The Placer herald., 1872-05-18
Reported tor the HERALD.1
TEACHERS INSTITUTE PROCEEDINGS.

prrsuant to the call of j. T Kinkade, County
cr,erjntendent Of Public Schools, the teachers
of Placer County met on the Sth inst. for the
rrrose of holding their regular annual Institute.
As the law provides that the County Superin-
,ondent shall preside over these conventions, the
.,eauzation was completed by electing j. I
Darwin President, pro tenn. H. W. Fenton Sec
.,,arv and Mrs Anna Burdick assistant.
After organizing the Superintendent arose and
addressed the thachers in substance, as follows:
.dmiring our uniform system of text books he
,honoht the next thing to be obtained was uni
t,rmity in our methods of teaching. He denounced
.he now common practice of changing teachers
40 often; be thought teachers ought to be retain
ed if possible as long as they continued success
tul and discharged as soon as possible when
they proved incompetent. He thought also we
attempted instruction in too many branches at
die same ti1pe, holding to the old maxir, that
ope thing learned well was better than smat-
tering of many things He admonished the
teachers against being too theoretical, holding
that tho child must have a practical knowledge
Of the subject considered, or it availed him
nothing. He denounced the practice of publish
ING the roll of honor, as all not honored thereby
,nust feel themselves dishonored, and he held
that the object failed in its end Corporeal pun
ashment he was willing to Aeave with the teachers,
thinking that at times it might be necessary;
but be concluded by suggesting plan which he
thought would do away with the necessity of
this unpleasant duty.
The subject of grammar next engaged the at
4enton of the Institute. Much was said in re-
gard to the best methods of teaching this partc
alar branch, and feel sorry to say that, though
nearly whole day vas occupied in dealing with
this naturally dry subject, no definite concus-
ions were arrived at; and, regarding this subject,
the Institute quit about where it commenced.
During the discussion on grammar, DR.. f. j.
sehehousc occupied much time in demonstrat-
ipg mis- systasp of presenting the subject to the
pntutored mind. He has method peculiar to
himself, for which be claims many advantages.
lie condcnses the subject very much by omitting
some mcdi ications which authors not SO modern
seem to haye thought indispensable. To illus
trate; lie dispcnses with the genders, person and
case of nouns; the number, person. voice and
node of verbs. These accidents he claims,
are not applicable to the English language. He
also dispenses with complex sentences, by regard
ing clauses modfers and teaches to dispense
with them i'll the same manner as though they
we're modifying words. The etymology of words
and the formation Of language with reference to
tqpc and style treated by the doctor but with
not SO marked peculiarities- Rules 2, g. 49, 20,
~, o. and 25, i'll Browns Grammar, he claimed
We're not applicable on account of agreement.
Rules ), 6. 7, s, 0, 10, II, II and l3 he claimed
we're rot necessary and rules l, IA, 10, l6, IL
and % he held were net required, by dispensing
With the accidents above mentioned. He referred
to lples apd "a as being all which were really
necessary. The teachers generally appeared
interested in the doctors remarks, but think few
manifested desire to adopt his method, though
1t seems practicable if we'll understood.
The exercises in algebra, by J. A. Benson, were
quite interesting, but incline to the belief that
not few school mstresses and masters returned
10 their pupils without being able 10 explain
why minus by minus produces plus
Mr. Fenton, with much dignity and little enl-
harrassment, very ably illustrated his method Of
teaching geography. Mr.. +. presented some
very good, and feel safe in saying, valuable
Ideas, but some Of the teachers seemed 20 shrug
their shoulders and cast knowing glances at one
another, as though they would ask II wonder
how that theory works when put to practicef"
The subject of arithmetic was gotten through
with without any great harm being done or much
good accomplished.
The discussion on the subjects What degree
oi order is essential in the school room" and
Is our present system o failure?" was entered
'nto with much spirit by some of the members,
out' as in many other things, they came to no
positive conclusion, and teachers were left to
Their own opinions.
The poem California by Miss Mary 7.
Brewster see it in another column and read it,
hesitate not to pronounce good, and all present
VIII agree that it was well rendered. The essay
oy Mrs. Burdick showed taste and scholarship.
1t abounded with good common sense, and in
sentiment is seldom equaled. The essay read
oy DR.. Schehouse was replete with good
reasoning. The subject was applicable, worthy,
and well handled
The last afternoon the Institute was honored
ny the worthy presence of the Rev. DR.. Lucky,
fr'ncpal of the State Normal School, who ad-
dressed an audience, including, besides about
'n'r'y-hve teachers. many of the citizens of our
town. His remarks on this occasion can be ap-
preciated only by those who heard them. The
Doctor has spept bis eptire life in the cause Of
education, and nov stands.a as he deserves at the
mead OF his profession. His whole soul is in his
work. which is manifest by every word he utters;
without any apparent effort or oratorical display
on his part his hearers are hound in attentive
s''ence by the sweet pathos Of bis words. and
.ney drink in With unconscious delight the val
'uaole information and wholesome advice which
ne;aa nes% TO how spontaneously from the prolific
,nind OF this worthy veteran in the army Of edu-
SSa.ots; Ss; an army which breaks down every
,n i1'er tears away every obstruction in the way
do .Hiappiness aud prosperity, and lays the foun.
asuoa Tor the erection Of breastwork which
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