The Portland daily press., 1870-11-24
Reported for the PREss.l
Maine Educational Associa lion.
AUGUSTA, Nov. %, 1870,
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.


How shall a teacher best impart moral in
struction?" Discussion; opened by Prof f.
A. Allen.
He commenced by relating the early puri-
tanical teaching he received. The very style
of such instruction prevented it from having
any permanent moral influence. A teacher
has the power to mould the moral natures of
his pupils. This fact should impress us with
the fearful responsibilities of our position. We
should follow our pupils everywhere with our
eyes, our ears, and our hearts. We should
teach them to do nothing wrong and to leve
one another. All teachers should be Christ
like; without this inner life their moral ia
struction will be hollow and futile. The
trouble is that when we attempt to teach NOR
ais our teaching comes from the mouth and
not from the heart. II teacher does not
recognize that his pupils have some rights,
(which be is bound respect" he has no power
ever those pupils There is no stated time in
which to impart moral obstruction; opportu-
mites must be seized as they present them
selves. The mere reading of the Bible, with
out that respect and reverence which are due
the book, it is to be condemned. A teacher
should be careful to do right and to pl esent
proper and potent example. A teacher should
always represent Justice in his dealings with
ms pupils. Pupils should be impressed with
the Importance of strict honesty in all their
dealings. Many crimes spring from a want of
appreciation Of the proper relation between
man and man-from moral obtuseness. We
sh0uld teacn our pupils the lee ltimato and
honorable laws of commerce.
DR.. N. T. True said some teachers have a
power in every look and act by means of which
they can impart moral instruction with SD scial
force. Teachers should be SIMPLE and child
like. They should be free of sympathy. Many
persons are immoral from the want of this very
sympathy. Teachers should inculcate princi-
Piles of neatness
g. b. Stetsen said many teachers have used,
with good success, CoUdery's Moral Lessons
This book is full of texts which are to be put
on the blackboard and illustrated by little
stories. Every teacher can make himself as
good book. A good means of elevating the
moral tone Of school is to have the pupils
commit selections of poetry; such selections as
| shall fill the mind with beautiful images ard
noble aspirations
j. s. Barrell thought it of little use for
teachers to teach morals unless they exemplify
| such teaching. Should moral instruction be
regularly or incidentally given" is a question
which ultimately concerns every te1cher. We
| should teach that the Bible is the standard of
all teaching We should teach passages OF
scripture SO perfectly that they will never leave
| our pupils; fortfy them with these passages.
| Mr.. Darrell would impart moral instruction
at set intervals and improve all opportunities
| as they occur.
G. L. Fletcher said that as much as we need
better intellectual teaching still more do we
need better moral instruction. Teachers are
not sufficiently awake to the vital importance
OF this matter How often do we hear boys
using profane language as they are coming
from the schoo-house. There are times when
pupils are more susceptible to moral teaching
than at other times; these times should be i'm
proved. In the teaching OF the sciences how
rich the opportunity for moral teaching.
A. P. Stone did not agree with Mr. Barrel
in giving moral instruction at stated times aut
in stated ways. 1t should be given incidental
| ly.
Mr.. Stone spoke Of the recent death of Mis-
Small OF Portland. She was a person of grea
worth and possessed an excellent moral ibf1u
ence in her school. She always impaired mora
instruction incidentally.
/ Prof Alien said, pupils should be constant.
reminded of their duty to God and humanity.
At this point little sparring was had be
tween Messrs. Darrell and Stone. Mr.. ston
said he bad no doubt that Mr.. Darrell was
we'll made and we'll hoped barrel Mr.. Bal
rell assented to this and replied that odfT'
was not SO weighty as stone.
MIR. Stetson, chairman of Commi: tee on Joul
ma. OF Education, reported the monthly editor
fa, t"e journal for the next year. They are
J. Woo,d hhu;SSus.a; Prof. Hall, Waterville: A.
WoodSridge' Gorham; G. H. Fernald, Hou
/. !ou; -, n. "A, Luce Freedom; C. G. Round
fash, Lewiston Ed s. Morris Rid daetord no MI
q Eudora SANFORD and Miss Olive po,,d u .
. Lewiston. a. oio
d An appeal was made for additional, suhso,;
!. | COnS 10 Tue JOurudl "A large number as ~
!. teachers present subscribed. The Jonrnoi +, !,
subscription list of 1900. If sufficient ~ ~
o couragement is given it is to be enlarged ar
varously improved dnring the year.
DR.. True briefly addressed the ASSOCIATE,
!, upon the lack of scientific papers among i
!, exercises of the meeting.
&C. Rounds then read paper on "Dis
pline." Instruction may result in educate
and not in discipline. A person may be ed
/, Gated and undisciplined; on the other hand
person may be perfectly disciplined and une