New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-19

comfort has been most amply provided, and 70 whom
tender thanks We reCiprOcate your good wishes
aud trust that the pleasant recoectons of soourn
will abide with YOU yOur fellow Trustees the state
Board and all the citizens OF Trenton your atien
ton a few moments longer while refer to another
feature Of this Convention, and indeed in these days.
think feature OF all associations for the advance
! mont Of education. mean the interest mani
tested by our leading Journals. recognize with
pleasure the presence OF the representatives OF that great
and iudci0usy-I wish could say uniyersaiy-in tho
cause Oi noIdl anu ehtal progress The press O hIot
ica the daily newspaper press been and IL tho firm
friend the faithful expounder the advocate Of free pub
nc sthoD5' ald Is convention OF IeacncI5 VIC leuC
our thanks 90 those editors who have this body "
intelligent gentlemen to report transactions aud
,cdu theh Ol"alot' over the country Inc power OF to
American newspaper has with the growth OF pub
TO see laborug men, during tho intervals OF work i'm
our cities. farms far away upon the line of the
Thus the good work Of the press in advocating public
schools back the press, bringing seven
! favorable auspices under which we have assembled
never before in the annals of our Association has greater
interest been manifested than In this ninth
meeting We have the pleasure To greet eminent edu
Gators and school officers from all sections Of coun
Try representing talent aud worth which would dignity
sshd adorn any profession IL Is bright omen that
fresh Impulse has been impaired to these national meet
ngs As teachers must stsd together, work together
Inc questions which concern us arc practical questions,
ana have to be met In practical manner Whether IN
Ihe schoolroOm the ecturerOom or tho convention We
~. WIN iacts-sOne stern, others subtle, al sublime;
facts winch control the moral mental and physical Cul
tue Oh those who are to be the fathers and mothers. the
GtHens, tho rulers OF our Commonwealth We have 40
he 10 waste IN theorzing we dare not wander into
ne region Of experiment OF imagination. We must meet
our work "a God has given 1t to 20 domeet IL in the
tehuer confidence OF childhood, the thougltess way
Wardness Of youth, the bold aspirations OF unfolding
manhood We have TO work upon heart. and mud, and
soul And felOwcachers lot MS do IL with all our heart,
anu nina, aud soul and strength. trust that your
journ here will DO pleasant that meet will
part III good Will carrying with US kindly recolections
Oi this reunion OF brothers and sisters labOTers that
portion OF Gods vineyard whore grow the sweetest and
Miss Minnie & swayze. teacher OF cocution IN the
interesting exercise in vocal culture. with admirably
trained class Miss Lizzie Johnston, OF her pupils
vii "A itaf nf I1ay Ilr Elgtu
Leigh Of NowYork gave illustration Of his method
VI Phoheuc EOca training Illustrated by tine use OF
Leighs Sound Charts In amusing aud instructive
tie boys and girls who composed Dr. Leigs class we're
soldiers orphans was received with tho heartiest ap
Secretary Crosby Of Ohio announced the following
Committees: Nominations Mcssrs Bulklcy Of New
York, White OF West Virginia. Sears OF New-Jerscy,
Messrs White OF Ohio, Hagar Of Massachusetts, Rich
ards OF Washington, Rounds OF Maine. and Sea.
setts Ashley OF North Carolina, Olcott OF Indiana,
Northr3p Of Connecticut and Chase Of Florida Pabieg,
OF Ohio, Harrington OF Massachusetts Smith Of Ar.
moved by Mr. Brooks Of Pennsyiyana the President ap
pointed the following Committee Teachers and Teach
otNewYor, Phpps Of Massachusetts,, White Of Illinois.
aud Payne of Tennessee. Miss Sadie NJ Webb. teacher
swayze recltcd the Independence Bell" Messrs Fields
osgood q Coz by their agent, Mr.. o. NJ Iinkham. an
mentary copy Of or Tog foikS to all teachers and su
P,nr,1od anv ,o end re Ill., a nv
teacher not present who might desire tho magazine.
WEDNESDAY AFTERSOC".
In the absence Of any regular presiding officer rrOf
s. Greene OF Rhode Island called to the chair. Z.
