New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-13
EDUCATION.
American Institute of Iasiruotiou

ladies' and gentlemen Among Others present, not hereto
fore referred to, representatives from Missouri,
Canada and other remote points. II ascertained that
from the City of Providence alone 80 delegates were In
attendance.
Prayer was offered by the Rev Mr. Ware OF the Upx
tartan Church.
Tho first subject for consideration beng that Of Tueds,
viz the influence Of schools upon commerce religion
civil poity &c. the Rev ). K Converse Of Burlingtos
took the Goor, and made remarks tending magnify tbs
Importance Of the teacher EXERT LIZ proper personal
duence.
Mr. Ladd Of Providence made an effective address, show
Ing the relations Of educat0n to the body polite and va
followed by Mr. Sawyer of Connecticut on the same gems
ra topic Mr. g. expressed the hope that some suitable
textbook would be speedily written and issued 70 med
the very want experienced in common schools IN hs
matter OF mpartng education TO Young Americans resPeoe
ing the Institutions OF their country.
The Hon. Joseph White of Massachusetts explained hS
meaning of "pollty' in contradstncion from policy,
stated that there already steps taken looking owsn
the publication Of textbook books designed to give
correct instruction on matters Of civil poity.
Mr. Dodd OF Nantucket Mass. made speech naratihe
SOME of his experience a teacher in impartng insruo
ton TO children about political affairs.
AT this point Mr.. Hoy Of Providence, from the Com
mittoe on Resolutions, proposed the following which
WERE after addresses from Messrs Hoyt Prof darkness
of Brown University, and MowIy Of Providence unAah
mously adopted.
The hour Of IL O'Clock having arrived, the Institute
listened address by the Hon. George f. Edmunds
United States Senator from Vermont on Learning =
principal safeguard Of Liberty and Order As this at
dress has already been reported at Mddebury College, 70
for1ear to pubsh any sketch at tho present tme The
lecturer was received with great cordiaity, and bis
thoughtful utterances COMMANDED close attention ana
elected warm applause.
The Convention adjourned till afternoon
At the opening Of the afternoon session the Chaimsa
read letters received from several Dsohed gentlemen,
regreng their inability to be present, aud commendnG
the work of those engaged in teaching the young az
election Of officers for the ensuing year then held anS
fho list
unanimously chosen as follows:
% "a. II as Of G tSs fS Rev.
Wayland d. D. and Ill. D.; therefore.
e5 y nas and PERSONAL influence 1ve done much
the education and mold the present ago. ana
while we pay 81 wes gratefully recognize The SEW
ices Of the first of the American Institute OF n
''I Prssden,. WILLIAM E. SHELDON Boston. Mass.
p R'q.dss. William Russell L1gcassr P Mas Hemp
l.; Ariel Parish New Hayen Conn., George b. Emerson
Boston S.5' Hedges sid Nsf Gsssy rGo. T1ns;
Y; Thomas sherSin. Boston Mass; David n Camp Men
Britain Conn JOHS Ps5cs so''21 Mass soHs
o sSiOy Mass i' Henry < Sawyer iddsso~6 Conn "a
S S1idss X "'; cS1a Esfar salem Mss Ms::
Conn Is. g. Northrop s,xonyle Mass John Eneelsn6
RoIbury Mass; +. W. Valentine. Brooklyn, n Y j. e
Iitehcd Bangor Me- Joseph Waite wi1 sa; Mss:,
Mas; John w Dickinson. Vested Mass Merrok Lyon,
Providence l. hdgs Smith s DORCHESTER Mass s.m,
Mas. A. a. Miner Boston Mis4 Aper HARNESS ProvS
yens' Tsi River Mass; David Cro.by Nashua n. H.; WA
| +. Atkinson, Cambridge. Mass 81,
| ASSISTANT RECORDING sEcRETARr-Georgo I. Litilshdd
CoRsrsPoSDSG sEcRErARrEs-T. D. Adams Newton Mas,
. TREAsTaER-GraovilIe b Putnsm Boston Mos,
CUKAToRs-J. T. Horn, Brookine. Mass; Samuel SvaA
Boston Mass Henry c. Harden. Boston. Mass.
