New-York tribune., 1873-07-28
THE STATE TEACHERS Association

LAST DAYS PRoCEEDINGs-PApERs READ-ELECuoS
or OFFICES.
PRoM AN occ AsroSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsEl
Utica. July 24.-The Commissioners OF
Schools are evidently dsfavOr with the orators OF
the Association The former have again received rather
disrespectful mention from ex Commssloner, d. ID.
Metca in his report Of plan for organizing ana grad
ing the public schools Of the State The paper Itself waa
not particularly but it was nearly all
taken up with the Commissioner question II had GER
tain pGuant interest arising from this II recommended
legislative action which would unity the system OF su-
peryson taking OF its present confused arrange
ment In fact the great bulk OF the report seemed u
be the abstract Of law prepared with this object IN
view.
The report Of Section D, Supervision, was then given
by Commissioner Oscar F. Styles. The report OF Section
A. on Common and Graded Schools through Prof Pooler.
was next in order but it seemed TO be paper prepared
byihat gentleman before the assembling of tho Assoca
ton and report Of the direct results OF the as
cussons in the Section. Prof POOers paper proved To
be the old storya sort Of sketch Of the Common school
system Here already, we have had two Of them this
session What the Association would have been glad To
hear was a compact synopsis Of the different papers
and views brought before the Section or course there
was no discussion following Mr Pooer's paper.
At length came a most grateful variety 70 the exer-
cses by the address Of Mrs. Nellie Lloyd Knox Of the
state Normal School, Brockport, the only lady who has
iect was Primary Education, and the address was
delivered with little or no reference TO her notes, In
manner that arrested the attention Of all present.
Authorities said very much at issue a. % the
scope and objects Of primary education Ihe IAsuI's
sees in it only what he deems necessary The natural
scientist has his view the practical man has MS Ihs
final object OF all education s character culture and
knowledge; and the chief object OF school training is To
put children in the way OF acquiring knowledge cul-
ture and character Primary education. therefore, IN
cudes the physical mental and moral 10 the physical
department there be steady effort To realize tho
superiority Of natural play over gymnastic exercies.
In the mental, the teaching must DC OBJECTIVE
on method, and as part Of a WeH-irranged
system not merely "obicct lessons" isolated and
so little understood An "ohect lesson" has become
the shbboleth" Of young American teachers ana
it il confidently undertaken by any OF them who has
mastered the anatomy umbrella, learned the use OF
| a eridiron or counted the ptrts'of candesuck No
lack Of professional skill. ignorance Of mental laws
deters them. In the hands Of unframed teacners "h"S
was once the tho inductivo system
has become the " be-a" and " end-al' OF primary
work destroying not only our own children but tho
strangers within our gates. In the moral deprtmehto or
urmary education the best OF very ignorant for
the principles that uudcrhe 10 are not YET suucchly
primary teachers OF little children should themselves be-
learned and cultivated because children OF tender age
are most mpressbe beings, and bnaly we see the foiy
of the theory that teachers are born made Want OF
prevented discussion on this paper, as II ud on
4
Prof Cooley OF the State Normal school, Albany read
paper on 80 The Claims OF Natural Science 10 place IN
Common school Instruction" 10 plea for Dralch
of study the importance OF which all but universally
conceded. He asserted that it involved the training
most suitable TO active life IL demanded observation
of facts aud events, IL insisted on comparing their nhu
ences and relations ana 10 then reached conclusions
This the great business OF human life and the mtn
best trained to 10 this Is generally the man
Prof Mears Hamilton College announced that his sec
On b. Higher Education" had no report to pre-
sent, and the Professor read paper or his own, when
again exactly what the Association expected.
It is question 10 many OF the older members whether
this division the business among sections has worked
well The impression 10 be tlt 10 s an eXperl-
ment the present President and as an old President
remarked The attendance is 80 limited IN the sections,
ana the business spread over them that II becomes
a little thin"
The election FOR officers, which perhaps is by far tho
important business for the managers ot the Aseo
catlon came of tins afternoon. The baAOting was dOne
by all who had paid the annual fee OF S which Is neces
sIrv 10 constitute member, and resulted IN the Choca
oi superintendent Andrew Mc1lillan Of Utica as Pres
dent THIS really closes the business OF the Association
With the announcement Oh the election, nearly az tEe
interest fades away. There Will be sort OF famly
gathering TINS evening, az which Gov. seymour. the
state SUPERINTENDENT the United states Comm saloner
OF Education and Others will make short addresses