Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-11

matter to the convention of County
Superintendent, which shall convene
: tomorrow, with whom the committee tC
: be appointed by this association or Teach
ers' Institute shall cooperate.
Resolved, that this association hold a
session of four days in the city of Kaox-
VILE, about the 10th of July, two of which
shall be devoted to the business OF the as
gelA-ioii, ami two to the work of a teach
ers institute, and that arrangements for the
same be committed to the officers of the
association, in connection with Superinten-
dent Fleming
The report was adopted, and Messrs.
Caldwell and Lindsey were appointed said
committee.
j. S. Curry, of Gibson, offered the fol-
lowing:
| Resolved, that a ammittee of three
members Of this assos .s,ion be appointed,
whose duty it shall be to prepare and sub
NIT an address to the county courts of the
State, at their next January term, setting
forth the Importance of providing sufficient
school revenues by the counties.
Adopted, and Messrs. Neil S. Brown,
Jno. Frizzell and DR.. w. p Jones appoint
ed said committee.
Prof. Bennett offered a resolution author
izing the Executive Committee to secure
the publication Of the proceedings of the
association. Adopted.
The Committee on Normal Schools pre-
sented this report:
Resolved, That first-claSs normal schools
are essential to the permanent success of
the public school system.
Resolved, That, in view of the liberal
offer which for some years has been made
us by the agent of the Peabody fund.- re-
specting the support of at least one such
school in Tennessee, the next Legislature
be requested to take early action in this be-
half.
Resolved, As auxiliary to legislative ac-
ton, that the Executive Committee of this
| Association be directed to receive PROPOSE
tions from our cities and towns offering
sites and buildings, to be brought before
the State Government at the proper time.
Adopted.
Prof. Bennett offered a resolution thank
ing the railroads centering in Nashville, the
hotels of the city and the daily press of
Nashville for courtesies received. Adopt
ed.
The subject of harmonizing public
and private schools was taken up
and called forth lively discussion. The
| dppOiutbu OH JlldJ subject re-
/ commended that it shall be made by legis-
lative enactment the duty of school direct
ors and county superintendent to make an
effort to unite. and harmonic the interests
of public and those of deserving private
schools, said schools to be under the super
vision of said directors and superintend-
entS.
Association adjourned until Pm.
Evening Session.
The Association was called to order by
the President at 7:30.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
The Committee on Common Schools
presented their report. In this report it is
shown that over 90 per cent. of the chill
dren in the State, i'll position to attend
school, are enrolled in our common schools.
The general success of our public schools
has been a source of qualification to the
friends of education. If the present school
system has done nothing else, it has called
attention to the darkness, and pointed out
needed reforms.
The report was adopted.
DIR. b. MALLON,
of Atlanta, Ga, then addressed the Asso-
citation. He said that this State is further
advanced than his own State ineducational
matters. In the principal cities of Georgia
public schools were already established,
private schools being en.irdly suppIanted.
In Atlanta the revolution, which in the
| State viii require years to bring about, had
been accomplished in one month Origi-
nally their schools were denominational in
| character.
The revolution that is coming in school
matters is the doing away with private
schools for elementary purposes. 1t is i'm
possible under the system of private schools
| to educate all the children in the State.
Evidently the public school movement is
opposed to the private schools. occupying
| the same ground.
On the matter of compositions in schools,
| DR.. MallOn said that one of the main
things in our schools is to speak well and
write our language clearly. In the matter
Ofwritten examinations, our graduates are
generally deficient. A majority of even
! advanced pupils cannot tell when they
have written sentence or a paragraph.
| The study of grammar does not give prac-
tice in the expressive faculty. 1t is absurd
to expect to make good speakers and
writers in our schools without giving prac-
tice in speaking and writing. The proper
use of grammar is to do this correctly. To
ask pupil to write a compost
tiOn upon subjects upon which
they have not thought or studied, is like
asking a mechanic to build a house with
out materials. Another mistake is made
in poStpOnng the writing of compositions
to so late period in the pupils life, for
then his judgment and taste is far in adj
vance of his constructive ability. The
speaker pointed out the proper manner of
|
gage in composition, in very simple form,
at the outset of his school experience. He
dwelt strongly upon the Importance of oral
instruction with pupils, in order that they
| may be able to speak readily upon subjects
with which they are thoroughly familiar.
At ten or twelve years of age, pupils NAV
begin formal composition. Monday morn
| ing the teacher might take a subject, flow
ers, for instance, write tenquestions regard
ing flowers and have the pupils pay a great
deal Of attention to the subject of flowers
during the week, and on Friday the result
is embodied in a composition. Such a
course trains a pupil in expression, in Or
der and in logical thought. The scholar
who writes after this plan once a week for
several years cannot fail to gain facility of
expression, andhe will acquire vast amount
of general knowledge. The compositions
should be written in school, under the eye
of the teacher, the facts being taken from
the notebook of the pupil. These compo-
sitons should all be written in book A
list of mistakes, prepared by the teacher,
should be posted on the inside of the pu-
pills note book. 1t is fault common with
! teachers to mark too severely the compost
tions of young pupils. Only the gravest
! faults should be marked at first.
| DIR. SEARS,
being called upon to say something on the
subject Of normal schools, said that he
thought that public schools, in order to be
successful, should be good schools, and that
they should be continued during the year.
A school cannot be a good school unless
the teacher be good teacher.
There is an impression in the
minds of many that teaching is. a gift of
nature. Whatever is said against the pro-
! fessional school for teachers, is also true of
| other professional schools. Natural abili-
ties for teaching are just as important as
| they are in other pursuits. 1t is also i'm
| portant, that the teacher should be an ac-
complished christian gentleman, or lady.
| There should be culture, refinement and
| general knowledge. Of course there
should be literary accomplishments. Evil