The Van Buren press., 1871-09-19
Teachers Institute.

In obedience to call OF the Circuit Super.
| intendent, +. f. HENDERSON. the teachers Of
Crawford County assembled at the Court
House. September 18th, for the purpose of
holding the annual Teachers Institute.
Thrty-seven names were enrolled and an
organization effected by the election OF the
proper officers and the appointment of COM
mittees.
The subjects considered during the after
noon session were: +" How to teach the alpha
bet, -" photographic parsing," and "Teach-
| ing the elementary sounds" The evening
was devoted to the discussion Of" compulsory
education"
On Wednesday, Mental Arithmetic. ""Ob-
ject teaching, Primary grammar, ""Writ-
ten arithmetic" and Analysis, received
the attention of the members, each calling
forth considerable discussion. In the evening
Gen. Harrison delivered an resting lecture
subject: "Thc empire ofintelect."
The exercises ofThursday were " Advanced
reading" ""U. s. History, ""Arkansas cduca-
tional facilities, as they were and as they are,
and +" Penmanship." These were spced by
the reading of an able essay by Miss Gardner,
the excellent rendering of Poes Raven " by
Prof. Orick. and the organization Of "Coun-
try School" by Prof. Bruner, the teachers
acting as pupils The testimony of the audi
ence present during the last exercise was
that, considering the perverse material COM
posing the Professors school, he did remark
ably we'll /; the entire organization being eff
fected without single iuflicton of corporeal
punishment. Prof Bruner occupied the eve
ming with an address on Moral and religious
training"
The most Of Friday was taken up with the
examination of teachers; this being complet-
ed, the County Association was reorganizsd
and all unfinished business transacted Al
ter the adoption of the annexed resolutions
the Institute adjourned sine die
This session has been one Of more than or
dinary interest, besides the topics mentioned
above, the following questions were discussed
at considerable length, viz: The introduc-
tion of national system of text books, :"
"Thc propriety Of permitting the sexes to
| play together ut school, w. A national system
of education" The responsibility Of the
teacher for the conduct OF his pupils outside
the limits of the school grounds, 1.-THE wis
dom of admitting children to schools at the
early age of five years " and The chances for
redress on the part of the teacher paid in de-
preciated State Bonds" The Query Box +"
and Critics Report have been instructive
features of the programme. The goodly num-
| "a of, do oil
as evening meetings, indicated growing in
tcrest among the people in the work. The
| freedom with which the teachers embarked in
debate, their unity Of action, their enthusi-
asm, and the cordial sociability characteriz-
ing the entire session have combined to rem
der this one of the most pleasant and profit
able institutes ever held In Van Buren,.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
| ReSoirei by The Crarford County Teachers
Institute; That our thanks be rendered to the
| authorities through whose influence We have
been furnished with a comfortable and COM
modious hall. To Col. Henderson for the uni
form courtesy and impartiality shown in pre-
| siding over our deliberations and to our Sec
retary, Mr.. Strong, for his promptncss in the
discharge of his arduous duties.
That to Prof. Bruner il due an acknow-
lcuRenrnt from Ms OF that appreciation, TO
which his lndciatigable labors so justly cnti
| tie him, And that we are greatly indebted to
| Col. Harrison for his able discourse before
this body on last Wednesday evening.
That we thank the people OF Van Buren, for
! their presence and Kind attention during the
various exercises Of the Institute; these indi-
cate a regard for the educational interests Of
the county prophetic of still greater prosper
| ity to the public schools.
| That we are especially under obligations
to the members of the Van Buren, Band for
the excellent music they have given MS. 1t
has added much to the pleasure and interest t
of our exercises, and no wlddgement we
can here make will sufficiently express our
appreciation of the favor.
That we heartily endorse the efforts being
made for the suppression of intemperance in
| orr county anu pledge our support, as teach
ers, to the advancement OF this re eiorm.
That the editor of the Van Buren, Press be
requested to publish these resolutions togcth-
er with synopsis Of our proceedings in the
| Institute.
! j. G. Helm, !
| j. b. JENNISGsS Committee.