The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-12-18
Mis- G eIIaneo on s .
Hartford County Teachers Institute.
MONDAY.


The Teachers Institute of Hartford county
met in the NJ. P. Church, Bel Air, on Monday,
December It'll, 1874, at 2 o'clock, p. NJ DR.. L,
II. Richardson, President of the Board of Com.
ty School Commissioners, took the CHAIR and
Rev. Il. NJ. Cathcart was appointed Secretary.
The Institute was called to order by Dr. Rich
ardson, and the exercises were opened withpmy-
er by The Rev. l.. Finncy. The roll was called
by Prof. r. Henry, and fifty teachers answered
to their names The President then delvcreda
very pleasant and interesting address to the
teachers, showing the requirements of The
school law in regard to holding teachers insti-
tutes, &c. He was followed by Prof. Henry in
few remarks in regard to the duty ofteachers,
&c. Mr. John NJ. Cooley next made some re
marks in regard to the best method of conduct
ing an Institute The President appointed a
committee, consisting of Professors Baird and
Jackson, and Messrs Cathcart, Fallon and Scar
borough, to arrange programme for the even.
ing sessions of the Institute. Adjourned until
1P. NJ.
EVENING SESSION.
The Institute met and was called to order by
the President Mr.. John NJ Cooley read lee
ture on "School Exhibitions and Examinations"
after which Miss NJ. Oflley read Little Crotch
en-" and Miss S. Anderson the death Of Min.
nehaha."
TUESDAY.
Institute met and was opened with prayer by
the Rev. 7. NJ Cathcart. Seventy-one teachers
Principal Of the State Normal School, read and
explained certain sections of the School Law
and the BY Laws in regard to holding teachers
institutes After some remarks in regard to the
utility of teachers institutes, he proceeded to
ascertain from each teacher the exact condition
of his or her school, in relation to its location
furniture, condition of the building, &c After
half an hour spent in this manner, Professor
Newell requested the teachers TO state what diff
iiculty, if any, they had experienced in grading
and classifying their pupils. In response,
Messrs. John NJ. Cooley, E. Smith, j. r. Devoe
Henderson, Stokes, and Misses Otlley and War
field, asked certain questions, which the Profess
sor proceeded to answer and explain Adjour-
ed to meet at 2 P. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
After roll call, the report of teachers from the
second district in regard to the location and
condition of their school houses, &C., was heard.
Professor Newell then continued his remarks
in answer TO the questions propounded to him
in relation to the grading of pupils, which he
did in very able and satisfactory manner. Ad-
journed until "a p. NJ.
EVENING SESSION.
The Institute met according to adjournment,
and was addressed by William Young, ESD, of
the Bel Air bar. The Institute was next enter
taine1 by Miss Maggie Wareld and Miss Annie
E. Mitchell, the former of whom read u "Caudle
Lecture" and the latter "rhe Wreck" The
following question was then proposed for dis
cussion: How far should the wishes of Parents
be consulted in regard to the studies to be pur-
sued by their children" The discussion was
participated in by Mr.. Carter, and Prois Jack.
son, Baird and Newell.
MIR. Carter contendcd that the teacher was
not an autocrat, but the servant of the people,
and that therefore parents should be allowed to
| designate the branches they wished their chill
| dren to pursue, in order to more eilectually
| train them for the calling it was intended they
should follow. He illustrated his argument
| by abiding to the blacksmith, who, he said
would be no better workman for having an nc.
curate knowledge of the laws of punctuation or
geography. He should in these days of cred.
It system, be able te keep accounts and make
| out bills, but high scholastic education was
not necessary for him.
| Professor Jackson advocated the early train
| ing of children at home, and was opposed to per-
hitting parents to indicate what studies their
children shouldpursuc Such system, he said,
| would require Il separate tutor for each child
| 1t was the glory of our country that the highest
| positions OF distinction, in every department of
| lie, were open to the humbest citizen, and who
could tell what capabilities for progress might
lie dormant in the breast of child These
| germs of greatness might be checked and de.
stroyed by combining his education within the
| narrow bounds that might possibly fit him for
| q special branch of labor.
Professor Baird urged thai the teacher was
not the servant of the people, in the sense that
he was to carry out the wishes of each individu.
al. He was placed in the school to carry out
certain laws, and for their proper execution he
was resposible to higher power, that power to
| q still higher and so on until we come to the
Legislature-the law making power-which is
directly responsible to the people. The teacher
is an autocrat in his province so far as the nrop.
er carrying out ofthc law rs given to him is
concerned.
Professor Newell then took the floor and said
that although unaccustomed to public speak.
ing" yet in response to call from the ladies'
whom he could neverrefusc anything-hewoulC
present their views, i'll three propositions, which
he would undertake to prove. These were:
First-Parents have no legal right to desig
nate what branches their children shall study.
Second-lf they had the legal right they have
not the power to do so.
Third-If they had the legal right and thu
power, they ought not to exercise them.
These propositions were demonstrated mos
clearly and forcibly by Prof Newell.
WEDNESDAY.
The Institute met ut 10 o'clock, A. NJ, and
was opened with prayer by the Rev. 4. NJ Cath
cart. Seyenty-four teachers answered to the
names. After half an hour devoted by Prof
Newell to ascertaining the condition of various
school houses, &C., he gave the teachers som,
valuable instruction in regard to the best meth
cd of teaching the A and B classes to add, sub
tract, divide and multiply objects as far as 90
Adjourned until 2 p M.
AFTERNOON
Called toorder by Prof Newell. Seventy three
teachers answered TO their names. After tn,
customary half hour for asking questions in re-
laton to school houses, books, &C., Professo