Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-08-25
EDUCATIONAL.
Third Days Proceedings Of the American
Educational Convention.


read a paper on model mathematiC
in the college course, which was 70
lowed by pretty general discussion
S. II. Tyler, of Knox College, rea
an ESSAY on the pronunciation OF tn
Greek and Latin languages, whic
also ELECTED considerable debate i
the Elementary section.
Henry c. Harden, of Massachusetts
spoke on the methods Of teacbin
drawing, after which conversations
discussion took place between tn
speaker and the audience. Specimen
OF drawing by the lecture class wer
exhibited, being the work OF pupil
from five to sixteen years of age.
j. w. Armstrong, Of New York
read an essay on the philosophy Q
methods, which was afterWard dis
cussed by several delegates. A com
mittee OF five in this section was thel
appointed to nominate new officers.
10 the Department of Higher Edu
cation Prof. Stafford presented tn
following essay as his thesis:
!. Our college course Of mathemat
les must contain, in the future, NOR
synthetic geometry, and less algebrt
and higher analysis; more practica
and less abstract matter.
Time must be gained by begin.
ming geometry in ca elementary way,
before the preparatory college course,
3. Geometry and arithmetic, both
subiecis taken in their brOadest sense,
muSt 90. hand in hand, throughout
fbe course; must continually support
each other, retaining Its individuality
What we now call analytical geOme
try must be introduced In various
stages with geometry proper.
The text books must diminish in
size. and be larger supplemented by
oral teaching. Both teacher and pupil
must learn better how to work at the
subjects, not at the books merely.
8 The interests of educational sci
ence. of mathematical science and
practical utility, alike demand these
chsuges.
The essay engaged the closest atten.
ton, and was warmly epplauded al
its close.
Normal sectional paper on nor
NAL schools, prepared by J. d. Phil
brick. Of Massachusetts,, was read by
y II. White. 1t said normal instruc.
tiOn will pay, but the supply Of teach
ers Is short OF the actual needs. 1t Is
the right and duty of a State to pro-
vide means Of special instruction to
tea ehers OF all schools. They must
and will secure g normal graduate for
each school. He stated several plans
to accomplish this, all Of which had
failed, and proposed the following:
To provide different grades OF nor
maj schools, the teachers in differ
emf grades obviously need different
kinds OF instruction. Let the term
he three months. Let the instructor
be proficient, and, above all let the
best mode of sdjustinga q school be in
cuTcated. Three months attendance
is better than no instruction. As an
inducempnt to attendance, the State
should make it TO the interest OF the
teacher 10 seek il. Pay from the pub
lie treasury a premium to teachers
and TO such towns as employ them.
Let the teacher be exempt from eX-
animation. his certificate OF attend
ance acting as evidence Of his capaci-
ty. When the first school is filed let
a second be established, and so on.
Four elementary normal schools are
sufficient. Let there be no rigid cast
iron system OF normal instruction,
the school, OF course, to be subject TO
such notifications az may be deemed
necessary. The time OF attendance
can be gradually extended, and the
presgut grades increased with the de-
msnd tOr higher grade teachers.
Mr.. Philbrick submitted this as an
outline IN the rough. He also stated
that the problem is the same in all the
States-the high grades are too expen-
sive TO meet the wants Of all schools.
Country normal schools are OF vast
benefit and in this direction Illinois
has take an important step. Teach
70 Is only q temporary occupation IN
tn, : country, and normal schools must
80 the instruction that permanency
5TonId supply; their function should
not dow dope literary and scientific
excellence but practicability to those
who are ., opposed already to have
so1oe cnlfnra and limit to normal
Tbis nenar vas elabOrately dis
cussed nv several delegates and the
whole subject Of nOrm.p u ScnoOiS DelIlg
thoroughly vented and NarlOuS IllOuI- -l
fcatiOns suggested, the folloWinA kesO- eEsCr
luton, offered by Mr.. Phillips, was
adopted:
Resolued. That the PresideHtspp0snt
a committee to report at the next
meeting a plan of normal training
in schools to meet the wants OF the
community.
A very lengthy discussion occurred
on the question OF compulsory educa-
ton. A majority OF the delegates
who participated in the debate recOg.
nlzed the right OF a State to compel
attendance at school, but seemed to
question the expediency Of doing it.
At four O'Clock this afternoon, the
delegates were provided with car
riages by the Board OF Public Schools,
and driven to Shsw's Garden, where
they were Hospitality entertained by
its proprietor.
The Committee on Nominations re-
ported the following officers OF the
assOciatiOn for the ensuing year, who
were subsequently, elected: President,
r q. White, Of Ohio; Vice Presidents,
w. f. Phelps Of Minnesota, W. L.
Harris OF Missouri, J. II. Jurey OF
Mississippi, ]. NJ. Mckenzie OF Ne
braska. II. @. Harden of Massachu-
sets, J. w. BIlkley OF New York,
NeUton Bateman of Illinois, W. ID.
Williams Of Georgia, W. h. McGufiey
Of Virginia, Otis Patten of Arkansas,
William SwintOn OF California, Alex
ander Martin of West Virginia; Sec
rataries. j. III. White, Illinois; John
Hspeock. Ohio; COunsellors, j. Z.
Vyickersharn Of Pennsylvania and
4. 9. Rounds Of Missouri; Councillors
at Iarge, + ward Conant OF Vermont,
" y Ebeldqn OF Massachusetts, Mrs.
M. A. StSne Of Connecticut, n. A.
Calkens Of NeW York, John s. Eiart
of New Jers,v, A. u. MllIiams Of
West Virginia, j. ;. Me6losle OF
MARYLAND, B. Mali9n OF Georgia, J.W:
I6ishoD of Mississippi, A. l.; Hay OF
Texas. Mt. Lucy Of California, ID. ID:
Rsschig of Ohio, Duanne Dsly OF
Michigan, Miss M. Crapsey OF Iowa,
n. Edwards Of Illinois. Mrs. M. Il:
Roberts OF Kentucky, }. w. Hoyt OF
Wisconsin. A. S. Kessitt OF Iowa, w.
o. Hicky Of Minnesota, Miss iHey ):
Hsltbv OF Ohio, +. E. Henderson OF
Arkansas, Miss III. Cummings OF Ne
braska. j. DenuisOn of Kansas and j.
h. Holmes Of District of Columbia.
Hon. Newton Bateman, OF Illinois,
reSd an elaborate paper on the sub
iect: "How may State provide for
fhe education Of her children at the
public cOSt?" He took strong grounds
In favor Os the largest provision by
the State foy public instruction. A
1qortion OF the address was devoted to
fhe consideration Of high schools,
Tbsoh ne considered as but step in
re- sebene of education which should
he T nToyidpd by the State, and which
sbanId cnimi1afe in a national uni
veTsjtv- He summed up as follows:
81 baiieve then, that the question for
the Aroaricsu statesman Is not how