Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-23
THE TEACHERS, INSTITUTE.
Middle Tennessee Educators i'm COun.
ciI-Highiy Interesting Exercises
on Tuesday.

ciI-HighIy Interesting Exercises
ON Tuesday.
To the Union and American:
SHELBYvILLE, July y, 1874 AT 10
o'clock A. NJ to-day the meeting was cali
ed to. order by President Dean. a large
and approaching audience was present.
Prof. Smith, of Shelbyville, delivered a
highly Instructive lecture on the best meth
cd Of teaching geography. All those pres
ent, both teachers aud spectators, kept per-
feet silence, and seemed to be highly enter
tanned with this address We wish we
could give you the Professors ideas in full.
but, as this is impossible. Suffice it to saw,
that, in teaching the geography of every
country, one should tell some historical fact
in connection with il, in order to make A
lasting impression on the mind of
the pupil. He recommends to
all teachers to pay special attention to
"Map drawing His reasons for this
were very ftrcibly impressed upon the
minds Of the aud ence, by calling two
little girls not more than ten wears old to
the black board, and requesting them to
draw the outlines of the map of some
country. One drew very accurately the
map Of Georgia, which She represented by
dots and lines, the most important cities,
rivers, and mountains Of the State. The
other drew very correctly the map of
Europe, an which she represented ali the
principal divisions, the principal cities and
mountains. Twelve months AGO these
children knew nothing Of drawing maps.
They were taught in the Shelbyville High
SchOO'. This speaks volumes fJr the meth
cd Of teaching that Prof. Smith advocates.
Prof. Garrett also made some remarks on
this subject. He evidenced thorough ac-
quaintance with it and threw out many
practical hints, of which it is to be hoped
that the teachers who haze not gisen the
subject sufficient thought will take adyan-
tage.
The next exercise was the opening Of
the QueTy-bOx. This is one of the most
pleasing features IN the exercises, and is
surely not lacking in profit. A number of
questions are written and put into a box,
aud are drawn out and read by the Secre-
tary. These are discussed by the members
Of the Institute. Many of the discussions
are earnest and animated, and doubtless
prove profitable TO both participatOis and
hearers. Prominent in the discussion are
Prof. Graves and DIR. /. \. Jones. They
deal in minute and difficult points, aud
evidently show that our language is Of.en
badly abused.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION
was opened with a lecture by Prof. Smith
on the subject of .'Grammar and Compost
ton" Profs. Garrett and Graves also took
part in this discussion. They claimed that
children may commence early the study OF
these branches, if properly instructed; bit
yOu must give them no hard or technical
terms, teaching them by plain and simple
words. If YOU want them to write a com
position, give them subject that they can
comprehend. Give a child ] child's sub
jet, then YOU will have a child's compost
ton. All difficult terms and ambiguous
expressions are carefully investigated by
Prof. Graves. lie believes in speaking
correctly and plainly TO children.
TIE NIGHT SESSION
was opened with a short address by Prof
Linckby on the subject Of "SchOOl DiScip-
line His remarks were Appropriate and
instructive. He las studied this subject
with care and knows whereof he speaks.
lie was followed by State Superintendent
Fleming, who highly entertained the au-
dience for about forty minutes. lie spoke
of the political aspect of the country, and
showed in a very forcible manner the disaS-
trous effects of the Civil Rights bill on the
public school system. He thinks the school
law Of Tennessee is just such an one as
every State ought 10 have, and recommends
that :he people Of this State act in concert
under the present law. for should it be re-
pealed, probably something worse even
than the Civil Rights bill might be fasten-
ed upon us. Judging from the applause
his speech made a highly favorable imprus-
sion. SPECTATOR