The Portland daily press., 1864-08-19
Annual Meeting Of the American Institute

Annual Meeting Of the American Institute
THIRD DAY.
The meeting was called to order at nine
o'clock by the Secretary, and opened with
praver by Rev. Mr. Newcomb of South Caro-
lima.
The question passed over on Wednesday
afternoon, "Sbould examinations be conduct
ed by teachers or commlttee?p was called up
aud discussed by Messrs. Smith of Norwich
CT, Hagar Of Boston, and others.
At ten O'Clock DR.. Do Lewis gave a short
address on Physical Culture, followed by H.
| lustrations by MIR. G. A. White OF Albany. n.
T., which were very interesting to teachers
and others.
The President remarked that il was deem
ed advisable to change the order of exercises
somewhat on account of circumstances be-
You'd their control. As DR.. Hart had not ar
rived aud they had no lecture for the forenoon
and as the hotels were so crowded that many
were anxious to get away as soon as they
eouAusl Hau DScu ucClucu " ha'O ioi. Nii"o
bournelecture in the forenoon, followed by
remarks from gentlemen from different States
and adjourn at noon sine die
At half past ten O'Clock, Prof p. A. Chad
bourne of Williams College, was introduced
and gave a lecture on "The relations of Nat
ural History to education"
Prof Chadbournes lecture was an able,
well written production, complete in ITSELF
and no report, except verbatim one, could
do it Justice. He gave evidence OF thorough
knowledge of his subject, to which he has
long devoted his especial attention. His style
was energetic and pleasing and his voice dis
tinct and clear. He commanded the undivid-
ed attention Of the audience until he closed.
Rev. Mr.. Cotton of Middleton, CT, intro
duced the usual complimentary resolutions
which were unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Stevens in the behalf of the committee
of teachers and Others in Portland, said an ef-
fort had been made TO secure suitable boat
to take the members of the Institute and 9TH
ers down among the islands of Casco Bay;
but they had failed to do so. He also extend
ed an invitation to them to visit the various
places Of interest INCUR city, expressing deep
regret that they could do no more TO render
their stay among us one Of pleasure and in
terest; bat they had done what they could.
On motion of Mr.. Philbrick of Boston,
committee was appointed. consisting of Hon.
John White of Mass, Hon. Henry Barnard of
Conn, and Hon. Z. P. Weston of Maine, to
draft petition to Congress, for Bureau OF
Education at Washington.
1t was then proposed to spend short time
in hearing from the gentlemen from the differ
ent States. Mr.. White of Mass. said there
were in that State 23S000 children attending
school, four or five thousand schools, and
seven or eight thousand teachers-that the
ratio Of female teachers was increasing-sf,-
$4,000 were annually expended and the wa
ges had generally been increased.
Mr. Eberhart of Illinois, said his was a
great State-he saw 500 acres OF wheat in one
fleld-said it was young in school matters, but
was rapidly growing-it had its County Insti-
tutcs and State Teachers Association, en-
bracing 500 teachers-that in fifteen or TWEEN
ty years the West would be heard from on
educational matters-said Illinois was loyal to
the core, having never resorted to draft and
has now $1,000 ahead of all calls except the
last.
Mr.. Barrows of Iowa, said hundreds of
teachers in his State, educated in New Eng
land, send their kind remembranees-gave an
interesting description OF the Western prai-
ries-said instead of hoeing corn two ploughs
were fixed with seat between them, so that
the driver could read his newspaper as he was
filling the soil.
Remarks were also made by Mr.. Burbank of
n. H., Mr. Newcomb of S. c., Mr. Perkins of
\. u, Mr.. Hedges of n. j., Mr.. Stevens and
Mr.. Weston of Me.
The meeting then adjourned sine die, after
singing sold Hundred"
II is estimated that about 500 persons from
abroad have been in attendance during these
meetings, representing twelve different States.
At time when there are 5000 visitors in our
city 1t was found difficult to provide such ac-
commodations for the members Of the Insti-
tute and friends, as would have been done at
any other time; however. all seemed to be sat
isiled that nothing was left undone by the
committee that wa. in their power to do.
Quite large number left In the 3 o'clock
train for Boston and others spent the after
noon in visiting the various places OF interest
in our city and left in the evening boat.