Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-12-14
Proceedings of the Calaveras County
Teachers Institute

~lOCSSdlllS5S OI Tie NGlSVSTdS SCuDLy
Teachers Institute.
The Institute convened at Murphys, on
Wednesday, Dec. 4th, 1867.
Morning Session.
The Institute met in the school room -
Present Messrs. Currier, Lighthall, McMa-
hon, Dyer, Nellis, Shearer and Merry, Misses
Louttit, breckenridge and Heckshaw; also
Mr.. Crowhurst, late of Plumas county.
Mr.. o. V. Currier. County Superintendent,
in the Chair. D. B. Merry was elected Sec
rotary. The following committees were then
appointed by the President:
Committee on order of exercises -Messrs
Mcmahon, Dyer and Nellis: Committee
on Resolutions, Messrs Dakin, Lghthall and
Crowhurst: Critics, Misses Louttit, Breck-
inridge and Heckshaw.
Moved by Merry, seconded by Lighthall,
that the Institute adjourn until l o'clock, p.
NJ, in order to give the several committees
time to report. Motion carried.
afternoon Session.
Institute met pursuant to adjournment.
Present, all those who were present in the
forenoon. and w. ]. Dakin, Esq.
The committee on Order of Exercises then
presented partial report, which was adopt
ed, and the committee granted further time
Music being first in order, Mr.. Mcmahon,
assisted by Miss Louttit, sang their favorite,
leone where my Love Lies Dreaming" in
q mastery style. Next came a discussion
on "OrganiZing and conducting q school
then topography" both Of which subjects
were discussed by nearly all the members
present. The afternoon session then closed
with music by the choir,
Ecening Session.
This session was held in the Congresa-
tional church. First, music by the choir
second, an able and interesting address, by
Rev. Mr.. Morgan. of Murphys ;-subiect:
The use of the Public Schools" The ses-
sion then closed with music.
Second day-Aorning Session.
After song by the choir, the committee
on Order of Exercises made their final re-
port, which was accepted and the committee
discharged. The Critics report next furn-
ished subject for much mirth.
Next came a discussion on "Regularity and
Hardness" The Institute occupied the re-
mainder of the session discussing the subject
of "Grammar." Adjourned to meet at o.
clock, p. NJ.
afternoon Session.
This was decidedly the most interesting
session of the Institute. After thoroughly
discussing the subject of Arithmetic" the
Institute was favored by Miss Louttit with
an essay on The Theory and Practice of
Teaching" which evnced, not only much
careful study of the subject, but much abil-
ity, also, and was indeed a mastery effort,
and can not receive too high communication
at the hands of the Institute.
The children of the public school, led by
Mr.. Crowhurst, went through an exercise in
light callsthenics, for the benefit of the In
stitute, and after listening to song by the
choir, the Institute adjourned to meet at 9
o'clock, Friday morning.
Third day-1lorning Session.
Institute met according to adjournment.
Mr.. Dyer and Misses breckenridge and Heck
shaw were not present, having had to leave
town on the morning stage.
The committee on Resolutions presented
the following report. which was read, dis
cussed and unanimously adopted
ReSolred-That the members of this Inssi-
tute do hereby express their warmest graft
tude to superintendent, Hon. John
SWEET, for the very able and satisfactory
manner in which he has administered the
educational affairs of this State; and tender
to his successor, Rev. .. P. Fitzgerald their
assurance OF hearty support and co-opera-
ton in all his efforts to promote the interests
of the public schools of California.
ReSolred-That the private school interests
are directly antagonistic to those of the pub
lie school; that they not only detract from
the latter a portion of the pecuniary aid
which they would otherwise receive, thereby
materially Gripping them in their workings,
but they engender strife and bitter feeling in
a neighborhood, not only among the parents,
but in the hearts of the children, where they
are stored away along with other early i'm
pressions.
Reso1red-That no good citizen will, in
view of these facts, either teach or support a
private school in opposition to public
Resolrea-Therefore, that we, as public
school teachers, and friends of liberal insti
tutions generally, feel the necessity of dis
countenancing any attempts to divide our
schools, and consider it our duty to frown
down any such attempts whenever and
wherever they may arise. Signed,
w. ]. DAKIN, Chm.
Moved by Dakin, seconded by McMahon,
that all those teachers in the county who
did not appear at the Institute. or present a
satisfactory excuse for their absence, do re-
ceive the censure of this Institute. The
motion prevailed. The subject of "Orthog-
raphy'' was discussed for the remainder of
the session.
afternoon Session.
This session, like all the rest, opened with
music by the choir. Then came an exercise
in calisthenics. The subject of 1.-The duties
arising from the mutual relations of parents
and teachers" was discussed for two hours,
by Messrs. Dakin, Currier. Morgan and
Merry.
The following resolution was then adopt
ed.
Resofred-That our sincere and heartfelt
thanks be returned to our Superintendent,
MIR. Currier. for his very able and impartial
manner of conducting the proceedings of this
Institute; and that we welcome him to his
office, promise him our support, and wish