The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-19
d NATIONAL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Morning Session.

NATIONAL TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Morning Session.
President l.. Van Bokkelen, Md, called the
National Teachers Association to order Mt 1920
A. NJ. Rev. Samuel Lockwood, of Keyport, n.
j.. offered the opening prayer.
Hon. Richard s. Field Judge of the United
States District Court, Princeton, on behalf of the
New Jersey State Board of Education, and the
Trustees of the State Normal School, rendered
to the association cordial welcome to New
Jersey, to the capital city of the State and to its
Normal School. Representing as they do the
gleat educational interests of our country, he
%RSCSld not but feel that they had conferred
great honor in selecting this place for this
hing assembly. And yet there is a propriety
nHness in this action. The State Normal
School of New Jersey had claim upon them
that you should be her guests. DR.. Hart who
now presides over that institution was one of
the original founders of the National Teachers
Association. Professor Phelps. the gentleman
who formerly presided over it, was one of the
thirteen who assembled at Springfield Massa-
chusetts in 1859, ut the very first meeting of the
Normal School Association, and the first meet
ing of that association, which eXerted marked
influence, was held in this very room. New
Jersey, then, has Il special interest in these
sessions.
President Bokkelen responded on the part of
the association. They had assembled here an
army of teachers-a portion of grand army
whose trophies are strewn over the pathway OF
hstory-an army which marches without music
and banners-but an army which achieves vic
tories that overthrow despotisms and build on
firm foundations governments of the people.
Their mission to elevate and enlighten hu-
manity. Beginning at the fountain head, they
sought to cleanse the turbid stream of social
S,,,1,, +l,o
which will germinate and grow into a wide
spreading tree that gives rest to the weary, and
bears fruit sweet and nourishing. They had
met for encouragement, and to exchange eXpe-
rences.
He would refer TO the interest manifested by
our leading Journals and recognize with plea
sure the presence of the representatives of that
great American power, the Press-a power eX-
erted earnestly and judiciously in the cause of
moral and mental progress. The Press of Ame-
rica-The daily newspaper press has been and
is the firm friend the faithful eXpOunder, the
advocate of free public schools, and as a con-
vention of teachers he rendered their thanks to
its conductors. The power of the American
newspaper, indeed, has grown with the growth
of public schools, and depends upon it.
On motion of Professor Brooks, of Pennsyl-
vania, it was resolved that an educational bureau
be constituted for the present meeting, to assist
in furnishing teachers to school authorities, and
in procuring situations for teachers. Professor
Brooks was appointed chairman.
An interesting half-hour's exhibition was
given by Miss Minnie G. Swayze, teacher of
elocution in the New Jersey Normal School, of
her method of instruction, illustrated by class
of young lady pupils. Miss Lizzie Johnson read
Poe's poem of the "Raven," and Miss Swayze
afterwards gave "After the Battle" Miss Saide
M. Webb read "The Children" from Dickens
Professor Erwin Leigh gave practical illustra-
tions of his system OF phonetic vocal culture
His class was composed of little girls and boys
from the Soldiers Orphans Home of Trenton.
The exercises were entertaningly rendered, and
showed that the youngest children may be easily
taught correct vocalzation, pronunciation, and
reading i'm accordance with the strctest scien-
tifc classification.
Messrs. Fields Osgood Il Co.. by agent, an
nounced that they would send complimentary
gratuitous subscription for six months to their
magazine, Our Young FOLKS, to all teachers or
superintendents who would furnish their adj
dress; also authorizing any superintendent to
send the address of any teacher not present who
would receive the same.
Afternoon Session.
Y. Richards, Superintendent Public schools,
Washington, read a paper upon primary
Schools-Radical Defects and Radical Rene
dies" He did not agree with the prevalent I'M
preston that we have perfect system OF edu'
cation in this country, nor was it borne out by
facts. Although there was much to commend
there was much to blame The irksomeness o.
ouietness for hours in a school room the aggra
yated evil of nonsensical textbooks, the memo
rizing of a senseless repetition of words, the
NEGLECT to impress upon pupils strict regarC
for truth are all evils needing correction l'
remedy these the necessities are cOnlpeTen
teachers, a good system OF clasS-Dooks' play
room separate from class-rooms' ana apparatus
for object teaching. -. eo,u.
Hurd, and Miss schoheld deoatea inc SuoJoo' "
length. ,,...,.-o5 81 ,,reot
Length upon the "Oblgations OF Christianity