Pagc Boston Ma a. C. Goodwin BOO
observation-disclosures Hutchins Boston, Mass GeorreH
nsoT fTS~ Bydso hfasvse Mss Sos
Providence. T. Il \. A. Calkin'. \. \. City; D. W. Web
Bartlett New.Britan Coun. a S. Higgins, Brooklyn.
T.; l. n Camp. Burlington, Vt. and d. W. Hoyt PROM
Resolutions in token respect to the memory ofmembsn
Of the Institute deceased during the last year, were intro
duced and after commemorative atr ssc were agreed To-
Mr. Philbrck OF Boston, from the Committee on Co1sa
tutiona amendments, reported amendment proposing
some change in the method and terms Of membership
which was Of no public interest and went over for actor
Prof Harkncss of b own University introduced 70
open discussion on The place of classic and scientific
The speaker said liberal education should requirel
culture and discipline; it shouid spread all knowledge
before the person who seeks to acquire such an edueaon
and IL should provide such person WITH constant ana
varied supply of all knowledge. How this education may
best be acquired is Of the great Problems Of the days
and The speaker gave at considerable length his opinion
az 10 the merits of the system for achieving that end with
some consideration of the prop place Tor the sciences and
the classics therein Sciences bring to the scholar te SUD-
M. William p Atkinson of Cambridge, Mass, followed
in speech, explaining his peculiar views on the subject
Several other gentlemen were desiring 10 be heard but ths
hour assigned TO another subject arrived and 1t became
necessary 10 cut OF the debate -
Miss Illen Seayer of the New-York Normal School ID
Osweco gave an exhibition of object teaching
class Of ~ bright urchns brought upon the platform.
all of them unknown to the teacher and she impaired 70
them the knowledge Of transparency, opaqueness and
sem TRANSPARENCY by means OF some Windowgiass some
tin and some vinegar which she produced before them
The answers aud the of instruction were mgmy
enjoyed BY the entire Convention ana the ChaTan en
pressed the thanks Of the body to Miss Seaver foT her EN-
Gent performance .
At the close of tho exhibition,
Mr. A. Cakins, Assistant superintendent Of Sehooh
for the City of New-IOrk, was then called upon "a!
few words upon the subject OF "ObIect Ieacl-ng hs
remarked that might be asked who aad senec
with so much pleasure the class exercise why spend 90
much time teaching the class TO repeat chat IS sara
be Opaque because we can not see Though NJ Gass
said TO be transparent, because see through it,
VINEGAR is said 10 be semi-iransparnt because cannos
see through Il cayig?' Why not t them these facts st
once and require the pupils TO ana eele nem
Why lead the pupils 70 see 'hosc 9dse'es pe'oie 'cnB
In answering these supposed questions he said: Why
do teachers spend SO nu' ne H ot,oni
docs the eymuas when he would develop p0rer Of muscle
exercise for day day for monthl he knows that
* b cse and experience from that he can attain
that strength which he desrest enaole MIN 10 accoPso
his feets. ,.., -, -. 49,,
iepc that children may attain the poer Of using readily
and accurately their mental faculties most thoroughly
am successfully 20 attain that knowledge which ccnsti'
taes good education IL because We desire 70 develop
70 their full powers the minds Of our pupils that We thus
train them 20 observe well as TO hear and tell thai
which they and hear We do this also that they may
possess the power Of learning that they easily acquire
greater stores OF knowledge after the teachers work
finished.
is now nearly four years since object lessons were in
Produced into the Primary schools Of the City of New
York Al first the teachers feared 10 undertake the woh
it appeared so formidable to them. They were 60.