The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-02-11
Correspondence q. tine Richmond nisiutch.I
yGucIirt>. fr~t!lutc Of .aNgTsra.

TAI MON, / .ti U'lh %. IC,o
Yesterday at II o'clock the Teachers IN
- lgtr 81 Augusta county assembled in the
CHS ii..i. y u,iority pt the county teachers
Wrr" in attendance. Professor Juyncs and
ir"ir>,"r Campbell. of the Washington and
ir" University. were also present, having
l""u invited by the County superintendent
OR. j. l.. Guy 10 deliver lectures before
III" Institute.
\ few minutes after o'clock the InSti-
iUtr was called ~ order. aud opened with
prayer ~ i.nN. Mr. Gilbert, of the Lutheran
Church. y few Introductory remarks were
lnad" ht Or. Il. Sears explaining tie object
al a Teachers lnStitutG--tEc instruction Of
III" tcachcls--and said this was accomplished
ty engaging teachers Of experience 10 lecture
l'ciOre the Institute Oh til" various topics of
education. He also spoke Of the great i'm
portamcc Of teachers understanding how to
urgiu with the beginning in instructng
caid. lie said that knowledge was not the
only nor the chief object OF education, but
principles >hutild tic taught.-tLc child should
to made to think for Itself. 1t WAS better for
4 pupil to learn 10 think than to hCcome
master, by mclc nlCmory. Of a! the knowl-
edge Of his teacher. lie spoke Of the supc-
T.urIty OF the cOnnIon-schoul system: that
il them the primary education was not so
liable 10 be neglected ;ls in private schools.
The superintendent, Mir. Guy. then de-
l.yCrcG al abstract OF his annual report. 1t
W., well written, and contained information
- much importance. His exhibits showed
tat the commou-:chooI system was working
we'll ia this County. lie also complained OF
az poor pay of the teachers, but hoped thi.
Wrllid >"on ,e Improved.
~ J. o'clock Professor Campbell delivered
a lecture on Geography the proper
method Of teaching it; and the requisite at
f.uuitnts Oh the part OF teachers to make the
,unIcc, interesting ana profitable. It w0uld
require TOO much space 10 give an abstract o!
lis |, cure. Ii vas "a very Interesting one,
.Hd made more Ineligible rs ne proceeded
- the use Of a large wall-map and globe.
!ir showed un the detects Of the present
mod Of teaching geography in a pointed
tniuicr. Strongly condemned the system OF
examining" children with definitions of
Wh!Ca they could understand nothing. The
Fundamental ideas Of geography are form and
place. The child learns these naturally and
" It'll pleasure, and the definitions will come
in time. after the CHILD knows what they are
intended 10 d, scribe.
At / o'clock Professor Joynes delivered 4
IT,. iIHc o.: the EHgiisafanguage He paid
.,yMing tribute 10 tic English language as
usir uIpthrr tongue. 1t was the source oil our
intellectual iiit from il We derive our CHI Iluc-
lei T. Il n"liOu, ~ IL people. IL was the ground-
"uik OF ali information. y powerful COM
HIau4 Of the English language would make
rur powerful man if lie knew no other lam
I4rg" at all. lie spoke Of the study OF gram
I;:J ~ bat one department OF the study OF
IG.-Iiagr. Graunnar could not teach us IAN
.- aa1c; there was Il something in Language
gryJui grtmmIr--a something diVne-a
>Dntlhing that ut times brings fear to our
beats ard tears 10 our eyes. Language
l:.b"s the g:animar, not grammar the Ian
i:un@r. Grammar is only true 50 far as it |
corresponds with language. n dictionary
uy> mere collection Of the facts of lam
yl.4.c. He then spoke Of the difficulty |
o! .udy:ng the English grammar, but pro-
irs,rd against the idea that the EnSiish was
Il @ralnnur!css language." lie peiie'eu IL
Was the richest, most perfect, ana most pow
cTtuI in the world. lie opposed the tian oi
learning Latin in order to understand Has-
Lit Was putting the cart Eclofe tue hoisc.
English ought 10 bc learned hrst, anu t!en
Latin. he spoke Of the aids Of c0mposi'lo'l
and dicluiion i'm learning 70 spell correctly
ana TO rain q command OF the language.
lis lecture was listened 10 With the deepest
attention.
IL Tie afternoon Professor John hart,
of lbe Baptist Female Institute, ae-
Ilycrcd q lecture on Arithmetic. he c2-
bla:ucd The theory OF the notation OF Quail
lite, in 4 lucid manner. lie spoke OF the
composite character Of the higher NUMBERS
an.! showed Of what compounded. He De
Iicycd that children ought to be taught the