Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16
Teachers Institute Of JetTersOu county

was pretty luii tbtenuhnce Oh bho aOe''o o'N S~N
cessful women teachers of Jefferson.
The first work of the institute in the afternoon,
/ was pretty full and minute setting forth, by Mr.
Pomeroy, of a method of using The blackboard and
: slate in teaching beginners 20 read. To most Of
these present was a novelty and an animated
discussion and questioning seemed 20 bring out as
the general of the teachers belief that this
way was not Only good way, but also one easy to
use, entirely practical and almost certain in every
case to prevent the forming of the usual bad habits
Of drawing, droning and hesitating, and to give
from the very outset fluent easy and natural
habit like conversation AT any rate, it excited .
good deal Of interest, which will be likely TO follow
the teachers TO their schools and more or less mod
fy their previous practice
At O'Clock in the evening the institute met
again, and heard an address from Mr.. Pcmeroy
upon the great value of the history of the United
States as study in our schools of every grade, in
town or country. The speaker made large map
of country the foundation Of bis discourse call
ing attention to its great physical features and ex
planning how these have shaped the course of events
and the development of our nation, and how the
very physical geography of land points out IN
mstakably that we are to be one and indyisbie as
people He showed next that decent knowledge
of national history does great deal to prevent
and TO correct local and sectional narrowness and
conceit. Following this we're explanations of ways
Of exciting interest among children upon the sub
ject, Us well as Of giving them the desired amount
Of historical knowledge.
The Speaker was followed in She same general
line of thought, by Prof. j. II. Bsrnum of Men,
pills. and Rev. e. o. Tade County Superintendent
of Hamilton county. The lecture and tho discus
sion, taken together, formed very pleasant and
very profitable evening. The session was closed by
short address upon rum-drinking and runn-selling
j by Mr.. Tsde.
! Second Day Thursday, Sd.
| Institute met at 10 o'clock A NJ The subject |
of teaching beginners 10 read was again taken up
by Mr.. Pomeroy, who continued the explanations |
and exercises that matter which he gave ycster-
day p NJ and showed how the whole alphabet may |
be taught in six short and easy sentences made up
of eighteen short and familiar household words |
such the child uses in its earliest talking, long
before the learning-to-read time. 1t was strongly
insisted upon that the child should from the very
FIRST slate and pencil and print the whole of
every of his reading lessons. Prof. Bsrnun, of
Memphis, followed upon the same subject enlrrg-
ing, illustrating and enforcing the general ideas of
the method just given by Mr.. Pomeroy and giving
particulars of his own experience and practice
There was a good deal of interest felt and shown in
these explanations, aud most of the teachers pres
ent took part 10 the questions and discussions that
followed Everybody felt chat large number of
new and valuable ideas, suggestions and practical
directions had been put forward
AT IL o'clock, Rev. J. A. Critics, County Super
intendent of Jeferson, delivered in familiar style
but with great earnestness, lecture ur"a the de-
plorable shortness of the time actually spent in
school by the most of children all over our State,
coupled with pressing appeals parents to take all
possible pains that the school life of their children
should not be unnecessarily shortened by single
day.
The permanent organization of the institute was
now made by choosing for president Nr. J. s. Lesey,
of the ine large public school at New Market, and
for Secretary Mr.. Fordyce Grinnel of the pablo
school at Friends Station.
The afternoon session opened with explanations
by Prof. Barnum, of the way to keep the school
register required by law; of methods of teaching
oral spelling by Mr.. Harris, principal of the public
school ut New Market, and of methods of teaching
penmsnship, by Mr.. Losey.
Mr.. Pomeroy next followed in a familiar lecture
showing how teach the child to read, to WRITE to
spell and TO compose, all at the same time, and by
setting forth the entire ease with which this can be
done and actually is don and the very great value
of the practice in bringing the pupil forward rapid
ly and in impsrtiug to him readiness ard accuracy
10 all these arts. This subject, too, brought out a
good many questions and remarks and excited much
interest as being something that tie worked out
in any ordinary ungraded school in any country
district,
Meeting, after adjournment at O'Clock, the in
stitute entered upon earnest discussion Of the vi
tai necessity of system of free education for the
children in the State, 20 be organized and admins
tered by the State The whole matter was set forth
by Rev. E. o. Tade of Chattanooga, and Professor
Barnum, Of Memphis, with fullness and force; but
we have not room here to give even an outline of
the course of Thought and argument. Fhe meeting
fully recognized the fact that the same men who
have heretofore been and are now active friends of
justice of liberty and Of loyalty, just ardent
friends and uphpldsrs Of free schools whilst those
who always have been and are nov ibe bitter and
active foes of equslity--who devoutly believe that
some men are rghtfUly masters in society, and the
rest are made interiors and underlings--ars likewise
she bitter foes of free schools for the education of
all whether rich or poor. And if certain members
of the legislature professed republicans had been
present, taey would have heard some very plain
talk concerning tbe folly, the stupidity or the by
ends, of those politicians who are making them
selves either tho tools or the allies of rebels ip try
ing 10 get the free school law repealed Nothing s
surer than that in our State of Tennessee genuine
loyalty and the free education of al in the public
schools are linked fast together, and Whospeyer
strikes at the one strikes at the other also.
Third Day--Friday, 4h.
This morning rose on She burnt ruins of the Hope
we'll Presbyterian Church. in which the meetings Of
the institute hsd been held the court house there
fore became the place Of assembling for this third
and last day The whole of the forenoon session
was spent 10 framing and organizing permanent
society, open to all persons interested in forwarding
the cause of education The name taken was, The
Jefferson County Educational Association. The 5
election of officers came out thus for president
Mr.. Henry POneroy, Of Dandridgei for vice presi-
dent, Prof. Samuel P. johnson, Of Rutledge, that
veteran and excellent instructor for secretary, Mr.
J. p LOsey, of New Market; for treasurer, Mrs. N.
T. Glass; The Association is 10 meet on the I'd Sat
urday Of each calendar month"; and for the first time
On Saturday, January 9Th, at New Market, at
o'clock, A. NJ. 4ta4ft
10 the afternoon, sax teachers, beforehand Sp-
pointed each for himself read paper setting forth
he order of days work in ungrsded couatry b
school, This exceedingly practical subject created v
much interest among the teachers and there was no