The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-07-31
TEACHERS, INSTITUTE.

Under authority of the State Superin-
tendent of Public Instruction, one of
the Teachers Institutes for Middle Ten
nessee met in the Masonic hall OF Column
bia last Monday afternoon at 0 clock
Capt. w. r. Garrett, Of Pulaski, took
the chair and explained the object of the
meeting, and the necessity of organizing
a permanent Institute for this section of
the State In obedience to this sugges-
ton, the ballot was taken and resulted
in the election of the following officers:
ESQ. James H. Wilkes, Superintendent
of Public Instruction of Maury County,
President; DR.. VIM. A. Smith, of the
Columbia Athenaum, Vice President;
Prof. ]. S Beecher, of Columbia, Secre-
tary A w. Stockell, Esq, Treasurer;
Prot. George W. Campbell, of Lynnville,
Postmaster.
The newly elected officers took their
places and proceeded to business. Owing
to the lateness of the hour and the time
consumed in organizing, no morning ses-
sion was held accor ling to the pro-
gramme, but Prof Garrett introduced
the afternoon session by an able presen-
tation of the subjects of reading and spell
ing, explaining the chart and card
methods in a forcble and convincing
manner, as far preferable to the oral
method. The result was a debate in
which Prof. McCorkle, of CulleOka,
Prof. W. r. Webb, Prof Mcknight, DR..
w. A. Smith, Profs Middleton, and F. H.
Smith, participated.
NIGHT SESSION.
At eight o'clock OF Monday evening
the Institute assembled. Prof. Garrett
being called upon, gave a short and i'm.
pressive address on the object method
of teaching Then, at the special request
of Capt. Garrett DR.. VIM. A Smith con-
tinued, with an illustrative discourse up
on the objective method of teaching Eng
lish composition, giving the results of his
successful experience in teaching this
department of learning. Prof. II. II.
Smith, of Shelbyville, Tenn, having ar
rived by the night train, was called upon
and spoke at some length upon Method in
general During the afternoon about
twenty members we're enrolled, and the
President, on motion, appointed the fol
lowing committees: By-laws-Prof.. j. S.
Beecher, DR.. VIM. A. Smith, and Prof.
W. r. Webb. ResolutiOns-Prots. Ham,
ilton, Mcknight, Paschall. McCorkle, and
Mr.. Stockell.
When the Institute was opened, Prof.
II. II. Smith called for class, and the
teachers responded Immediately. Prof
Smith then proceeded with his discussion
of geography, holding that in teaching
this study, the instructor should proceed
from the old to the new, from the known
to the unknown; beginning with the school
room, proceeding to the town, the
county. the State, the United States, etc
The Professor made the exercises inter
esting by the interspersion Of stories
about travels, incidents OF history, ana
biography. President Wilkes being call
ed out, the Vice President, Or. VIM. A.
smith, occupied the chair, while PROBES
-sor Garrett continued the subject by pre-
senting map-drawing as an improving
exercise of the mind: the outlines or
boundaries of states and counties, the
courses of streams and mountain ranges,
and other information gained, were
shown to be more lasting than that simply
committed to memory. The Captain