Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-06-24

studies ii causes close examination
OF other subjects and he will advance.
He gave him list Of the studies he
classed as elementary studies. There
is woeful neglect in this DEPARTMENT.
The Jest teacher il he who il rigor
ously exact. When new pupil in the
higher schools is found TO be exact in
the elementary branches, he will soon
advance in the higher branches.
1t Is not his opinion that men would
not accomplish more IL more thorogh-
ly educated. Yet as a general thing
men, with "A thorough common ed
ucation, are leaders in the cause of cd
ucation and have worked themselves
up higher.
The source of support il the next
question. The people by equitable Us.
sessmeut are the supporters of the
schools, hence, the people should have
free instruction in the elementary
branches. Only 3! per cent Of the
scholars of the Boston free schools be.
come members of the high schools. 4
small per cent, yet theexpeuse OF the
high school isenormous.
Is the common benefit equal to the
common outlay? The mechanic and
farmers can not spare the time to at
tend the high schools. The common
schools ran not be maintained only by
the people Therefore, let the system
be adopted that will give the most
common benefit.
Elementary schools are moral and
political necessity, but schools OF a
higher standard are of incalculahle
value, yet they may be cIassed with
the privileges, and are only open to u
few. He held that in our country
where schools of any kind are, in the
minds of many, hardly necessity
when the fund is small, he thinks it
is foolish to attempt free high schools.
School houses must be- erected, teach
ers prepared, and the public mind
must be aroused. Time will accom-
plish this. The State must continue n
system of free elementary schools, aud
success will be inevitable, but until
this has been accomplished, he thinks
the free schools should be confined to
the elementary studies.
Prof. Presnell, of Washington coun-
ty, stated that he was very much
pleased with the paper, especially the
point in regard to the importance of
thorough elementary training He
desired that prompt attention Toe given
to this matter. some thirty colleges
and institutions of learning in this
State have failed, from the fact that
they worked upon the principle that
thorough elementary education was
not necessary to entitle the applicant
to an entrance into the institution.
Let the public schools lay II thorough
foundation, and the Super>tructurp viii
take care of itself. \ icw months ago
young mau came 20 him for eXsmi
nation as teachrr, who was "A IIad-
uate of a college ~ AN adjoining State.
He made Il perfect failure in the ele-
mentary branches, but said he could
90 through with an examination in
the higher branches. H. did not even
ask for cert ticaie.
Prof. Sharp advocated thorough pri-
mary training un the principle OF
economy, aud illustrated his reasOu,
giving his experience in his school in
regard to children who had received
thorough primary education and
those not, and how ,hey advanced in
the higher braucies. He was Of the
opinion that the very best teachers
should be put in The primary depart
ment. Pupils should be trained well
ut the beginning. He endorsed the
paper read fully, and especially in re-
gard to the moral tendency of our edu.
cation. Many of the scholars attending
public schools are of vicious parents
and he maintained that teachers should
pay "A great deal OF attention to the
moral instruction of their scholars, that
they may leave the school with honol
to themselves and to the community
Prof. II. II. Smith listened with
] nj n nd
| cially pleased with the point in REGARD
to the thoroughneas of primary edu.
cation. He believed that with proper
attention 10 this, in ten years there
would bp ten times the demand fol
academies. In New England nearly
every cross roads has an academy. II
was caused by the people having a
| taste for knowledge. He thought that
in cities high schools were necessary.
He thought they were worth all they
cost ~ an incentive to pupils in tht
| lower branches. 1t would keep tn,
| pupils in their places. There was toe
great tendency on the part of chill,
dTeu to leave schools,
! Prof GofOrth, Of Messy Greek, sale
| he was we'll pleased with the paper o
Prof. Bartlett, and liked the speeches
of the gentlemen following him. he
| thought the question was preparation
for good citizenship. he liked the idea
of thOroughness in the primary de.
partmeut. You must make your pu.
pill see clearly everything you teach
him, and never let him advance to
another point until he does see the one
in question clearly. One of the defects
of the private schools is they hasten
through their studies. and often they
/ turn out some awful fools. They leave
the schools without one grain of COM
non sense. lie hoped that all present
would feel the necessity of thorough
ness in the primary departments. He
preferred one who was we'll Yerspd in
the spelling book and a few readers,
than to have one with a partial knowl-
edge of these branches "a well As OF
the higher ones.
Prof. r. II. Brown, of Jacksboro',
represented the school interest of
Campbell county, During the last
session he had charge of the academy
at Jacksboro'. The people expected too
much of the free schools. Every young
man coming to this school desires TO
study some particular higher branch,
hence the teacher has not the time to