Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1869-06-11
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PR0CEEOuNGS

PROCEEDINGS
az Teachers Con We N iiOn hold en- In
she New school Building at 1Dd 9.
pemdonce, May 2Dth.
The Convention was organized at 10!
o'clock A. N. ~ election Of S. g. Pierce
President and W. W. Wyie Secretary.
First exercise was music by the Pupils in
the upper room OF thebuilding.
Paper was read BY Miss Finayson,
on Physical Culture. The subject was then
discussed by several Of the teachers, Prof.
Wood was Of the opinion that the education
OF the body as well as Of the mind should
com mcnce in the primary room. He thought
injury was often done 10 the little boy and
girl by requiring them to maintain erect pos
sitions for any length OF time. Prot. Palm
or believed there should be variety Of
movement in the primary rooms. This
movement however should be uniform as
possible and at such time as would bring
relief to the entire room.
The subject Of Object Lessons brought
out lively discussion.
PrJf. Wood introduced the subject by
stating TO the Convention. his opinion Of
Obs tea, hing, the eye f the Pupil v -, 10
to his own mind the first of the Senses TO be
addressed by the teacher. Prof. Palmer,
Mr.. Day and Mr.. Hart spoke strongly ia
favor of this method of instruction,
A Paper OIL Emulation in schools by Mr..
Smith was next taken up.
Mr. Hart believed the Prize system as
legitimate in the school room as elsewhere
Mr.. Wilson was in favor Of the Syst IN.
Miss Lizzie HARDWOOD Mr.. Day, and Prof
Wood were decidedly opposed, mainly for
the reason that the undeservng more fires
quently than otherwise secured that which
was iuiendedto be reward for conscientious
aud earnest labor.
After singing by the pupils. Adjourned
TO meet at O'Clock p. N.
AFTERNOON.
Convention met at O'Clock =. u.
On motion the subject of Emulation in
Schools was continued. Mr.. Harmon and
Others took part IN the discussion.
"How shall English Composition and
Defamation be taught in our Schools was
the subject of lecture given by Prof.
Palmer. He believed the com men cement
II the study Of our language should begin
in the Primary schools. The child should
at first print simple sentences or stories OF
familiar objects upon the board and slate.
This method, he could follow from the low
est to the highest grade, he would Eever
have what we teachers as pupils so much
neutrality-suspicious. day every two or three
weeks.
Have the exercise frequent one and al,
ways upon simple aud familiar subjects, the
pupil can be led into and be delighted with
the study Of English composition without
being tired with the idea that he is to write
concerning o subject Of which he has no
knowledge.
that the prime object was to clearly convey
the thought Of the speaker to the bearer
Gesticulation, be considered in no way es>
sential TO good speaking aud it should not
be taught.
The most effective speakers have been
those who gesticulate the least. Webster's
power as speaker was outside Of any arm
movement. Rev. Newman Hall the FIRST
Of pulpit orators, hardly ever made jest
ure.
The speaker may or may not gesticulate.
Whether he does or does not, will iepend
almost entirely upon his nervous organiza>
I OF and not that he has more or less ubili>
~ 10 state fact. Special attention should
b. given TO the subject matter for declama-
ton and TO voice.
Profs. Wood and Calvin, discussed The
subject Of the lecture. They believed the
subject matter learned and the voice were
Of the first importance.
The 81 bject of Oral Teaching was intro
duced by Miss Lizzie Harwood who gave an
Oral lesson in Grammar TO her primary
class after which the subject was discussed
By the convention.
PROT. Wood stated that while he believed
most heartily in Oral Teaching be did not
believe in giving lessons in Grammar 10 the
primary scholar, as terms must be used
that the child could not understand.
Prof Palmer took the opposite view
he believed that the subject could be given
as had already been well illustrated, by the
lesson.giver in lagnage so simple that the
child could not fail to comprehend. Tie
speakers however agreed in this that accu-
rate DIAL teaching is far better and more
successful than close adherence to the
text book. Mr.. Pierce very much favored
oral instruction.
Mr. Harmon read paper on use Of leis-
ure hours. II contained good lesson for
teacher and pupil.
Papers were read by Miss Fannie Ma
son anil W. w. Wylie concerning our du
ties to our rofession, after which the teach.
ers were favored BY . lecture from Prof
Gavin, on "Mental Discipline" He thought
the teacher should so well understand the
laws Of mental growth that he should lead
the pupil SO naturally along that each Less
on should rightly suggest the next. He
would teach Botany ard other studies usu>
ally regarded as belonging to the higher
grades in the primary rooms.
A vote Of thanks was then rendered to
the young ladies who SO chsrmingly enter
tanned US with music, aud also to Professors
Calvin and Palmer, for their interesting
and instructive lectures, and to Board Of
Directors of school for opening to US their
house. After another good Song, Conven-
/ ion adjourned. sine die.
s. G. PIERCE, Prest.
W. w. WYLlE, Sec'y.