The weekly Butte record., 1867-11-09
Joint Institute.

methods Of teaching reading, particularly TO prima
ry pupils and those who hare never learned the Al
phabet The exercise was conducted by Mr..
Barnes The two methods of teaching beginners
most in favor were, the word method and phonetic.
The pen-kDife system found champions in Granger,
of Marysyille and Fernald of Butte, who professed
to teach child the alphabet, perfectly. IN ten
dsys provided it was old enough and smart enough
to 60 to school. The adherents OF the word meth
cd claimed to be able teach the child his ette rs
in about the same time, unawares to the pupil.
While the word method is really philosophical and
must succeed in the hands Of a teacher competent
to use it, / believe that we have many valuable
teachers whose mental discipline and habits of
thought are not of sufficient regularity, or logical
defniteuess to enable them to adopt it with much
success.
At half past three O'Clock P. NJ, Mr.. Sanders, of
Chico resumed the subject OF Grammar. Ii proved
to be so interesting subject in his hands, that the
Institut remained long after the usual time of ad.
journing.
Hon. John Bidwell and S. c. Stephens interested
the institute during the evening. Mr.. Stephens
subject-tne study of the classics-s one of great
interest and was well handled, notwithstanding he
was opposed to it. Hon. J. Bidwell talked for two
hours narrating the incidents of his tour through
Europe. contrasting the condition of the poorer
classes of one country with those of another, and
with those of the United States, and deducing from
his observations, at home and abroad, the opinion
that the public schools, having given US vast su-
periority over other people, should receive more
hat bo hiatt
paid and that men of capital and influence are the
ones who ought to that all this is done.
THs LAST DAY of the Institute was devoted to
unfinished bu siness, and the report of the commit
tee resolutions. Sanders, of Chico. Gray, OF
Oroville and Granger and Stone, of Marysvie, F.,
were appointed a committee on arrangements, to
cooperate with the Superintendents elect, in
ranging the plans and work of the Third Institute
to be holden in Oroville sometime during 1858. A
committee was also appointed, with s. c. Stephens
of Butte as chairman, to report at the next insti
tute, the workings of the halliday attendance in
places where it has been adopted, and also the va
rious advantages aud d isadvantages which would
attend its introduction into the schools of State
The report of the committee on resolutions was
ceved and the committee discharged.
The Institute then proceeded to take up the res
olutions seriatim resolution of thahks to John
SWEET as State Superintendent, and one TO R. h.
Allen, as County Superintendent, and one as Pres
ident of this Institute, passed unanimously. One
expressing regret at the defeat of John Swett but
rendering the support and cooperation of the
members of the Institute to his successor, also
passed unanimously, after slight discussion.
resolution defining selfreporting and approving oft
was lost bat skinl-milk and-water resolution CON
cerning it was adopted, which neither approved of
it, or dsapproved of it. both, cannot say which,
but guess little of each. At auy rate it is, as
applied, very mild prescription, and may
safely be taken for many different complaints as
any patent medicine A resolution setting forth
that, whereas, the State Superintendent declares
that, those teachers like Clarke's Geography who
know enough to use it, therefore, resolved. that
there is one such teacher in Yuba and Butte conn
ties, was lost on the ground that there were f'co
instead of one. 1t was then amended SO as to read
two instead of one and was again lost on the
ground that they did not like it but that it simply
answered until they could get better
resolution was then unanimously adopted
pledging the support of the members of the Inst
tute to any author who should first furnish a cheap
and reliable text book upon Pacific Geography; and
setting forth that, if the author and publishers OF
Clarke's Geography would speedily revise, con-
dense and republish much of the school geog-
raphy as pertains to the Pacific Coast. in durable
manner, and at cost not exceeding one dallar, we
will welcome it to our school rooms.' resolu
ton favoring the introduction of the phonetic sys
TEN of teaching reading passed by a small majority
After which the Institute adjourned.
In conclusion Mr.. Editor, must apologize for
the breyity of my notes. and for full account
of the proceedings reter you TO the photographic
report OF our Secretary, which will be published
soon. REPoRrER