The union Democrat. [volume] (Sonora, Calif.) 1854-1946, 1871-01-14

FRIDAr. Dec. 30th.--At nine and a-half
O. clock, A. NJ, the Institute met and was call
ed To order by State Superintendent. @. p.
Fitzgerald. Opening exercises, -mnsic hy
the choir, PRAYER bv Mr. Keller. skeleton of
the minutes If previous day read. and on ms
tion were adopted as lh) ours
Object Teaching, the first subject for dis
cussion. vas introduced by Prof Knowlton.
lie considered it the only trac method f
communicating knowledge 10 the minds Of
children. That il conld he prafirahlv emrlnv-
ed in all the branches Of edueatinn taughf 10
our schools. He illustrated the manner of
conducting ar exercise in object teaching.
oy using a. objects, a slate an apple. a piece
ut paper. DC. He contended that there were
six senses. The new one being Muscular
| Consciousness" But that all these might he
considered different characters of one
sense. that af - 7oneh' -
He was followed nv Superintendent Metz
ger, who endorsed the remarks of Professor
knnwltnn almost entirely. Stating that in
some of his advanced classes in mathematics.
he had found object lessons of great service.
Gave illustrations of object lessons in the re
latons of agriculture and chemistry. lie
spoke of the happy application of lines. and
an giles. and colors fani hence object lessons)
I
YORK being called for. he was inclined to
be neutral npon the subject: it never having
been hobby. or e-en n favorife of his. lie
believed that mnch time was wasted. and no
knowledge acquired by object lessons" IL
believed that n child might he made to tell
moro about object. hy an ''ohject lessen -
hnt he would really kRo,r no more about il.
He thought the illustration from Bernard
Marks poor one. For the PRINCIPE he en-
ploys does not develop the faculty intended
Magntudes and proportions are in has Geom-
etry represented by different colors, which
cultivates an organ of the mind not at all in
the mathematical faculties. lie believed in
great system of ''ohiect teaching but had
never known of its application wherein the
advantages would equal the disadvantages.
Superintendent Fitzgerald made few re-
marks, warning teachers against the danger
of going to extremes Oh a hobby. Related
instances of teachers becoming wild-crazv
over some and popular method. He
knew that 'ohiect teaching" could be prnfit-
ably employed in the hands of .judicious
teacher. lie cautioned them elso, or warned
them of the danger of keeping one uniform
beaten track. getting into deep groove and
becoming fossilized, "old fogvized," useless
General Vaudeville was loudly called for.
present and failing to respond. Superintend-
en' Fitzgerald excused him in consequences
of his excessive modesty. Miss Martin made
few very nice and appropriate remarks
upon the benefits, IN composition, derived
from "ohiect lessons"
The question proposed hv one OF the MEM
hers viz 'IIow do we kno,c that lin dvis-
ion J the divisGr is contained in the dividend
a certain number of times?' was explained
hv Prof knowlton on the princ,ple of reduc
ton. He also illustrated the California meth
Cd Of committing interest.
School Diseipline, the next subject of dis
rnssinn was introduced nv Superintendent
Fitzgerald He believed that when teacher
Ind gained the love and confidence of the pu-
pills, tine great question of school discipline
was solved. He was followed bv Professor
Knowlton. who spoke at considerable length
unon school discipline. giving several meth
DDS of preserving order. and the general mi
nute and detail of government. Miss Walker
was called for by Supt Fitzgerald, who res
pended as to the manner in which she pre-
served order and secured discipline. Miss
Martin also spoke upon the subject. Miss
Seyerio being called for. said she usually bad
pretty good order and discipline in her school:
hut she could not describe how she succeeded
or maintained them. York being called for.
heartily endorsed the last remark of Miss Sc
verio. And believed it to he an imposSbility
for any man woman to tell bo,c they pre-
serve order and discipline in school. The
faculty must exist in the man or woman, 1.-THE
teacher) and cannot be taught, communicate
ed or described
On motion, Superintendent Metzger was
requested 70 furnish the Secretary with a
copy of ,ae opening address for publication
After a short talk nv State Superintendent
Fifcerald. upon text books. and tie time Of
adjournment being near at hand the Commit
tee on Resolutions presented their report as
follows:
As Chairman Of your Com. on Resolut' on~.
beg leave 10 submit the following rppart
|. Peso'red. That the members of the
Teachers Institute of Tuolumne County. hear
tilv approve of the w,ion of the State Beard
of Education, with reference to the text hooks
recently adopted by them. for use in our Pub
lie Schools
.. ReSolced, That it IS tho opinion of this
institute, that every sehool in the county
should be supplied with I'll the ~ naratus re-
qnired by law: esl ccially mans. charts
desks and ck-hoarlS in accordance with
the provisions of the School-law.
5. Resolred That tho thanks of the Insti-
tute rendered to pr o. p. Fitzgerald
State Superint. ndent, for his able address,
and for the kind. dignified and impartial man.
ner in which he has presided at this Institute
4. ReSo'red. That the heartfet thanks ri
the institute are hereby rendered To Prof. f
knowlton. for the noble and dignfed man
ner in which he conducted the exercises of
our Institute. And NAV the Satisfaction nf
knowing that the good seeds he has sown in
our midst has produced an abundant harvest
cheer him on his way in his noble and loved
profession.
s. Resolred, That the thanks of the Inst-
tute be rendered to the Rev. Mr.. Wihel and
Rev. Mr.. Hill, for their kindness in attend
ing and assisting us in our exercises.
6. Resolred. That the thanks of the Insti-
tute are hereby rendered to John York, Jr..
Sec., James Griffin. Sewell Knapp and Alex
ander Stewart. Asst. Secs. for the faithful
manner in which they have discharged their
duties as Secretaries of this Institute. To-
the School Trustees of Columbia Public
School District for the use of the school house.
and supplies for carrying on the Institute.