Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-02-11
The Education of the People.
Proceedings of the Augusta Teachers
Institute.

LIE EQuCaLlon OF L1e SeOp!e.
Proceedings of the Augusta Teachers
Institute.
Able addresses By Profs. Joynes and
Campbell, DR.. Sears and others,
and Report Of ,Sup't Guy.
Large attendance of teachers and the public
Great interest sho,on and good
cork DONE
In accordance with the announcement made
by the County Superintendent. Mr.. j. Emmett
Guy, the Teachers destitute, for Augusta
county, met 10 City Hall in this place Wednes-
day and remained in session Thursday and Fri
day. It was largely attended by the County
teachers, there being 81 white and or 5 COL
ored teachers in attendance, and proved most
interesting and instructive session. During the
session, addresses were delivered by Profs L. S.
Joynes and j. I. Campbell of Washington and
Lee University, Prof John Hart, Principal OF
the Staunton Baptist Female Institute, Prof.
Henry Scharf, instructor of eocution in the
Virginia Female Institute Prof ". A. Harris,
Principal of the Wesleyan Female Institute,
DR.. Barnas Sears, General Agent Of the Pea.
body Education Fund, Rev. w. I. Richardson
Of the Augusta Female Seminary. These ad
dresses were all Of practical character, and
will no doubt be of greais benefit TO all who
heard them, and especially to the teachers, for
whose instruction they were designed. The ses
sion was harmonious and pleasant. Ali seemed
deeply impressed with the importance of the
occasion, and to appreciate fully the object for
which they we're assembled We do not re-
member ever to have attended an assemblage
of any kind where better order and decorum
we're observed Tue discussions were conduct
ed in a courteous manner and friendly spirit.
The accuracy of thought displayed in the ad
dresses, and their peculiarly practical character,
showed that the speakers desired to give intor
nation and instruction rather than indulge 10 the
flowers OF rhetoric or enter into the interesting
field of speculation or theory. The County
Superintendent, Mr.. j. E. Guy,is deserving OF
much praise for the courteous, yet prompt and
firm manner, in which he enforced observance
CT the rules Of the Institute.
We give below synopsis of the proceedings:
WEDNESDAY,
The Institute met at | O clock A. NJ, and
was opened with prayer by Rev. u. NJ. Gilbert,
pastor of the Lutheran Church Of this city =
Dr. Sears then made few Introductory re-
marks, in which he explained the object OF a
Teachers Institute-that it was designed for
the instruction and information of teachers -
That this object was generally attained by en-
gagng teachers OF experience to deliver lee
lures before the Institute on the various sub
jects of Education. 1t was, moreover, designed
that teachers should meet together, became &C
ouainted and have an opportunity Tor mutuai
interchange of opinions and experience.
He also spoke OF the necessity Of teaching
principles, not facts merely. To do this, teach
ers must begin at the beginning on all subjects
of instruction The pupil must be taught to
think for hinself knowledge was not the on
ly or chief object Of Education; it were far
better for the child to learn &c think, than to
become master, by mere memory, or all the
knowledge Of the teacher.
He spoke Of OF the superiority OF the com
mon schools over private schools, IN that prln-
cples cao be better taught IN them. That pri-
vate schools are more liable to leave the prina-
~ education defective.
The County Superintendent, Mr.. j. Emmet
Guy, after few introductory remarks,ln which
be explained that Teachers Institute was not
Teachers Association. but vas temporarily a
Normal school, where the teachers constitute
class uuder the instruction OF lecturers OF great
er experience, OF more extended observation
and more liberal requirements, read an abstract
OF his annual report. from which We extract The
following statistics:
The whole school popultion, according to the
census taken last Spring, is 9 $50 According
to the census taken by clerks OF school boards
in 1870, 9,7l0, and allowing for increase in
three years would now reach near 10000 or
about one-thlrd of the whole population OF the
county There we're l02 white and 5 colored
schools-total HIS of which were IN Siaan-
ton.
Average number of months taught, a little
over 5-SA 10 Slaunton and S )metbing under 5
10 the coun'y. There were IS white male tesch-
ers and 81 white female total ll9 -c0ored
teachers l5 TJtal white and coored l34 -.
The average monthly salaries OF male teachers,
from all sources, was $50 81. OF females $50. -
Total from public funds $27.22
Last year there were enrolled 10 all the
schools 5, DIG. over 50 per Cent or more than
one half of the schooi population. The ave-
rage attendance was l56, or SO per cent of
school population, or 629 per cent OF those en-
rolled.
The cost of tuition per month per pupil was
90 cents To private schools it was formerly
not less than S IS, nearly double the amount
it now costs.
Whole amount expended for Public Educa-
ton $50 9G3 26 from State funds 50 345 4S !;
from County funds So $40 80 from other than
Public funds, including Peabody fund, ST. 245.-
IS.
Salary of County Superintendent from State
fund $3.50; from County and City $4o4 10
Total $oU4 Is.
Number Of miles travelled by the County
Superintendent on school business 6I9. Mum
Der Of official letters written ESQ. Number OF
teachers examined 12l. Number of teachers
licensed ITO. Amount OF incidental expenses
Incurred 10 dischargiDg official duties $23l No
of visits by County Superintendent TO public
schools during the year l3I; by trustees 1877 ;
by Others COS Number of schools not visited
| by County superintendent 4. Number not VS.
| tied by trustees 43.
| There were fix graded schools three 10
| Stanton, two white and one colored. T8o In
Waynesboro -one white and one colored. Oae
at Elshersvllle.
The County school board requested the Su-
pergsors to levy county tax OF - cents on
the 500. which 1t is estimated would yield
SIS. S53 g. instead of which they levied 5
cents on the 500, and the dog tax Of 50 cents
per head. 1t was estimated that the tax would
yield Sc, 7O2 A., or 81 l5l.2l less than the
| county board considered necessary to carry on
the schools.
AT IL clock, Prof Campbell delivered q
very interesting address on the subject of Geog-
raphy--the proper method OF teaching 1t,