The Portland daily press., 1872-08-16
American Institute Of Instruction.


Lewiston during the past few days. Beginning
its session Tuesday afternoon of the present
week, it adjourned yesterday afternoon subject
to the call of the Executive Committee. This
Institute Is one of the landmarks of educational
progress in New England. In the year 1880
prominent educators and friends of the cause of
education, from fifteen States of the Union,
met in Boston and founded this Institute The
constitution was made broad enough to admit,
not only practical teachers, whose interest this
society was principly intended to foster, but all
who loved the noble cause of education. The
warm interest which Horace Mann felt in this
cause gave it . powerful stimulus. The Legis-
lature of Massachusetts,, by an enactment
pledged to it a certain sum of money annually
Up to the present time $4,000 have been given
Massachusetts has thus given to her sister States
a most noble example of wise and benefcent
legislation. Other States might and should fol-
low this example, and the annual gift of few
hundred dollars each would give to this Insti-
tute the pecuniary means and moral influence
of legislation which would enable it to develope
more largely in the direction of its aim. pub
lie education is the basis of civil liberty" and
whatever institution rests upon this axiom
might we'll receive the fostering care of the
State. Xix.
The terms of membership are one dollar 1t
numbers several thousand members. From the
first year. the Institute has published annually
volume containing the articles, discussions,
and suggestions, presented at the annual SEES
sions. These forty odd volumes already form
o library of incalculable value to the teacher
The annual meetings have been held for the
most part in Massachusetts,. Once it convened
at Troy, N. Y. Portland, Bath, and. Bangor
divide this honor with Lewiston. With these
exceptions the sessions have all been held in
Massachusetts. lm
The grand purpose of the Institute is the pro-
motion of public instruction Hence grew up
that valuable system termed Normal schools"
Hence too, have the processes of teaching by
pure abstraction given place in n large mea-
sure to "object teaching" When it is remem-
bered that this Institute is the Oldest of the
kind in America and unlike anything in Ea-
rope, it's Importance will be readily seen. 4.
The influence upon the higher schools and
colleges of the country, of the ideas promul-
gated by this Institute, can never be estimated.
By its influence abstract teaching has given
place in large measure to practical and to-day
our colleges are one after another changing
their curriculum to meet the demand of this
practical age.
Hon. Zalmon Richards, of Washington, D.
c., in few forcible remarks, gave very clear
and interesting view of his idea ON this subject.
He said every boy under the age of ten should
lay aside for one year at least his spelling book
and arithmetic, and devote his whole time to
the study of objects. Let the teacher gather
blocks of all the kinds of wood grown in the dis
trict; specimens of all minerals found there and
let him explain to the boy the process of the
growth of the wood, its grains, color, compact
ness or otherwise, susceptibility to float or sink
in water, hardness, etc. teach the English
names, explain where native of; and of miner
ais, let him show them the various qualities
and let the child learn to spell the names. The
results of this system are many. The boy will
be interested at the time. 1t will develope in
him a permanent interest in this kind of
knowledge; out of school he will think of it, 1t
is useful and practical knowledge. 1t lays
the foundation for accurate observation. 1t
teaches him how to gather information by
simple system The influence of such course
will be felt all through his life.
The Institute has shown New England to
possess originative progressive, thorough teach
ing When mon like Beecher tell us that New
England ideas have moulded this nation, we
cannot overestimate the value of such an In
stitute.
a Abner J. sPhipps Esq, of Medford, Mass,
president, and D. w. Jones, Esq, of Boston,
secretary, were present and filed their respec-
tive chairs. /.
The session met in Lyceum Hail. The attend
ance was large. The smiling happy faces one
looked down upon from the platform betokened
the deep interest which was felt in every theme
presented. One singular feature impressed an
observer. The ladies were mainly young and
fresh looking, while the gentlemen would aver
age forty or forty-five years. The reason doubt
less is, that men makesa life work of teaching,
and marriage admits of no interference; while
on the other hand whom the. lady marries (and
our Yankee school mans all do marry teaching
ceases forever with her, or if continued, it is in
limited circle and to her own offspring.
Among the distinguished educators present we
noticed Hon. Zalmon Richards of Washington,
d. c., D. B. Hugar, ESQ.,, of Salem, Mass, A.
p Stone, ESQ.,, Portland, s. w. Valentine,
Brooklyn, N. Y, Charles Hammond, Monson,
Mass, Prof. Samuel s. Green, Brown Univer-
sity, Hon. Warren Johnson, Augusta,
M. c. Stebbins, Esq, Springfield, Mass,
A. E. Winship, Bridgewater, Mass, w.
A. Mowry, Providence, r. l., B. f. Tweed,
.Charlestown, Mass. The exercises opened at
"A o'clock Tuesday evening in the customary
manner, after which an able address was deliv-
cred by Hon. j. L. Packard, Superintendent
of Public Schools, Chicago. t..y,....,s
In the afternoon, previous to the regular
opening, business meeting of the directors
was held. ..i. u. .s3 i ..rE.-
Wednesday morning opened with threaten
ing sky and muddy streets. The attendance
was nevertheless large, though many from the
neighboring towns were deferred from coming
At o'clock paper was read by Walter Smith,
State Director of Art Education in Massachu-
sets, on " Drawing in Graded Public Schools
what to teach, and how to teach it." This was
followed by an animated discussion.
At II o'clock, J. Baxter Upham, M. D.,
Chairman of the Committee on Music of the
Boston School Board, read a paper on
vocal music as a branch of instruction in our
common schools ~ 81
A. w. Mason of Boston, here introduced
class of children taken from the public schools
of Lewiston, and elected applause from the au-
dience by the skillful manner in which he ex-
hibitcd the singing proficiency of the children.
The session then adjourned to meet at two
o'clock
AT the hour appointed the hall was filled to
listen to an essay by f. H. Underwood, D. D.,
of Boston. His subject was English Litera-
ture" This was followed by discussion
In the evening" in spite of lthe rain, the hall
was well filled to listen to lecture from Hon.
j. W. Patterson, United States Senator from
New Hampshire, upon sInfluenoe of Education
upon Labor" --.s
Thursday morning the session was called to
orderly the President, at 9 o'clock Nathaniel
L. Allen, ESQ.,, of West Newton, Mass, delv-
cred lecture on "the system of public instruc-
ton in Prussia as seen by Massachusetts prac-
teal teacher" This, too, was followed by
discussion. F f@+i
e At 1870 O'clock e. c. Pickering ESQ.,, Pro-