. eH
11.-Prof WEIGH. Subject. Primary
Instruction. es,
There are two ways of giving pri-
mary instruction-6rst, by giving nu-
merous examples, second, by sxpound-
ing principles. / propose to stick to
principles-may not benefit all, but if
FIVE APPRECIATE the discussions itwillpay.
Teachers ought to understand the mate
rial in which they work and the end to
bs gained. Topic for this hour, Order
of Instruction. There is such a thing as
a Logical Order of Mental D Development,
illustrated by reference to the vegetable
kingdom. We are not accustomed to
recognize this fact in the school room.
We teach children what we ought to
teach mature minds. In Arithmetic
we should teach children by concrete
forms. The true Order of Instruction
must be determined by the Order of
Development of the Human Mind.
Two ways of doing this, lst, by watch
ing the mental wants of the Child
pursuing this order, we discover that
the child wants knowledge of things
before of names. I'd. BY studying
Mental Philosophy. By this method,
we learn that the avenues through
which all knowledge comes to the mind
are the senses, and these are first in ex-
ercise; and since every faculty is cult
waited by its appropriate objects, the
objects appropriate 10 the cultivation
of the senses should be taught in a
First Primary School. Each Science
has ideas presented to some of the fac
ulties-some TO the senses, some to
the conceptive powers, &c. The or
der of the faculties is, the senses, con-
ception, judgment, analysis, imagina-
ton and reason st @
Children have been my best teachers.
Observing them Ihave taken hints that
have led me into the natural methods.
P. M. l:3o.-Prof. WEIGH, Contin.
uation of Primary Instruction.
Commenced by asking how old ought
children 10 be before being sent to
school, He thought on the old plan,
seven years old, but with the natural
method of teaching three years. He
would send his children, if they could
have the right kind of teacher, as
soon as they could walk. He though,
child at nine years of age, with the
proper antecedent instruction, will learn
as much in one year as he would under
the old regime in the four years from
FIVE to nine.
In answer to the question, for what
do We send children to school, to learn
facts or to gain mental power, he an
swered, to gain poaoer. Mental power
is the great end to be obtained in al
educational processes. The first thing
to be done is to cultivate the senses
not all of them, but touch, sight and
hearing. Touch, however, is mostly
cultivated before the child enters schoo
at two years of age touch is more in
use than at FIVE. The sense of sight
the object of which is color-that j,
combinations of lights and shades
gives US the ideas of form and shape
and its cultivation is very importan
part of the Primary Teachers work
A moments reflection upon the mum
Der of ideas that afford us plsasur,
which are obtained by this sense will
satisfy any of us Of the Importance o
eye culture. If we sit down to stud,
picture and try to carry away with u
distinct perceptions of it that we ma,
reproduce it and enjoy it afterward, w
shall again be satisfied that our eye
need very much cultivation. This in
dictates our first work in primar,
school. Attention should also be givel
to the cultivation of the ear. Thes
senses come into action, grow and &c
ripe about as follows: The sense G
vision begins growth when the chill
opens his eyes upon the world, and get
4 A,