The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-10-07

Bible and prayer. The portion of Serlptur
chosen by Prof. Cruttenden, who conducts
this exercise, was the first nine verses Vi y"
second chapter of Proverbs. The re'u'ns wa
| followed by very interesting ana INSTRUCT"
| remorls Inv that gentleman. He directed thei
| ottop,;on to the truth that those who are IN
| tont and anxious in their search FOR wisdom
will show the fact by the attitude of the bod
when listening to instruction. They will di
for it as men dig for gold. If the student doe
incline his ear, he has the promise he will fin
wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
After the devotions of the morning, Pro
Cruttenden brought the subject of Language
before the teachers. He dwelt largely upol
the derivation of words, the use and the abili
ty to form those ideas which words express in
to groups and thoughts.
The time from eleven to twelve was occupied
by DR.. True on spelling. This gentleman
brought forward the different methods and thu
Importance of interesting class in spelling
A teacher should not attempt to teach chil(
words he is not familiar with. Different meth
DDS of conducting spelling exercises were dwell
upon, and the benefit to be derived from fire.
quent change in the method.
AT one and quarter o'clock the scholars o
the school with mapy of the teachers met fol
instructions in music from Prof. Mason.
| AT two o'clock the exercises OF the Institute
were opened by an address from Prof Crut
tenden on the art of teaching. After defining
the meaning of teaching in its various applica
lions, he went on to show that the great diff
Guilty of teaching was the inability of teachers
to put their thoughts into proper language
that but few have been trained SO as to be alb G
to lmpart the instruction which they have re.
ceived. 1t costs hundred times more labor
to learn TO impart knowledge than it did to OBJ
tain it. No one can hope to accomplish much
in the world or be a benefit to society until
he is liable to unity his ideas and induce
others to accept them as theirs The Institute
was at this time joined by many teachers from
Portland, and citizens coming it filled the hall
Professor Cruttenden then brought before the
teachers the discussion of the best method OF
impartng knowledge of arithmetic He
commenced by saying no one could be good
teacher who did not watch and learn from lit
tie children, for they are taught in God s
| school, God is the great Teacher. He knows
wha. is in man and he teaches right. He gives
them ideas, then language to clothe those
ideas, and one would be surprised to see how
soon child began to learn of numbers. The
gardener gratis whatever kind of fruit he wants
upon the stock he has; so teachers should
graft the knowledge they wish their children
to have upon what they already possess. A
great thing is to pay attention to trifles.
Prof. Mason then spent an hour in showing
| his method of teaching children music. He
commenced by talking very pleasantly with
them, and soon gained their confidence SO that
they went upon the stage with apparent pleas.
ure and sang very prettiy after him many lit.
| tie songs.
The remainder of the afternoon was taken
up with some very excellent remarks by Mr.
Stone upon the importance and best manner
of studying history. He considered history
properly taught, the best method of teaching
child truth or guarding him from error The
child should be induced to use his own Ian
guage and not the authors
The evening was occupied by discussion
participated in by number of gentlemen
upon "How may whispering in school be pre-
vented" Then very able and interesting
lecture from Prof. Cruttenden on the menta
forces.
THIRD DAY.
AT the opening of the morning session on
wednesday, there were present good number
of the members of the Institute, and also the
students belonging to the school. The roll-call
OF the school was followed by singing and recit-
ing the twenty-third Psalm in concert. PRAYER
by Prof. Cruttenden, also the Lords Prayer
recited by all. After which the school passed
out, leaving only the members of the Institute
present The next hour was occupied by Prof
cruttenden; subject, language. His starting
point was that the first great thing to be done
in this, as in all other studies, was to search
for truth. Language is any means Of making
known our wants, feelings and desires to those
around u.s. We should be tied TO no beaten
track. every one has a right 10 make new
s-e-a- - ~--s---- - ta---s ta0ts-nUs, JUST
a. one has right TO think. The word unfit
cation is word in very general use, yet not to
be found in webster's dictionary. A thought
10 more valuable wheE communicated than
when retained. He concluded this exercise by
showing how words aud sentences may be
analysed. Next ia order was singing by the
Institute and a short recess. DIR. True occu-
pied the time Of the singing and recess in
putting upon tho board, notes preparatory TO
the lesson on mineralogy given By himself
He exhibited many fine specimens Of minerals
explaining each as he took ia up, It's use, where
found and how IL might be changed into other
forms. Spoke Of quarry Of FeLlspar in Tops
han that Is very valuable in making porcelain.
The quarry was bought several years ago by a
company in Trenton, ". j., for $500. and
now could not be bought for $4,000. The
ueat resOuFse Of Maine is in its rocks. Young
mes would do better 10 stay at home and study
rocks aud apply them to their best use, than to
20 West He spoke Of a species of granite
called syenits which he thought probable was
the rock upon which The law was written when
10 was delivered TO Moses. Taleose slate, the
slate found in Gail, and in which gold is found
is also found in Portland. but without the
gold. After DIR. True, Prof. Cru,tenden gave
short lesson on reading He remarked that
the English language was the most beautiful
in the world and needed but a yery few COR
rections to make it almost perfect. Mr.. Webb
then followed with instructions on geography
Its great importance and the best method of
teaching. He thought that child should not
be confined to the book, but should gain much
Of his knowledge from observation of the out
door world. The exercises were then closed
by singing.
AFTERNOON.
The FIRST hour was occupied by Prof. Crut-
tenden; subject, "the art of teaching" He
said that the first requisite in teaching was to
be thorough. He hastily reviewed the instruc-
ton which he gave on the previous day.
This afternoon, he considered the teacher, his
office, and what he should be to a school.
The greatest influence teacher has. is in his
power as tactcian, next, as discipliuariap.
He dwet largely upon the duties of teacher
and the best modes of instruction. A teacher
| should present his subject so as to win the
| love of his pupils for their several studies In
| the course of his remarks the Professor took
occasion to refer to DIR. True's lessor Of -.Ae
as Inv ST gIOrIUus State in the Union. not
withstanding soue of its sons and daughters
speak of the I'D rocks dsrespectfully, and
sometimes so)rnfully. God made these rocks
and put his people to live upon them. He put
good race to live upon them, and if Maine
boys would stay at home and study mineral
ogy they might become wealthy Maine will
| never become wealthy until her timber is all
gone. When that is gone, it will become
| wealthy. 1t would be a God send if all her
pine trees should be burned. He said every
Time teacher taught a lesson without wakep-
| ing every faculty of his mind he failed. The
greatest men are those who know the most Of
fOrcpg al -,