The true northerner., 1874-11-06

ing In tho High School room OF the schooi
building. the Institute was duly opened af p
m. by Prof. Putnam Of Ypsilanti. After afew
remarks appropriate to the occasion, ana upon
the arrival Of Supt. Briggs, the enroiiment ana
classification Of those present was next In or
der, consuming most of the remainder OF the
afternoon. Fifty-four teachers were In attend
lnce on the first enrolment.
Pr I. Putnam delivered the evening lecture
in which he spoke of the tendency OF mankind
to strive at the accomplishment OF great results
in life, aud ignoring too frequently the less
prominent demands OF society, which, IN real
ity have the most weight IN the aggregate OF
human happiness. The lecture was very
fine literary production.
Tuesday oct, 2O.-After completing organ
ization, the following were selected as COM
mittee on observations and resolutions
Gentlemen, IL. III. Jennings, b. L. Braddock,
LADIES, Mary Wheaton. Eunice Van Hise,
Vamie Miles, A. j. Irce was chosen Sec.
The Michigan School code, In refereece to the
rights and duties Of Teachers, their relation to
School Boards, keeping records &c, was brief
ly presented by Supt. Briggs.
Orthoepy was the next subject, presented by
Prof. Putnam, with number of illustrations
using common words.
Supt. Briggs took class of "httle readers"
and gave his method OF instructing them in the
lesson, correcting many common faults and
dropping many valuable hints. Civil Gov
ernment-the superintendent first urged the
necessity of more general attention to this
oat Il IL IL
exercise If it could not be made direct study
Of the School. Prof. Putnam in presenting
Orthography, indicated several methods Of con-
ducting classes. He advised beginning with
familiar words, selecting objects from the
reading lesson. lie opposed the system of
spelling abstracty. Supt. Briggs, while con-
duchng class in Crals Grammar, said he would
following five grand principles. viz obedience,
order, cleanliness, close observation and correct
expression, always engaging the pupils in ia
mihar conversation, and observing and correct
ing the faulty expressions OF her pupils.
At o'clock p. M, the ASSOCIATION was favor
ed with an essay by &, d. Lawton. The Speak
er held that high mental traing, compreben-
sive knowledge and thorough work were essen
cial to ensure stability III our form of Govern
mept.
The evening lecture was given by Supt.
Briggs, subject, Our School System, during
which the speaker recommended, especially in
the more populous counties, the combining the
| school districts into township organizations
thus making the school Of township more
systematic, and reducing the. number Of dis
trict officers in the State.
Wednesday, 2l.-The roll this morning indi-
Gated the presence OF seventy-four teachers.
The Word-Method was divided between Mr..
Briggs and Prof. Putnam, each preferrlng a
modified or dIluting OF the pure system as pro
nounced by Prof Webb.
Prof. Putnam, in Map Drawing would cause
beginners to locate objects on the Teachers
desk, then require outlines Of first, the school
room, then the yard, the neighborhood and so
extend the exercise.
Supt. Briggs organized a class In writing
and spelling, and gave several methods OF con-
ductlng such exercises. Phonetics were pre-
sented by A. j. Pierce. He tabulated the ele-
mentary sounds on the black board. Having a
class drill on the same, and urged upon the
Teachers more attention to the subject.
Under the head of Teaching Common
Things, Supt. Briggs offered valuable suggee-
tons on letter writing, and demonstrated the
United States land money. Deal as little as
possible with technlcalities with beginners, re-
marked Supt. Briggs in the presentation of
text book grammar. Prepare scheme en-
bodying the essential points that you wish
your pupils to learn.
Rudiments Of Geography were next present.
ed by Prof. Putnam.
Physiology, its importance to the rSsliare vi
humanity, and method OF its presentation to
the School were duly set forth by Supt. Briggs.
a. j.. Iced read the essay at o'clock p. M,
entitled "The Classi ication of knowledge"
The Speaker claiming first, that classification
aids the memory by the associations of like or
kindred ideas Secondly, it defines knowledge
or makes 1t definite, and lastly, it developes
the mind to more systematic thinking.
The theory Of grouping together the principle
points OF the daily lesson was warmly COM
mended by several present.
In the evening Judge Lawton's Educational
Aphorism" was listened to with marked atten-
ton.
Thursday, Oct, 22.-The younger portion Of
the Teachers could not but be deeply interest
ed in the first topic Of the day, "School Organ
ization," as presented by Mr.. Briggs. The
first day in School, Devotional Exercises, sing
ing and the Importance OF making the school
room attractive were ably touched upon. The
Superintendent dwelt with much earnestness
upon the benefit which arises from regular and
we'll directed rhetorical exercises, giving an
amusing incident in his own experience.
With a number of specimens selected from
the School Museum, Prof. Putnam illustrated
the manner OF giving Oral Instruction in Nat
ural History, especially impresslng the import
ance of cultivating the habit of close observa-
ton.
The same gentlemen gave shcrt exercise
on Business Forms, dwelling particularly on
the much Used and much abused instrument,
the Promssory Note.
Word analysis was elucidated by Professor
Putnam, followed by the Superintendent on
English Analysis We overheard the remark