Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-24
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
Interesting Exercises ON Wednesday
Several Important Educational
TOpies Discussed.

SHELBYvILLE, Tenn, July %, 1874.
The morning exercises were opened with
PRAYER and SINGING
The general subject Of school discipline
came UP and was discussed by Prof. Graves,
of Mary Clark Seminary.
How 10 teach primary arithmetic was dis
cusSed, with Prof. Garrett, of Pulaski, as
leader.
This doIe, Prof. Lindsey insisted that
DR.. Wayland was right in banishiDg some
grammar and drudgery from common
schools, and substituting early instruction
in the natural sciences. All pupils should
know these things, he said. Ii made us
feel that in this age Prof. Agassiz was right
in maintaining that IA physical fact is as
scarce as a moral TRUTH" they are each
Gods thoughts. COnchOlogy is the best
TO begin to teach children, because Shells
are plentiful, durable, easily classified, and
beautiful. Science should by all means be
taught to children.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The best method of teaching higher
Arithmetic was we'll discussed. This being
of vital importance, teachers and visitors
paid due attention. Following this, the
important subject Of school discipline was
IItStlllt-u ulSNllSctu Nv otNtldi anu hGAl
settled by Prof. Marks, who said, in sum
ming up, that schools must be governed
and that teacher who cannot find a means
Of governing had better not teach; that
each competent teacher (and none others
ShoGld teach) should govern in his own
way, no one else being competent to die
tate. In case a school grows dull, the
teacher should lead in some form of Cal
isthenicS.
The exercises were enlivened by intro
ducing some declarations by two pleasant
and impressive young ladies.
Some music appropriately closed the ex-
erciSeS, after announcements for the ey-
ening.
EVENING SESSION.
at S:l5 the Institute was opened with
prayer. Prof. Lindsey then, by request,
gave us some good thoughts on the Intelleo-
tual Development of Tennessee. He main
tains that Tennessee has more right to be the
University State than any other, because it
is the focus!of eight States and the recepta-
Gle Of the physical advantages and moral
and intellectual ideas Of North, South,
East and West; that Tennessee has no sec
Ondary position in politics, at the bar, in
the pulpit and at the lannon's mouth, her
sons being brave, honest, wise, patriotic
and noble; that her history should be kept
sacred; through historical lyceum in every
county as adjuncts to the Tennessee His
torical Society; that, for many reasons, this
State should be first in every thing, especi-
ally in her school system, and that every
child should be first in every thing, special
" in her school system, and that every
child should, by the provisions Of the law,
receive an education. This system Ten
neSsee has practiced with success, and this
Tennessee must make her bulwark. II
this be done, twenty years hence Tennessee
will lead in intellectual development, as
she ought to do. 1t is better to be hopeful
than to be be hopeless, and hence he be-
lieved, not idly, but i'm view of facts, that
all this would come and bring 'peace on
earth good will TO men," SPECTATOR.