The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-12-03
The Teachers Institute at limerick.

LIMERICK, Nov. 90, 1869.
EpiroR JOURNAL A report Of the work and
results Of this gathering will interest many Of
your readers. Much was anticipated by its
managers aud more has been realized by those
present. I am Informed that II has been the
largest meeting Of the kind in the State this
season, 1876 members having been registered.
Ample arrangements has been made by the
County Supervisor, Mr.. Mabry, for the recep-
ton and accommodation of teachers. The citi-
zeus opened their hearts and houses and wclcom-
ell the guests of the week. The exercises be-
gan promptly on Monday I'D inst. at 10 a. m.
and continued five days under the general SUI
pevintendence Of Mr.. Mabry, while Prof. Y. A.
Allen Of Penn. aided by Mr.. Rolliston Wood
bury ofthe State Normal School at Pennington,
conducted the daily work. State Supt- john
son was present n portion Of the time, being
obliged TO divide his labors with another lnsti-
tute at Winthrop, 7. ID. Choate A. VI. Of Cor
ham Seminary and Prof G. II. Fernald vt
Houltcn Academy were ais, in attendance.
The exercises consiste d in discussing and IL
Illustrating best methods Of teaching the various
branches Of study In our common schools.
Each days work began at 0 n. IN. after Mon
day, was preceded by prayer and singing and
was after the following orler-: Arithmetic by
Mr.. Woodbury., object lesson by Prof. Allen,
which was description Of the origin. formation,
parts, properties and uses, Of any given familiar
object Othography and Etymology; and one
half-hour twice each day was very probably de-
voted 10 the Theory and Practice Of teaching by
Prof. Allen, and in this exesciss the instructor
drew largely from his extensive experience Of
thirty years. AT Up. NJ. Reading was taken
up, Prof. Allen suggesting that the subject OF
each day s lesson and its author should be brief
" discussed by advanced classes. and gcner-
al interest aroused in the mind Of the pupil be-
fore reading. Next came Geography Prof A.
would have the beginner study local geography,
Is for example, that Of ones own town, giving
les boundaries, latitude and longitude, its his
tory, organization and officers, Its capital, ]. e.
where town business Is done, tie number and
description Of its inhabitants and Its productions
Of oil kinds in fact everything Of practical benc-
ct to the student. He then should acquire the
geography Of his county, stats and nation in the
same familiar method. t-.....,'r d.. -.
Mr.. Woodbury. followed with lesson from
the Natural Sciences. treating each day Of some
useful principle and showing its connection with
the teacher pupil or schoolroom-as, Q. z. the
use and abuse Of the car-proving how danger
Gus the habit Of striking child upon the side
Of the hcad-or the eye, the thermometer and
other practical subjects. o. ....,.. ..l.
Prof. Allen would not have students take
grammer until sixteen years Of age. lie would
teach Il Independent Of any author. would not
be guided by any one text book. lie would not
condemn eli grammers, (239), for all had some
good In them. He once attempted to make Q
erammcr. but made mistakes, became dissatisfied
With Il and threw il aside. and he would, there
fore, have charity for authors. lie dwelt more
particularly upon his manner OF teaching the
verb. An exercise in spelling BY writing the
words completcl the days work. 90, ,..--..,.,
This raums gives but faint idea Of the
practical energetic and interesting methods Of
imparting knowledge which these educators en-
largcd upon daily, but certain il Is that teachers
in attendance were abundantly satisfied With the
lsbors Of the week.
They gained many new ideas, many useful
hints. and much profit to themselves intellectual
IL, the favorable results Of which must Be felt
In our schools, even though these methods may
not now be fully adopted.
Well has Longfellow said. 'thc minds OF tho
scholar. II you would have IL large and liberal,
must come in contact with other minds. II is