The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-07-12
Educational Association of Virginia.
spec1al telegram to the Dispatch.

huuOutiulGt IlOOOUluCiUh vi SiSiu1u.
Rpecial telegram to the Dispatch.
THIRD DAY-MoRNING SESSION:
STAUNToE, VA, July 11.-Thc Associa-
ton was opened with prayer by Rev. r. T.
Barton, of Lexington.
On motion of Professor 81. Estill it was dc.
termined to publish the admirable address of
the president, Mr.. Abbott.
On motion of General F. II. Smith the AS
sociation ordered to be printed 500 extra
copies of the No. Of the Educational Journal
containing Colonel Johnston's address.
The executive committee were instructed
to issue circular urging larger attendance
upon the meetings of the Association, and
the president was instructed to appoint in
different sections of the State gentlemen who
will cooperate with the corresponding sccre-
tary in ditiusing information and exciting in
tcrest in the work of the Association.
In the absence Of Colonel Thomas Ii. Will
hanson, the author, General F. II. Smith
read his supplementary report on the "Bcst
Projection for School Maps" The report
refers to his previous paper, and takes strong
ground in favor of the English projection"
Major jed Hotchkiss warmly advocated the
projection" adopted by the United States
coast survey. But he paid high compli-
ment to the ability of Colonel Williamson's
report, and insisted that it should be pub
lishcd in full. The report of Colonel Will
hanson was received:
In the absence of all of the members. the
committee to report on "What can be done
towards establishing POLYTECHNIC School for
the South?" was discussed.
In the absence of tho chairman Of the
committee to consider and report upon the
cxpedicncy of having regular and systematic
exercises in elocution, including defamation,
conducted under authority, in schools"
Colonel William Allan made brief state
mcnt, in which he took strong ground in
favor of such exercises. DR.. kirkpatrick
thought the subject of great Importance,
not that we need more speakers, but that
we want better speakers and more especially
better readers. But the great difficulty is
that we have not trained teachers, and bad
teaching in this department il worse than
none ut all. Mr.. BlackfOrd would devote
IN hour aud half or more to the subject,
and would use the best literary productions,
especially Shakespeare, so rs to make it use
ful in other directions. Colonel Johnston
inSietcd that we should begin to teach clocll-
ton to very young children and should keep
up the practice. 1t would greatly improve
The language as well rs the manner, If they
arc required 10 repeat standard poetry and
prose.
Professor Joyncs thought that while every
teacher may not accomplish the best results,
yet each one could do something worth the
effort. lie would make reading the basis of
all training in elocution. The effort should
be to make the reading natural, and the best
way to do this is for the teacher to hear the
lesson with the book shut, 30 as TO make the
pupil think that he is imparting important
information to the teacher. He was opposed
to artificial reading g-books-those which have
infection marks, and those which are broken
up into artificial paragraphs. Major Hotch-
kiss had practiced the system suggested by
Professor Joynes, and found it 10 be all ud-
mirable one.
The verbal report Of Colonel Allan was
received, and the committee was discharged.
The order of the day being the report of
the committee on the Presidents report, the
Association first considered the recommends
ton that the rule of tho Association against
expressing its opinion in favor of policy OF
textbooks be adhered to. General Smith
was inclined to reject tho recommendation.
He thought that this Association should ex-
press its opinion In reference both to
methods and books He believed that the teach
ers of Virginia were as body superior to
those of any other State, and he wanted
them to give their decided opinion on these
great questions. Mr.. Blackford thought that
twas very desirable to have some expression
from the teachers of the State, but Thought
that this Association could not give 1t without
injuring its influence. He was In favor Of
adhering to the policy which for seven
years has worked SO well. Dir. Terry fl-
vored General Smiths views. Colonel
Johnston thought that the opinion com-
mittce selected with special reference to
their knowledge of subject would be worth
as much us that of the Association itself.
He insisted that for the Association to de-
eide these questions would introduce jeal-
ousies and rivalries without any correspond
ing good. DR.. kirkpatrick favored the re-
port of the committee, and illustrated bis
views by examples from his observation OF
the working Of other Associations. The
report was further discussed by Messrs. {.
w. Smith, L. III. Blackford, Colonel r. +.
Withers, General L. FL. Smith, w. b. John
ston, Professor II. Estill, w. I. Davis, John
Hart, and Colonel William Allan. Colonel
Withers insisted that as other Associations
Agricultural, Medical, &c.,-were wont to
express their opinion on questions coming
before them, 90 this Association might do so
without those evils which are apprehended.
Professor Estllr was anxious that the
Association would not put itself in
position to be oyerrun by those who have
axes to grind, or packed by those who wish
to promote particular interests, he warmly
advocated an adherence to the policy. Colo
mel Allan argued that this Association was
not competent to decide on these questions
so we'll as experts in the particular subject
considered; and rs for textbooks, he consid-