The Portland daily press., 1869-10-26
Mnssnchnsei's M State Te.ei...., A...c;,.
liOM.

Massnchuseiss State Teuei...., A....;,.
tiOn.
| Boston, Oct %, 1869.
To the Editor of the Press.
Inc twenty fifth annual meeting of the Mas
sachusetts State Teachers Association began
| last evening, at the hall OF the Lowen Ipsti.
tute. The exercises consisted of the usual ad
dress OF the President, which was brief, and
was conhned mainly to presentation of diff.
ferent classes of opinions as to the best method
| of teaching.
The, address was followed by a lecture by
Rev. Mr.. Nicholson of St. Paul's Church. Bos-
ton' on the Morality of Education, or the
Moral Relationship of the Teacher to the Pu-
pil.''
Inc Importance of developing the moral SEN
tment IN the mind of the child, both by pre-
cept and example, was held to be one of the
grand duties of an educator; and, in order to
accomplish this successfully, the teacher must
himself be pure, truthful and honest man.
The address was listened to with respectful
attention, and is spoken of by the bestteachers
as being most interesting and instruct We.
The Association to-day has been divided into
three sectlons-Primary, Grammar and High
III
fremont Temple. The attendance was large
and the Temple was nearly filled. The meet
Ing was called to order by Edwin B. Hale,
Esq, superintendent of the Cambridge Schools.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr.. Burroughs of
Boston. There being no preliminary business
to transact, Mr. Jonathan Kimball of Salem
proceeded to read paper on Practical
Studies"
Ihe paper was just what one might expect
from so able a thinker and excellent teacher
as Mr.. Kimball. He dwelt at considerable
length upon the utility of the study of Ian
guage, and showed that the more thorough
ones knowledge of language, the more thor
ough would be his knowledge of history.
geography, arithmetic and all the other branch
es of learning. The study of language was
practical, because it cultivated thought and
correct expression. Il
The discussion which followed this paper
was of lively and practical character.
DR.. William Cornell of Boston approved of
the views expressed by Mr. Kimball.
Mr.. Waterman of Taunton spoke briefly in
the same vein. He wished to see book keep
Ing by single-entry taught in all our public
schools, so that every graduate would be able
to Keep his own books in a respectabe man
her' were he farmer. mechanic, physician, or
merchant,
Mr. n. Z. Boyden, Principal of the Bridge
water State Normal School, continued the
discussion in an able and interesting manner,
Sno"ing clearly that the main question was
"o' "hich were the more practical studies, but
Nv" " .each In the most practical way. Edu-
o@'ion should enable one to use his mind freelv
ana vigorously. Pupils too often come ont of
our schools without the ability to mako c,aor
in'eii'sen' s'a'ements. They have never
learned 10 msn6 and talk, but have only ac-
quired mass OF undigested material which
they have no power to use.
To properly estimate the value of a stndv v.
must view it in relation to itself, and. also in
Its relation to other studies. Which was the
more important, the knowledge contained in |
textbook or the mental power acquired bv
uuying the textbook? Which was the most
Important, to impart facts. or teocb nrpc;n1o.
,bouoht ope mental power2 Mr. Boyden
wo ornht % eaching should be more practical. |
h.o,- !s se' farther away from the text-
sho,,,, -. pa'ny with the pupil. We |
0nou'u se' away rom the old routine u,r,, ~
study to enlarge and develope tho 80 ' ana
our pupils We want more brain ' VI
'ne world, and in order to obtain II ,,o @ " in
get out of our old hum-drum style of teaoh; uS'
Ane spirit of the age is progressive. ana
must progress with il. N we
noydens remarks apparently gave great
Satisfaction to the audience. They certo;n1,.
had the true ring n'y