Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-07-24

UudU NII. IlOluy llVeu Will Il6l DIS HIS WIG
or mistress.
The witness emphatically said that since
1868 he and the accused had not cohabited
together.
The prisoner was acquitted of the charge.
The Virginia Educational
Society.
The Virginia Educational Society which
has been in session at Norfolk adjourned
on Friday last, and the members took an
excursion to the Capes, attended a review
at Fortress Monroe, and wound up with
an entertainment given at the colored
Normal School at Hampton by the Princi-
pal, General Armstrong. Among the
new members elected at this session Of the
Society was Professor J. J. Ladd. Super
intendent of the Public Schools of Staun-
ton. OF the closing proceedings Of the
Society the correspondent of the Rich
mond "Dispatch," says:
Rev. R. H. Phillips, of the Virginia Fe-
male Institute, of Staunton, then read the
report of the committee ION the propriety
of employing honors and prizes as stimu-
ulants in the process OF education"
The report sketches the history of prizes
from Biblical times, and shows that in ev-
cry age and in every avocation they have
been used 1t admits that there are abus-
es and tendencies to evil in the system, as
there are indeed in nearly everything about
school life, but insists that properly man
aged by a wise teacher they may be large
" obviated. 1t maintains that the prize
has now taken the place of the rod, and
insists that although the logic OF the roo
is easily understood that in this age OF
moral suasion the prize is really a necessi-
ty.
THE VALUE OF PRIZES.
The system will not suit the lazy, igno-
rant, or immoral teacher, but requires the
most careful management by the most
competent teachers. 1t refutes the objea
ton that the system will tend to cultivate
the malevolent feelings of the pupils, and
argues that, if properly managed, just the
allel between the contests for prizes al
school and the contests of after life, and
insists that the system is really a prepara
ton for these after contests. 1t argues
for the system from the rewards offered IL
the Scriptures. and illustrated its work
ings under the observation of the commit
tee. showing that it has had the happlest
effects in stimulating the pupils, and haC
DEVELOPED some beautiful examples o
graceful submission to failure and modest
wearing of honors.
MI. II. L. Davies cordially endorsed The
report from his own experience and obser
Walton.
Mr.. r. L. Carne, of Alexandria, endors
ed the views of the essay, and met objec
lions to the system of prizes. He ha(
found that there was greater difficulty in
preventing the pupils from helping eacl
other than from the envy of each other
He gave interesting incidents illustrating
this position.
DON'T LIKE THEM.
MI. II. S. Petty, of District Of Colum
bia, was opposed to the system OF prizes.
| hard work-the pupils come to look at the
priZe rather than the attachments which
win it, and that after pupils decide that
they cannot attain the prize they cease te
make any effort.
The discussion was interrupted, ant
one of some length had as to making the
resolutions of Rev. Mr.. Phillips, sofferet
last year. on religious instruction in oul
schools, the special order for Il O'CLOCK
| to-day
The Association refused to make it s
| special order.
The discussion of Rev. Mr.. Phillips pa
per being resumed, Professor Webster
earnestly favored the system of prizes
and suggested that some of the evils may
be obviated by giving prizes to d certain
high standard of attainment, that all may
by diligence and attainments each.
Professor Morrisett, of Culpeper, en-
dorsed the report, and gave incidents IL
his own experience illustrating the sys
TEN.
The report was further discussed by Mr.
Carne and MI. Petty, who explained that
his objection was not SO much to a system
of prizes as to the system of offering few
prizes which only few can win.
STANDARD FOR PRIZES.
Rev. Dr. Saunders, of Norfolk, earnest
ly endorsed the position of the last speak
en- He believed i'll prizes, but not in d
system by which one wins at the expense
of another. He earnestly argued that
this tends to develope selfshness and 9th
err bad qualities He would offer prizes tc
all who reach certain standard. Mr.
Saunders enforced his views in an earnest
and telling speech.
Professor J. A. Turner belonged to al
institution (Hollins INSTITUTED which had
never given q medal until two years ago
when the board of trustees had almost
forced them to have two or three medals
He would say that his experience and gen.
eral observation was such as to prepare
him to vote to abolish even these three
medals and to dispense with the system
altogether.
HOW TO USE THE NEWSPAPERS.
Professor S. H. Owens favored the sys-
tenn, and suggested the free use of prin-
ters' ink as obviating the expense OF the
medals. He was accustomed to print ev--
cry week in the daily papers the names OF
those distinguished for scholarship or
good department, and found that this had
an admirable effect both upon the pupils
and the parents. Johnny's mother would
buy the paper and send it to his cousin in
Texas, and as all of the families in Viz
ginia were ''frst families" lin lineal de-
scent from Pocahontas,) and all OF the
families in the other southern States are
kin to these, the papers are widely circu-
lated, and it is regarded a very high honor
for a pupil thus to 'get his name IN the
papers," He commended this system of
rewards and prizes as very economical and
very effective.
At this point it was suggested by a mem
Der that although this discussion was one
of great interest, us much time had been
spent on it as justice to other topics
would allow, and the Association then
passed to consider other reports.
TEACHING GRAMMAR.
Professor Webster then read report
prepared by Mr.. G. D. Mccoy, Principal
of the Deaf, Dumb It Blind Institute of
Staunton, on ''The best Practical Method
of Teaching the Elements of English
Grammar
The report speaks of the difficulty Of
writing on the question, since it has been
often asserted on the floor of the Conven-
ton that we have no English Grammar.
1t would have no textbook at first, but
would haue the nuniI daily tau0ht to