The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-04-06
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TEACHERS
INSTITUTE,

Newell, President of the Institute. On
motion f. S Everist was elected Secretary.
The following teachers were present.
Martha Bilde, Mollie Johns, Sallie Glen
demir, NJ. f. Clcndenir, itollie Williams,
Clara Gay. Vi. A. Nicols, Miss Howard,
Charlotte Thorpe, Miss Gibson, Jennie
Mccall, Mollie Christie, Miss Thompson,
BERTHE Stephenson, Mary Roberts, Jennie
Wilson, Jennie Nandivei, Emma Wilson.
V. IL. Watts. NJ. S. McNamee. ]. G. War
ncr, A. A. Hanna, d. s. Clifford, &. w.
Currier, !. 4. Calhoun, f. S. Quigy, -
Passmore, and j. l.. Chamberlain.
Rev. Mr.. SGuier delivered the opening
address, after which the teachers We're
assigned 10 their homes by Mr.. l.. 4. C.
Gerry. Adjourned until . O'Clock, p. ".
The meeting was called to order ut .
O. clock, p. NJ, by Prof. Newell.
Subject, "The Importance of the study
Of English Grammar in Public Schools, :"
was taken up and discussed. The Presi-
dent called on the teachers for their
views on the subject. Mr. Quigly thought
the Public Schools was the place to begin.
and begin early. Mr.. Calhoun asked if
Grammar is not to be taught in Public
Schools, where shall it be taught? He
thought the sooner the better. Asked for
an Elementary Grammar. not so much
complication as Fensmiths. as his opinion
was that it is entirely too difficult for begin
ners Mr.. Warner said it mattered not
what kind OF text bool, was used, and
that grammar should not be taught before
the child is twelve years Of age. Was not
in favor of combining them too close. Mr..
! Calhoun said that great deal could be
done at home, and if parents would do their
| DUTY Public Schools would be almost useless.
| Often children are sent to school to get them
out of the way at home, and fornC other pur-
pose. Mr.. Squier was in favor of teaching
| Grammar at an early age. The moment a
| child begins to talk Grammar should
| be taught The question is not when
but the nsdn1aer in which it is taught
Prof Newell stated that it required the pre-
sentation OF both sides of the question to
consider the subject fairly. 1t is not the
| kind of u book, but the best method of
teaching it. No matter whether the text
book is kirkham's, Smiths Fensmith s, or
any other Smiths. Was Of the opinion
that teachers did not pay enough attention
to the study Of Grammar as they should
| dc. In a majority OF schools say Of forty
| or fifty pupils, probably not more than one
or two are capable of writing correctly or
speaking in q correct manner, although
| if he wanted to select one hundred scnsi-
bic people, he would select one hundl ed
Sch05l-teachers. Some think that Gram
mar is taught to learn to parse. Spoke of
parsing as being good exercise, but has
never heard of 4 man that parsed after he
| left school. Said that Grammar should be
taught as soon as the child begins to speak,
whether that is two Or twelve years of
age, for when II child begins TO speak he
| should be taught to speak correctly. The
teacher should correct every mistake he
hears the child make in talking. and
require the child to correct any mistakes
! he may make. In this way both teacher
| and pupil will be more guarded. The the
| oretical study of Grammar should not be
commenced until probably the last year of
going to school; fourteen years of age
under ordinary circumstances. Miss Jcn-
ME Wilson read u selection from Scott,
| entitled "Lockinvar."
| The subject of spelling was then taken
up and discussed. Mr.. Watts said his
way was to teach spelling orally. Mr..
Calhoun was i'll favor of spelling by dicta-
ton. Mr.. Chamberlain's plan was to
define and separate into syllables. Mollie
| Williams was not in favor of beginning at
the head of the class, and giving out the
words as they may appear in the book for
| the reason that in some cases children
would not study the whole lesson, but
| merely their own words. Mr.. Hanna was
| asked to form a class and eEplain the man.
ner lie taught spelling. He took q class of
seven and stated that he would give No.
| a word, and he would pay no attention
whether he spelled it correct or not. He
would give No. another word which, if
he spelled correct, and took notice, that
| No 1 did not spell his word right, he
| would also spell it and if correct. would
| take his place above him; but if No. . did
| not observe that No. l was not right, the
| teacher would 90 on down the class until
some pupil would take the word up. The
object being to induce the class to pay
strict attention TO the whole lesson. Mr.
McNamee was in favor of requiring the
child to pronounce the word before spell
ing it, also of written exercises in spelling,
and as soon as the child can write.
Mary Mccullough read a selection from
Jean Ingelow's "High Tide of Lincoln
shire" after which the Institute adjourned
| until Is clock, Pm
At d the Institute again assembled
The subject OF ''Christan Education "
was taken up, when DR.. r. G. Mackall,
President of the School Board, delivered
an address before the Institute, taking the
ground that the heart as well as the head
/
lowed by Rev. Mr.. Martindale and Rev.
| DR.. Squier, who conceded with the views
of Dr. Mackall.
Mary Sauter read 4 selection, entitled
"Parehasius and the Captive
Prof. Newell spoke of the DUTY of
making School exercises attractive Said
| that some OF the School houses and furni-
| turc in the State were u disgrace to any
civilized people. That the cost of the
| Insane Asylum so far, was $500, 900, and it
would take $400 600 more to finish it; while
the cost Of the Public School-houses in the
| State was about 100000. Thought that
! those who were not crazy were entitled to
as good accommodations as they that were.
| (Mr. Suuier here said that the Jail was the
finest public building in this county y
! Newell said before you expect your teach
ers to do their duty, they should have
good location, good house, and good furni-
ture and after they have everything to
make them comfortable, they should en-
! deavor to keep their houses in = clean and
| orderly manner, and devote their whole
| time to the school. He had gone into some
| School houses and seen ten-cent novel, or
some book of a tritiing character, on the
! desk, and was informed that while a class
was reading or doing examples on the
blackboard TIE teacher would he reading
| something that was no profit TO himself or
any one else. This was the way to not
| make School attractive; but the way to
! make exercises attractive, was to keep
things clean and in order, cheerful dispo-
! sition, and all Of the pupils employed
| Dr. Mackall said he had been in quite a
number of School-houses in the county,
and would say in justice to the teachers
that he had never seen ten-ccnt novel or
| books of a tritling character, while visiting
/ Schools, and was of the opinion that there
was nothing but books connected with the
| Public Schools. Mr.. Squier said it was true
that some of the School houses in the
/ county were in u dilapidated condition,
probably some lust ready to tumble, land it
| would be blessing if they would, pIorid-
| ing there was no one near, but they were
kept in n neat and orderly condition. The
GREAT wonder to him was how it could be
done, which reflects much credit on the
, teachers. Adjourned until O. o'clock, on
Saturday morning.
| Saturday m0rning.-1nstitute called to
order by Nh. Squier. Rev. Mr.. Mar.indale
read the 12th chapter of Corinthians, by
request. Prayer by Dir. Martindale.
Mr. Quigley read an essay Oh 5hc 80 Pro
gressve Age in which we Live" Spoke