, 1872-10-10

and ordered published by unanimous
vote:
There is hardly to be found in the
whole English Language, word so
frausht with significance as the simple
word Primary"
The Astronomer bases many of his
calculations from the relation which the
Primary planets bear to their common
centre, the Sun.
The Geolosist in his researches dedu
ses many of his theorems from the Pri-
mary rocks.
The Artist reproduces Nature in all
her infinite coloring and shades from
the blending of the Primary colors.
Analogous to this preamble, it seems
apropos that this Institute should be
prefaced by disquisition on Primary
Schools: their past, present and future.
Women are proverbially reticent in
regard to their age; and, of course, my
history of the past Will be limited. We
have little, except "reminiscences re-
counted by the older ones, to tell US of
the past; counting the old-fashioned
school as cotemporary with the pillory
and whipping post; and like them have
passed away and things are becoming
new; still there is much room for i'm
provement.
The primary teaching of to-day. tho
perhaps, in keeping with the progress
of the age, is sadly deficient in many re-
spects.
Great mistakes are often made by those
who have it in charge in the selection of
suitable teachers.
Not every one can adapt himself to
the capacities of children.
When teacher is required for a high
er grade of skool, and dement's of the
applicants are descanted upon-the sub
sect is given, thonght-alld after mature
deliberation, the decision is made; but
the gessei.aa isnpnassion is, that any one
can teach primary school.
A young, inexperienced, thon.itless
person, one little accustomed to the
study of human nature. is not the one
to be intrusted with the minds of chill
dren at this tender age,
Teachers are toe often at fault in this
respect They think because they teach
the simplest lessons, that no study is
required, when instead, they should
make their school a constant study.
A celebrated teacher was once asked
why he daily reviewed the studies with
which he was SO familiar Ills reply
was, that he had much rather feed his
scholars from living stream, thsn from
n stagnant pool.
There is much of truth in the reply
and there is no teacher that should study
snore than the Primary.
Children are close and busy observers
of things around them, and have many
questions to ask; but their inquisitive-
ness is often repelled, instead of being
encouraged and guided, simply because
the teachers themselves, are not ia pos
session of the information needed, to
teach child in regard to the simplest
natural phenomena.
Were children taught Alright at the
commencement, we should have among
Ms to day more thinking men and women
The chief object of primary education
is the developement of the faculties;
and that period of developement, is en-
phatically the first ten years of the
.child's life. If this part of Primary
teaching is neglected, or checked in
childhood, it becomes greatly diminish
ed in activity, even so far, as almost to
cease to take notice of the beauty and
wonders of the world.
To study and cultivate these habits of
observation, is one of the most impor-
tant duties of the Primary teacher.
In regard to the schools themselves,
what they are to-day, We will pass over
everything that is commen3able; count
ing only the sick as needing a physician;
hence, we Will look only at faults, hop
sng for the sense Of this Convention, to
prescribe the proper remedies.
Not in a general sense, world I de-
scribe the Primary school of to-day, as
being a conglomerate of school, nursery
and hospital. and do not consider it in
my province to say how well we succeed
an the multifarious duties imposed up
.on us.
Nor would complain, were furnish
ed with the necessary expectorants and
stomach correctives for aching heads
and distressing coughs so often brought
under my observation. 1 often ask my
self, is there no balm in Seattle, is there
no Physician there
A new milch COW or rocking chair or
two, a lot of Crandall's S building blocks,
would be valuable desideratums for
those who are sent to school two or
three days in the week, say washing and
ironing days.
The German has his Kindergarten,
the Frerchman his Creche, but it is re-
served for the Yankee to merge them
Ill -, o.a