The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-20
From Our Special Reporter !.
Closing Exercises OF the Teachers
Aaancfoffon

| Tho Association proceeded to close up the
business of the session. The Executive
Committee we're instructed to arrange ne
| forobond and announce the order OF Dust
| ness for the next session of the body. Mr..
" q. English read report prepared by
Rev. DIR. Smith) on the new English method
of teaching children to read by " A. Sou
| nenschein and J. M. D. Mciklejohn." The
committee had not had time for thorough
examination, but were willing, even from
cursory examination, to pronounce the sys-
TEN simple and philosophical. Ihey com
| mend it to the careful examination OF the
profession.
Professor D. Lee PoueH presented an
| appropriate tribute to the memory OF he..
a. J. Leavenworth, speaking OF MN IN
highest terms rs teacher, ana more eSpe-
cially as one of the founders and most ac-
tive promoters of the Association. o0n-
modore Maury was unanimously electea 10
deliver the opening address at the next ses-
sion on the subject reported on yesterday.
Reu. DR.. Duncan, of Randolph Macon,
was appointed to make an address at the
next meeting on "Thc necessity and best
modes of conveying thorough knowledge
Of the Facts and Practical Precepts oil the
Bible" -
On motion of Professor D. Lee Powell,
thanks were returned to the Committee OF
arrangements for their ample provision for
the comfort of the Association, the commu-
nity for their hospitality, the lines OF travel
for return tickets, and the reporters for
their "paticnt attendance and full re-
ports 1T required no very great stretch
| of patience" for the proceedings were to
this reporter at least of deep INTEREST,"
The Chair announced as Publishing
Committee, to superintend the Ednca-
tionnl Journal, Professors c. II. Winston,
D Lee Powell, Edmund Harrison, L. X.
Price, r. NJ. Smith.
The Committee on School Statistics was
discharged, it being deemed mpractlcaole
for it to obtain the information desired.
The Committee on Teachers Library was
continued till the next meeting.
Pending the motion to adjourn, Professor
G.. L. Cooke desired to express his high
sense of the utility of this Association.
The simple meeting together OF the
teachers of the State to grasp each other by
the hand and look each other i'll the eye
must be useful. But when we add to this
the able discussion of these practical topics
|
meetings. He alluded to the fact that the
profession of teaching used to be III BAD
rrepute in Virginia, but had grown very
much in dignity and Importance, and
thought that this Association would tend
very much to elevate the profession still
higher. He earnestly appealed to the
teachers to attend the meetings and to seek
to induce others to attend.
General Smith remembered when teach
ers in the State were compelled to apologize
for their profession, and rejoiccd at the
change which had taken place in this re-
spect He thought the Association OF the
very highest importance in promoting the
interests OF education in the State. if 1t
was debating society," (as had been said,)
its debates were at least able and practical,
and tended to elicit the truth.
7. D. DduidsOn, Esq, had been highly
entertained and greatly benefited by the
meeting. As one not belonging to the pro-
fcssion, he paid glowing tribute to the
teochers Of the State. The men who used
to lead our armies are now among our fore
most educators, and arc doing their work
most nobly.
Professor Po,rcU was sure that if the
professors in the colleges could realize how
! the teachers in the lower order OF schools
were benefited by these meetings they
would 90 into them more enthusiastically.
Great benefit is derived by the social con-
verse of the teachers and their comparison
of views, as we'll as by the reports and es-
SAYS. He had been mortified by the fact
that so many of the professors OF the State
had held themselves aloof from the Asso-
ciatioD as if it WAS rather beneath their
dignity. lie was satisfied that they had
lost far more than We, but urged that some
means be devised 10 induce them to attend
our meetings.
He urged that there is a mutual depend
cncc between the primary school and the
college which should create Il common
brotherhood in the profession.
Professor JOyneS protested against call
ing female seminaries Clover order Of
schools" In his judgment, they were the
very highest order of schools.
Professor Price thought that the small
attendance could be accounted for in part
bv the fact that the time at which the meet
Ing is held is unfavorablc for full attend
ance, and suggested change. After a full
interchange of views it was deemed ineXpe-
dent to make any change at present.
Professor Minor, in closing, desired to
express his high appreciation of the benefits
of this meeting. He had been personally
decidedly benefited. The discussion last
year had directed his course Of reading, and
he had found invaluable benefit by commu-
Mon with the great Carl Ritter.
Another most important benefit WAS the
friction of mind and ideas. The teacher is
an autocrat in his school-room, and it Ii
very important that he should sometimes
meet with those who will controycrt his
views and counteract his tendency to ego
tsm. He thought that the reverend clergy
might be benefited by u similar training.
He suggested that our meetings were not
altogether as practical as they might be
e. g., he wanted discussion of the ques-
ton, 'How to instruct very ignorant peo-
ple.;' lie should like to hear the views of
the distinguished Principal of Hollns In
stitute professor Cockel and other practi-
cal teachers on this and kindred topics.
He wanted to see the meetings of the As
ISOLATION crowded with elementary teachers.
In conclusion, he thanked the body for
their kind courtesy, and babe them cor
dial farewell.
Thus closed this most interesting and
profitable interview OF the teachers Of the
State.
Your correspondent has always had a
hirh estimate Of the teachers Of the State,
but this estimate has been greatly raised by
attending this session Of the Association.
Virginia may well be proud OF her teach
ers and her schools-from her noble Uni
versity to her primary northumberland she
is making most rapid strides towards be-
coming, indeed, the educator of the South
LEXINGTON.