Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1872-07-16
EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION OF VIRGINIA.


the Methodist Church in this place on Tuesday
| night last, and was opened with prayer by Rev.
| j. w. Jones President w. r. Abbott read his
| annual report, an admirable document, bringing
to the attention of the body several points of in
| terest, and paying handsome tributes to the
memories of Jno. M. Strother, ID. Lee Powell,
| Prof James w. Massie and Prof Socrates
| Maupin, members of the Association who have
| departed this life since its last annual meeting
| On motion it was referred to q special Commit
| tee
| satisfactory reports.
President Abbott appointed the following
| Committees:
| On Nonai,satioms-Jas r. Mari T, G. Miller
G. d. Mccoy, 9. E. Young, j. S. Blackburn.
| On F122asce.-W. A. Sheppard, DIR. G. G. Bar
ney j. w. G, Davis.
| To Nominate O6icers-W. T. Davis, Prof
| Harry Estill, jed aotchkiss.
| On Place Of Nert Meeting.-Rev. J. w. Jones,
| G. d. Walker, Ii, p. Cochran.
| On B@sine8s.-E. S. Joynes, Rev. Dr. Kirk
patrick, Rev. John Hart.
/ On motion it was resolved to hold the morning
sessions in the Chapel of the d. & D. & B. In
stitution and the night sessions in the Lecture
| Room Of the Methodist Church.
| After some suggestions for future action, the
| Association adjourned till 10 A. NJ, Wednes-
Wednesdays proceedings at the Chapel of the
| Institution for the D., ID. q b., were opened by
| prayer by d. B. Ewing, d. D. The clergy of
the city were invited to take seats in the body of
the Association and take part in its deliberations.
| A good many names of teachers from various
| sections of the State were proposed as members
and accepted.
The Association then went into election of
officers for the ensuing term, with the following
result: For President, E. s. Joynes of Wash
ington and Lee University; for Presidents,
Jno. Hart of Staunton W. A Sheppard of r.
NJ. College; r. L. Carne of st. Johns Acade-
my, Albemarle; j. A. Turner of Hollns Insti
tute, Botetourt county; Recording Secretary,
w. o. English of Albemarle county; Treasu-
| rer d. s. Doggett of Richmond; Corresponding
Secretary, i. M. Blackford of the Episcopal
High School; Auditor, E. &. Parham of Rich
mond.
Prof Joynes read a report upon the best
riculum for schools where pupils do not study
classical course. 1t was an able paper and lis
tened to with much attention, elicting very
Johnston and Withers, and Messrs Abbott
Backford, Joynes, Barton, Davis, Powers Shep-
pard and Terry participated, after which the AS
ISOLATION adjourned to 81 T. nj.
The Baptist Cnnrch, where the evening ses-
sion. was held, was filed with very fine audi
enee.
After prayer by the Rev. DR.. kirkpatrick,
Col. w. p. Johnston was introduced and deliv-
cred very instructive address upon History l
as an element of a liberal education" The
thanks of the Association were voted Col j. for
this excellent address.
Thesession on Thursday morning at the Chap
ell of the d.. D. & B. Institution was opened by
prayer by the Rev. r. T. Barton.
An interesting debate WAS elected upon the
motion to discontinue the publication of the
Educational Journal" the official organ OF this
body and the State superintendent OF Public
Schools A vote upon this subject being post
poned Gen. Smith read report from Col. Will
| liams upon 'the best projection OF School At
lasses.'
COL Allan made verbal report in regard to
teaching Elocution in Schools. which fol-
lowed by an interesting debate, in which many
members participated and all agreed that greater
regard should be paid in our Schools to a cor
rect reading of our language, Prof. Joynes con-
tended that few of our school-books are proper
ly divided into sections, that often one pupll
would have to stop in the middle of sentence,
if we would follow the division Of our school
books Prof j. also stated that he met with the
r,eatesl success when he used no books himself
+ Ut made the pupil feel that 1t was incumbent
mn on himself to impress every word clearly and
dis tinc thy upon theEear of the teacher
Aeon 1m:ttee upon the recurring PRESIDENT Mr.
All 5ottis address reported that 1t was not expe-
dien4 for the Association to recommend any text
books. All ar lengthy debate, the committee
VIZ S sustained
ten. Col. r. e: Withers, from the Committee on
the To2sg2soE reported that its publication should
be continued on the following conditions: lst
That the res; gnatlon of the editors be accepted
with thanks for their services md Inat an Cd
ltor be appointed - conduct the Jo@T'sGI and ne
be paid fair compen ~ation for his services,
The salary of the edit, VI wss fixed. at Sz50, and
Professor Harris, Of Rlc. Sa9ono Dot10se' WAS
unanimously elected editor. -. TT T.
- On motion of COL Withers. professor II. hs-
till and j. P MCGUIRE were opp f4nGed COM
mittee to settle the accounts of the 0s1 1S1'.
The night session opened with praye Ny Ne " r
+ T. Philips of Staunton In the at Sen SaI;U u
er address on 1.-THE Profession of the tt >egn-
err the Association proceeded with It's regt vi
business.
Alexandria was selected as the place of the !
next meeting.
On motion of COL r. E. Withers it was re-
solved that, in addition to the $3.50 salary to be
paid the editor of the Journal, he also be paid
$l50 out OF any profits that may accrue from the
publication of the Journal
The report of the committee on obstruction,
higher and lower, in Modern Languages" being
called for, Professor Ii. H. Harris, of Richmond
College, read the report on German
The report takes the ground that the instruc-
ton and textbooks should vary according to the
capacities Of both teachers and pupils, and the
objects had in view in the study. It notes that 1
the text books have recognized this fact and
cites number of illustrations.
Professor j. A. Turner, of Hollins Institute,
read the report on French. He considered both
the disciplinary and practical advantages of a
knowledge of French, and the means of obtain
ing each and the different methods and text
books IN use. The reports were received and or
dered to be printed.
Prof. G. D. Walker, Of the Virginia Military
Institute, read the report on instructor, higher
and lower, in mathematics" The report earn
esty argues in favor Of introducing the metric
SYSTEM into primary and secondary schools It
gives what the writer considers the virtues of
arithmetic reviews all of the principal arthme-
tics, and insists that Venables combines NOR e
good points than any other that has been pub
Iished It also discusses algebra, geometry and
Pending the discussion, the Association ad.
journed until 81 clock Friday morning.
Z The morning session of Friday was opened with
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Wheat, of Staunton. Prof
w. A. Shepard, of Randolph Macon College,
from the committee Ito report which of the nat
ural sciences it will be best 10 introduce into our
system of male school instruction." read an adj
mirable paper. The report admits that the clas-
sizes should have the first place, but ably argues
that natural sciences should not be neglected,
should not be permitted to be jostled out of it.
yantages of the several natural Sciences and
concludes that the best of Them for our primary
and secondary school, are zoology and botany.
The Professor would prefer both, but the latter
rather than the former. He would also have a
Junior course Of natural philosophy to succeed
that on botany.
In the absence of Professor George f. Holmes,
of the University of Virginia, and MIR. Hugh
Craig, of Petersburg, their joint paper on en-
struefor higher and lower, in English" was read
nv Mr.. d. NJ Blackford. Mr.. Craig wrote on
methods of instruction, and Prof. Holmes gave
an elaborate and critical review of the more re-
Then followed discussion as to how English
Grammar should be taught.
Tn the absence of Prof. L. Z. Price, of Ran
dolnh Macon. his report on instruction, higher
and lower, in India read by Professor