New-York tribune., 1873-07-25
EDUCATION.
CONVENTION OF THE STATE TEACHERS AS
ISOLATION.

INSTITUTES.
IFRom AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE rRIBUSEl
UTICA, July 22.-The twenty eighth annual
meeting OF the State Teachers Association
was opened p. to-day in the Opera House OF thiS
city Tho President, Edward Danforth Deputy state
superintendent Albany, occupied tho chair Drier
and kindly address OF welcome to the Association was
made by the Mayor OF Utica, Charles X. GranDis'
and responded by President Danforth on behalf OF
the members The President then delivered the annual
addresa statistical account Of the progress ana
present condition Of public school instruction IN the
state The report Of the Standing Committee on the
Condition Of Education. read by the Chairman OF INC
Committee bristcd with suggestions OF radical changes
or reforms The report recommends sueh lega acoh III
the matter OF District School Libraries as VIII make inc
library svstem more efficient II this cannot be done,
il then recommends that the library system be aDo
shed and the funds squandered on II Appropriated
to some useful department OF public INSTRUCTION.
Another suggestion is that the filling OF the once
OF School Commissioner be removed out OF the sphere OF
local politics. and that the appointments bo made here
after by the state superintendent, by an appointing
board chosen by the Governor; and further that the
salary OF the Commissioner be increased as to secure
competent men, who will devote their whole time to the
duties OF the office. Tho report in addition condemns
the present duality In the supervisory department. OF
Public Education at Albany because it separates the
academies from the public school system and presents
one OF the great obstacles united system of public
instruction. II recommends that or the other de-
partmeut should be done with Mr. Bau, from the
Special Committee Educational Statistics, iaed 10
appear and there was no report Tho meeting then ad
iourned at A. to meet again at H.
Meanwhile the members met in different sections In
fine High School building a credit to Utica. These sec-
tions covered the following ground A, Common and
graded schools b. Higher Education Colleges, High
Schools, and Academies c, Professional training OF
teachers-NOrmal Schools Institutes, DC. ID. super
visIon-Scbool ComnIiss0ners and Superintendcnt5
EagIiD n &. ID
beng too feW present to-day 10 make he seslOh
of Interest Section A. however had "a full attendance
m the large assemby-rO OF the High school, Major
Geo. H. StOwitz OF Buffalo opened the exercises by teA
ing paper on the Curriculum OF Public Schools"
wherein be maintained l. That the present curriculum
studies In graded schools Is adverse To the nature OF
the chlds mind. 2. That true system should conform
to probable yOcaOnn l1fe g. That children shOuld Do
taught 10 think ana express themselves Is simple
language T. TGat often single study produces sroB
feeling OF dstaste IN the mind OF chlld ana otNes
from the schoOlrOom O. That tho studies ought TO 90
varied IN klnd ana not Oppressive I'D quay 4oL
can be right growth with intellectual gOrSlnS. o.
That moral tho present curriculum Is only
an incidental element DiI taG IL ucinaus 81,
ton rs Of the three branches OF mental moral ana
physical instruction or training. MI Martin Ok slnG
sing inquired Nhether tno aulH1r ol tlo iePoi, ~ -
recommend that u child should drop any stnuy II II II
tbat under proper exercise Of judgment lie certainly
would Mr. Clark moved that the report be as
the sentiment OF tho section ana reported 10 te sOC
several bers denounced Mr. stowitzs views a5 edu-
to draw distinction between the real dislike OF cld
given study because OF inability to manage II or a
mere dislike arising from ldZiness. After some IurJher
remarks the discussion OF the report was pospoheu anu
The method of dividing the afternoon work Of each
day into sections, Is something new III the work OF TIE
Association How 1t WIZ sucece remains 10 De s9IH
The President made the gratifying announcements ths
afternoon that all cOcu,iOnarJ performances and Other
out side exercises, solo Staging, would De ehey
excluded the present session OF the Association
This Ike business and the aunouBcemcnt was cor
daily received. some 300 persons were present this
afternoon evening Dr. Lewis delivered an enter
tanning lecture on Eyes aad Lars lus1lI'ed ~ lais7
| models
UTICA, July 23.There noticeable increase IN tho
attendance the Convention to-day. Those here from
New-York City are President Hunter, Prof Scott, As
slstant su perintendents Caklns and McMuin. Brook
Iyn sends Superintendent BulkeY, Principals Jellie,
woodwork, Conkln, and Abbott. Among others are
sheldon OF oswego. Macvcar Of Potsiam. Farnham of
Bnghamton, Packard Of Saratoga Springs. Cayert OF
Albany, Allen OF Geneseo, King OF Fort Edward, and
Hannibal Smith OF Waterfowl.
The latter read the opening paper this morning on
The Academy organic part Of system Of public
education" Its general points l. That the Com
monwealth has an inherent protect itself against
danger arising from any source 3 That the Common
wealth has therefore the right TO dictate and provide
whatever education deems necessary for the welfare
OF society To insure the highest degree OF safety to
itself II It's duty provide the best culture OF modern
times through its schools Prof Smith then proceeded
TO inquire how should the State do thisl l. Through
State Board composed OF OF the highest ability and
requirements armed with discretionary power TO deter
mine system OF Instruction. Under general laws
10 combine the elementary schools, the academies, and
the colleges organic relation and unity OF system
He defined academy a secondary school midway
between elementary schools and colleges and prepara
tory for the college or normal school, The following
conditions were insisted on l. Free tuition to all
2. COmmOdiOus buildings. 8. Compensation on a fixed
basis OF salaries and not dependent partly
moneys derived from tuition The state ought to regu-
lato academic education a part Of general system
tha
nature Of our democratic institutions. It is, moreover
highly economical. what wanted not educated
class but tho highest education OF ALL and that the in
dvdua should be educated for the public welfare aud
TO assume public duty and responsibility The paper
was ell written but gave oense In one passage to the
country academies by suggesting that perhaps In Ger
tain localities sectarlan teaching might be allowed under
the strctest limits although IL ought to be strictly for
bdden In cities and large communities. Mr.. Fack OF
Caverac at the close of tho address claimed that tho
country ought to be treated in different from the
city, where re gious sentiment as necessary as in
country schools Prof. Allen Of Geneseo supported the
paper as an announcement OF the necessity OF free
education from the lowest schools to the highest
Why said he should not the academies be entirely free
as well the normal schoOsi The paper represented
the present state Of public sentiment with reference to
the best management Of the academies.
Superintendent Beattie then read paper on Super
vision in Cities" Its leading points were, that Super
intendents ought 20 he OF commanding ability and
educational culture; that they ought TO be- set apart to
their work, and not permitted 10 combine admnisra-
tive duty with SuperysOD, lnstanclng where SUI
perintendents Presidents OF Boards or EduCaOn
and that should frequently DO chosen as super
intendents.
The next paper by Commissioner selder, Genesce
County maintained the present system OF supervi
through commissioners OF public education IN the
country districts has ned TO fuhll the expectations
OF the friends OF that arrangement aud that
IN very many the commissioners are selected On
account Of their availability for political uses Major
Stourtz of buffalo said that supervision whether by
principals commissioners, superintendents longer
teaching that there Is very great danger from