The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-13
Teachers Institute.
THIRD DAY.


attendance was not as large as yesterday. and
not that promp5ness in getting together, conse-
quently the work was much shortened. Prof
Corthell dill not resume his discussion OF Gram
mar but will take il up tomorrow
The first topic taken up by Prof Allen afte
the opening exercises, was an explanation OF
"Praug's Natural History Cards." and the
method of teaching them. These cards are the
finest ever before arranged for schools. After
this he took up the means for securing study
b.inp the third division uuder ''Study in the
School Room," treated of yesterday. These
w.re nra az nted under the following heads: LIST,
Merit and demerit marks; 81, Ranking; Sd,
Roll of hono:; 4th. Reporting; 9th. Rewards
and prizes; 9Th Punishment; 7th Appetizing;
each of these were discussed aud their merits
and dement's presented. All OF these save the
last, were thought to be of doubtful utility, Or
if used. must be used with much discretion.
Marking at class recitations was thought to be
not so accurate or of so much value as marking
at the close of the week. Besides it consumes
much valuab time and attention OF the teach
ers that is needed in the class exercise. Re-
wards and prizes in schools were severely con-
demned; first, because they stimulate to action
those who do not need it; and secondly, be-
cause they do not reach those who do.
Prof. Allen then mentioned the comments of
newspaper correspondents, and spoke substan.
TALLY as follows:
I desire to say word touching the discussion
now going on in the papers of the city, relative
to matters presented in this institute. And al
low me to say that the discus ion of any topic
pertaining 10 our schools where teachers, par
ents and committees are engaged, can seldom or
never he Improbable. The danger lies III THE
other direction. Parents are too apt to throw
the responsibilities of the managing and run
ming of schools upon committees. 1t is true
committees are, and ought TO be held responsible
for their work. But do parents take the pains
to ascertain accurately whether defects OF which
they complain belong to the committee or to
the teacher? Then again, do they look at
the work and plans of a committee as whole,
and thus form an intelligent ju 1gment of it, or
do they isolate single thing distorting and
magnifyng it? NJ impression is that every
intelligent school committee would be glad to
counsel aud advise with every Intelligent father
and mother touching the studies and dlscipnne
of their pupils. Then again, teachers are too
ant to throw their short comiDgs and Imperfect
ions of work upon school committees, so that
really it is not untrequently the case that school
committees become the "scape goat or the
community They bind all of the sins of pa
rents and teachers upon their heads, and not
only send them into the wilderness but put dogs
after them. Those teachers who have individ-
uality are doubtless allowed to use it. But
those teachers who do only rote work. of course
must have rote work given them VIII venture
the assertion, that the school committee OF this
CITY demand not pages of book, and book way
of doing thugs but principle and knowledge
of the subject. If teachers teach subtraction
as the correspondent of the PRESS indicates,
they do wrong to the pupil. And II school
committees require teachers to teach thus,
wrong is done to the teacher. Let parents visit
schools with committees and less fault will be
found.
Prof. Allen tl.en took up, after recess, the
subject, ''Object Of Recitation" and treated
of it under the following heads: First, to test
the pupils knowledge of the subject; second,
to train the pupils to tell what they know in
good clean cut English, third, to impart in
structiou. Each one of these points were welt
upon at some length in an interesting manner,
and happily illustrated
This has, without doubt, been one of the most
profitable sessions SO far, yet held. TIE topics
presented were of vital importance to the work
of the school room. No theories but practical,
every day. common sense work, presented in a
clear interesting and telling manner, by one
who understands his work. No teacher can
afford to be absent from these exercises.
AMY & NAVY CouRsE.-This evening the
onenino ;sutertainment of the above course will
he oiver at CIV hall. The programme-which
has alre adv been pcblished-will convey some
idea of the variety and richness OF the enter
taiumept Nine. Urso's performance on the
violin is said to he unsurpassed. Then there is
Miss Abel with her mezzo-soprano voice. W.T.
Karl the well known tenor, and MT. d. H.
Thomas baritone and composer oaure'' iro'i'
Paris, presides at the piano.
OF the seating capacity of the Hall, 17oO re
served seats have been disposed of, leaving 4oO
seats LOT evening tickets 4 few evening re-
served seats IN the gallery can be procured at
Rand q rhomes', Market Square, at an ad
vance of rs cents only. When the seats are all
occupied placari will be exposed at the box
office. giving notice to the public that STANDING
loom only can bs obtained