The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1863-01-14

Guffcy's series of readers, and Rays series
OF arithmetic. and he believed that the good
Of our schools demanded that every other
series should be thrown out. He thought
the teacher from adopting thorough sys.
tenn, and the tendency was bad, tempting
him TODD away with aU.'systetn. He tho't
our schools were in bad state in this re.
spect, and the community should wake up
to the important fact that our school funds
arc wasted as long as we attempt to carry
our schools without q thorough system,
He closed by saying that division Of labor"
was the grand principle underlying the
graded school system"-a principle which
has long since been adopted in our manu-.
featuring establishments.
g. L. Angler made some remarks. He
thought the graded system would not work
in any OF our schools, not even at McGreg-
or. The buildings were so arranged that
they could not grade their schools to ad.
vantage. The buildings were too far apart.
lie said he thought it would bc very diff
cult to Thoroughly classify our common
schools. There were so many kinds Of
books, and parents are not willing to change.
He thought if we commence changing
there would be no end to it. s.aEltl#&
H. S. Smart next took the floor. Mr.. S.
is the Oldest teacher in our association. His
locks are becoming grey, but with armor
seemingly as bright as ever, he takes his
place in the teachers ranks. He said he
wanted first to see the practical workings
Of the graded system. lie was ready for
any Improvement. He waited some of tie
teachers here to try it, After Messrs
Brown and Briggs had spoken, Mr.. Smart
again resumed his remarks in quite an in
t,rcsting manner.
Mr.. W. Trott said he was teaching at
National this winter, and when he com.
menced he concluded to try the graded
system. He liked it very much, and gave
very interesting account Of the manner
in which he had graded his. school. lie
arranged his classes in rows 30 that class
would occupy one end Of the seats through
the house. lie divided the school into LIST,
ID, Sd, 4th, and 9Th class readers, or grades
He spoke Of the old Fogies who arc not up
to the times in teaching. lie was in favor
i Of improvcu cnt. -s..rt .-.
j. Briggs was called out, and said he was
one Of the old Fogies, he supposed. lie
was in favor Of improvement, but did not
| believe in being carried away by every new
thing that comes along Many years since,
when teaching in one Of the New England
states, ne remembered Of being visited by
an agent who was selling Phonetic books
The agent said there would be no other
kind Of books used in ten years, and dis.
coursed beautifully in regard to the i'm.
provcment, spelling by sounds instead OF
letters. Rr. B. said he was one of the old
Fogies who rejected it. Three years ago
while talking with some friends, he told
them that we would have a civil war, bu,
Inc was not believed, even if we should
have civil war. They said that Clayton
county could whip out the rebels, or Iowa
at any rate could drive them all into the
Gulf; but the old Fogie told them it would
take half million of men. .'..'',
Alonzo Brown, with his characteristic
good hnmor, ina very happy manner, turn
ed old Fogyism to. good account. He said
when Franklin was trying to tame the
lightning, all the old Fogies said he could n,
do it, but as soon as he did do it, they were
ready to profit by his great discovery III
said when Fulton was launching his steam
boat, the old Fosics declared he could mol
do anything with it, but when they saw
how proudly it plOwcd the waves they
were ready to take passage with him. liz
said he for one was willing to have some.
thing new. If a new thing came up ht
wanted to try it, and il it failed we would
not 60 back, but still reach out after some
thing else. He said the only way was tc
keep trying. ..H ..'.....
The question was then dropped to be
discussed again at the meeting ut McGreg
After returning vote Of thanks to the
citizens of Garnavilo for their hospitality
the Association adjourned to meet at Nc
Gscgor on Wednesday Of the institute
week. The teachers left, feeling that the
last hours Of the oil year had been wei
spent Z. b. WAKEMAN, Sec'y.
News and Items.
BY colliery explosion in England or
the 9Th ultimo, f(ty.four miners were kill
ed.
| The Union army entered Murfreesborc
on the 9Th inst. Bragg, fell back confusion
and Rosccrans pursued in the most spirited
manner.
The Chicago Board Of Trade has expel
ed the Chicago Times and its reporter,
from their rooms.
The number of sick just now in the
Kcokuk hospital is said to be "only 500 u
Quite good number, VIC should say.
Col. W. N. Stone, 22l Iowa infantry is
, post commandant at Rolla. -..
Gen. Grant has annulled his order ex.
pelling Jews from his department.
Representative Wicklffs from Kentucky
on the 9Th, stated "in the face Of Heaven
in the presence Of Congress, and in the
hearing Of the nation, that there was no,
one man in three hundred in Kentucky
who was in favor Of the proclamation"
The plucky little Monitor, which sue
cessfu!ly received and resisted the sharp
firing and heavy conclusion Of the rebel
ram Mcrri'nac, at half past a. m. Of tho
3lst ult., foundercd in storm off Cape
Hatteras, and with her were lost four Off.
GERS and twelve men.
The Passaic, one Of the new Monitor
vessels has arrived safely at Beaufort.
1t is reported that that the French have
captured Prnebla and Tampico. One thous.
and mules and two hundred and fifty wag.
ons from New York had arrived at Vera
Cruz, and the Mexican Consul ut Havana
states that his government feels deeply the
refusal Of the American government to aid
struggling Republic, and still more that
it should aid its enemies.
The Richmond Enquirer says President
"Lincoln's proclamation will be little more