Richards. Superintendent OF Schools in Washington, read
a paper on Primary schools-Radical Defects and
Radical Remedies" The prevalent impression that We
have perfect system of education in this country is not
justified 10y the facts OF the Although there may
be much to commend. there is also much 70 blame;
Among the defects In primary training the sudden aud
unnatural change from the freedom OF pleasant home
10 tho restraint Of the blank school room, where tho child
must at perfectly quiet with folded hands. ana DO
nothing aud say nothing iol hoars tach uhy But thS
not the worst Every child. In "A school Of so or 70 pupils
the most bat i've or 81 ninutes OF personal aen
from the teacher, aud only required 10 repeat
names Of letters and half dozen words which are
IA unmeanng to u rs so inuol Hteek Ou primary text
books only aggayate she EVIL, Tor words and stories
are put into them which can have little or no
interest for children and II the pupil learns anything IN
schools except perchance the virtues or the strap
tho fcrue. and the dmcebloek II Is no thanks to the
mode or means OF instruction. Uhasr sucl uh.lik HS
,eu.bltcs aud powers OF observation are hunted, ana
room which he looks upon kind Of peuitentiary. Is
any wonder that boys under such treatment have
mania for paylng The love Of truaucy usually
Tie strongest proof that tue chds nature has been per
ysred by the absuriites Of the schoOlroom The boy
who under ordinary circumstances, runs away from
school 20 circus menagerle or oven 10 the h-hPonh
the woods hed win singing birds learns more there
In single day than lie docs IN month Of such schooling
Children as rule learn far moro during the fret hso
Years spent az school Pupils are not supehcd. as is
sometimes alleged BY teaching them too much but by
putiug them through an uhnhiural process OF msInc
ION largo portion Of their time Is spent IN what by
gained. Another fault s the habit OF assigning e.sous
10 children before they understand the meaning OF tho
words In lesson for all memOrzing OF words not well
understood than useless. Tue attempt To sun
10 mere nonsense and this so-caed silnpiincatOn,
though u may answer very well for DOOknakers Is NOT
doubted whether there any such thing ~ natural
order ~ studies which should always nave precedence
ovcr every other order when language Is Rc
dneI Synareo1sIy taken np first II is another
f4ulf hat
mary schools there Is failure TO impress on
tne PGR' rSS oerin ~ prizes holds out unnatural in
ducemeuts aud IL by no means TO 20 somnehutu; 40
oughy competent teacher, with qualifications not limited
to familiarity with the books used THIS teacher should
be the embodiment Of the principles To DC impressed on
The pUps mind FOR no teach what he has never
Learned Tho second great remedy Is wollPrepared
series Of text books, containing Just the iaeH Mn'. o
ruu 4 to learn arranged IN the order IN when they
sh6uld bo presented Language the chief lnbrumen
tn,ge therefore should DO the first and chef object
Of primary instruction. The tmrd rehsuy Is 5paoiV"s
aud wcllycutlatcd rooms There should DC, IOI
each class Of children, at least Two roomS-a
school-room for intellectual framing anu a play
room or exercise rOon-WeI, pIVNlutu WIN up
phances for amusement ahI pnysiHeh ,laiiIlngi
and children should never DC c9hhheu 10 tne ttj
eXcept when they actually receiving hstructOhl
which during the first i've years OF schQol ie shou1 90
mainly oral In the discussion which iOIOwed INC rev
sbonlJ have, above ALL clear idea OF what Is 10 oe
aimed at The intellectual part Oh education Is uoupIeos
S su,eror 10 the mechanical; but IN many cases nOta'
biy i'm teaching spelling young pupils master the me
mis- part must take the precedence In primary
teaching the intellectual must follow Hd men tup 40
sIouII be united Prof Greene OF Rhode lslad asheu
the intellectual part is not wholly nefi9eteu ~ Souo
snhoos discussed the limits or the chlds NOcaOuIaiy
aud though h would be wise for the teacher 10 Degh ms
work by carefully testing the extent OF tn8t ] ~
I'D tben aiding his pupils To Increase IL lh inc wa, IN
which what they already possess was acquired, MI.
Urng,r OF Newark thought the idea tlat inc SCHOOL,
@ 10 nr,.on originated with the teachers them
selves who children into the fields as premium Or
ent and he ar gued eOquently that thls sOuu
ghny reversed Mr.. Sears Of Newark could not CON
eive how the pupils vocabulary should be Increased ny