Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-08-22
THE TEACHERS INsTITUTE.-By arrangement

! of Supt Guy, quite a number of the public
school teachers of our city and county met in
the town hall, on Tuesday the 18th, to organize
Teachers Institute Fortunately, DIR. Sears
was present, and agreed to direct the proceed
ings, and very much no doubt, of the interest
and success of the meeting is due to his earnest
intelligence in such matters.
We cannot give orderly account of the sue
cessive sttings of the Institute. We shall aim
to note only the main incidents.
In the opening address DR.. Sears, after allu-
ding to the delicacy and dignity and RESPONSE
bility of the teachers calling, explained that
the design of such Institutes is the improvement
of the members in the art of teaching, by ma
king them acquainted with the best methods and
appliances, and that, in furtherance of this de-
sign, lectures didactc and illustrative would be
made by several gentlemen who had consented
to do so.
Maj. Hotchkiss, of Staunton, gave several ex-
tremely instructive and entertaining presenta-
tons of the matter and methods of sound ele-
mentary instruction in Geography-aided by
several very fine maps of the Guyot series. DR..
Sears also gave valuable explanations as to that
bug-bear of all students of the subject-the &C.
ography of Central Europe or Germany. Alto
great future stupidity, if those who witnessed
their illustrations do not hereafter teach Geog-
raphy better than heretofore.
Mr. Spencer, of the Dist of Columbia, gave
several lectures, partly explaining and illustra-
ting the principles Of the ''Spencerian System"
(the work of his father, and partly giving val
liable hints as to the management in school of
this business of Writing One who had known
i k,+ 100
surprised to see the almost military precision
with which, by combining few simple move
ments, it seemed that the most beautiful letters
were formed and arranged into words. We say
seemed" intentionally, because we have been
irving experiments these few days past--and we
don't think we have good pen And Mr.
Spencer's talking is just as good as his handwri-
ting. The upward and downward curves and
lants and sharp turns and loops of the latter are
not one whit more easy and graceful and attrac-
tive than the articulation and cadence and en-
phasis and gesture of the former. So that as one
listened he felt tempted to say with Hamlet
''Tis as easy as lying" Mr.. Spencer's elocu-
ton is strikingly like the style of chirography
that he teaches. Both are distinct, neat, beau
tiful Both are free from all pretentious -four
ishlng. It is evident, however, that the teachers
will meet great difficulties in carrying into effect
many of his suggestions in practical teaching
We are persuaded, however, that his instruc-
tions cannot be utterly lost. They must produce
some fruit-very pleasant withal to the printer.
Our accomplished townsman, and practical
teacher, Mr. Pike Powers, gave discussion of
the matter of teaching children to read. We did
not hear his views, and cannot speak particular
lo+ alyn fruc
Mr.. P. also spoke on the subject of arithmetic
illustrating the Importance of correct training at
the outset. and showing what are the real knots
of the subject Maj. Hotchkiss also contributed
valuable remarks on this subject-especlally en-
forcing the true theory of decimals.
Some well-timed remarks were made by Dr.
Sears on the matter of the pronunciation OF Eng
lish, He urged t hat more attention should be
paid to this matter in the schools and that If pos
sible something like uniform propriety of pro-
nunciation should be attained.
Mr.. Hart, of the StauIton Baptist Female In
stitute, spoke on English Grammar and English
Etymology. His main purpose was to Illustrate
by few we'll chosen examples, what can De
done in the study of words by a teacher ana
class acquainted with the English language only.
In the course of his remarks he threw out some
opinions as to the use of grammatical ana other
definitions and as to what he called the method
of instruction" in contrast with the method O.
original investigation which provoked some
very pleasant, and; at the same time, very keen
criticism on the part Of DR.. Sears. We hope
these gentlemen may have some other opportu-
nifty to compare their opinions. We suspect
that the real difference between them is not so
- md in off, al
would go very much the same way.
Mr. Carne, the Superintendent of Public
Schools for Alexandria, presented his views on
the matter of school discipline, and illustrated
them by facts In the management of the large
school for boys under his charge. He does not
think it well to proclaim to the world OF boys
and girls that corporal punishment shall no
longer be used, and in that Mr.. Carne is sensi-
BILE.
Mr.. Spencer gave some account of the school
for infants in Washington-a school In which
the little folks are not taught books, but to play
in good orderly sort of way. We reckon 1t is
a good thing for the children we hardly doubt
that it is blessed thing for many of the moth
ers.
Altogether, the Institute was sue cesstul. Here
after, we understand these Institutes will form a
permanent feature of the public school system,
and that the meetings will be held within the
limits of the regular sessions. At the next meet
ing we hope to see the teachers themselves take
a prominent part in the discussions as they did
not this time Still we think they enjoyed the
sessions-unless their enjoyment was something
married by unpleasing visions Of that "examina-
ton" on Friday.
EAST A UGUsTA MUTUAL INSURANCE COM
pANY.-We have heretofore published the con-
stitution of the above-named company, which
was organized on the 4th of June 1870, and in
corporated at the June term of the Circuit Court
1871. The officers for the present year are as
follows:
Sam'l CARRIER, President.
A. E. Pierce Secretary
Christian Cline Treasurer.
The following constitute the Directory of this
Company: Jno. Reubush, d. K. Shreckhlse, r.
A. CARRIER, Hugh q. Macausland, Jacob Cof-
man, Isaac Coffman, JOS NJ. Brown, A. ID. Kin
dig and Tobias Weller
It now numbers 40 members. The buildings
insured to this time are valued at 0,O0O,
which are insured to two-thirds of thu value.
It is not the object of this company to make
money by the sale of policies, hence the mem
bers are not taxed beyond what is absolutely
necessary for the most economical management
&1,+ Il OFN