The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-22
LOCAL MATTERS.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EDUCA.
TIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
VIRGINIA.
PROFESSOR MINORS ADDRESS.

The Educational Association of Virginia
met in the lecture-room Of the First Bap-
tist church last night at half-past o'clock.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. J. L. NJ. Curry, of Richmond College.
Professor John B. Minor, of the Univer-
dress, and announced as his theme the ere
sponsibility, Influence, and Dignity of the
Teachers Profession" He declared, first,
that education was the cultivation Of the
mind, the soul, and the body. The moral
faculties should be developed the bodily
powers should not be neglected. These had
been too much neglected. The teacher
should be one of eminent virtue and kind
ness-one who inculcates love Of virtue in
the minds of his pupils.
Nine-tenths of all the men we meet
with are what education makes them. This
is enough to show its importance. 1t is that
which makes him virtuous or vicious, noble
or debased. Those who have the education
of the young in charge should seek to in
culcate the teachings of morality and reli-
gion. There is no more important part Of
education than that which relates to their
spiritual welfare. This cannot be too much
insisted upon. The cultivation Of the heart
should not be forgotten for that of the mind.
The teacher should himself be model of
virtue, for "practice is stronger than pre-
cept." He should not be one who brings
education into disrcpute by his peevishness
or fretfulness. He should be one who has
q strong love for truth ; for it is the highest
virtue in man. Whatever else an instruc-
tor be wanting in, let it not be character.
lie then mentioned as some of the causes
of the imperfection Of education in Virgil
MIA
First. "The want Of discrimination in
regard to the respective functions OF teacher
and parent"
Secondly. " The youth and necessary in
experience of many of our teachers"
Experience and knowledge Of human
nature are necessary to successful instruc-
ton. A teachers attainmcnts in mere
knowledge are not sufficient to insure sue
cess.
Thirdly. "Many Of our instructors do
not intend to adopt teaching as profession,
but adopt it merely to enable them to obtain
a competency until some more favorite ayo-
cation can be followed with success"
Fourthly and lastly: "The absence Of
facilities in the art of teaching"
Our Association is the first essay in the
attempt to supply this want. Normal
schools must soon be established, and to
these schools departments must be attached
where teachers may be prepared for their
ayocatiOn.
He would beg leave to offer some sugges-
tons to the Association. He would urge
upon them to teach their pupils to observe,
to investigate, for themselves. Each one
should have select school of q few pupils
in his own family, where the familiar in
tercourse with their instructor would culti-
vate their tastes, enlarge their understand
ings, and correct that tendency to what
might be called wrongheadedness, and which
soon leads to wrongheartedness. Such
IL school would be mental gymnasium,
where not only the mind would be de-
veloped, but the power Of thought and in
vestigation would be encouraged and in
sured. Religious and moral principle, in
tellectual culture, and gentlemanly con-
duct, are the most important parts Of edu-
cation. Of object-teaching he knew no.
thing from personal experience, but doubted
not that it was most useful and effective.
In conclusion, lie salu lnal the teaCncI
should cherish the conviction that the eter-
nal welfare of his pupils depended in q
great measure upon his instruction. He
should, above all else, show them that the
ways Of religion are paths Of pleasantness
and peace.
After DR.. Minors address was concluded, :,
the audience was dismissed with the bene-
dicton by Rev. Dr.. Read, Of this city.
The Association was again called to or
der, and the following committees appoint
ed by President Minor:
Committee on NOmindtioms.-Professor
Walter Blair, of Hampden Sidney College
Professor c. L. Cooke, Of Hollins Institute !;
and Mr.. II. L. Davies, of Lynchburg.
Committee on Observation-Disclosures c. H..
Winston, of Richmond Female Institute !;
Professor Longley, Of Emory and Henry
College; Mr.. Hogg, Of Gloucester and Mr..
W. 7. Davis, Of Lynchburg.
The Association then adjourned to meet
in;the hall of the House Of Delegates this
morning at 8 y o'clock.