Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-07-07

duu euTOlltu lutlE udiutS.
The address of last night on " Pri'
mary instruction " was discussed
Rev. S. L. Ameut, of Nashville, was
inclined To criticise the common
school system on account of isolated
einstances of failure in giving primary
pupils a rapid advancement.
Prof Sharp, of Maryville, protested
strongly against such unfair methods
of censure and claimed that under
such rule every good and great I'M
! dertaking would fall to the ground
| Prof. Bennett, of Nashville, urged
the great Importance of parents giving
personal affection to their chriliren' :
advancement in study
Prot. James, of Atlanta, claimed that
failure of result was the fault of indi-
viduals and not of the system.
The discussion was followed by the
address of superintendent Picket, Of
Memphis. He was IA strong advocate
of the public schools. They are doing
good work the world over. He paid
special attention to school govern
meEt. This embraced one Of the main
elements of success. He deprecated
every remaining vestige of the old
driving" system. The law of love
is the only true and successful rule.
Pupils will not have knowledge driven
into them, nor will they be driven to
it. 1t should be the teachers prime
object to implant in the mind
an absorbing thirst for knowledge.
When this is done, the work is accom-
pljshed. The address was able and
convincing, especially when hespeak-
er, with scathing eloquence, referred
to certain city within his knowledge
which annually spent six millions of
dollars for poor drinks and only six
hundred thousand for schools The
former was paid with willingness, the
latter with sore complaint!
In discussion which followed, Prof.
Rains, of the Tennessee School Jour
nal, thought teachers should learn to
govern themselves.
Supt. Caldwell, of Nashville, said
parents expected too much of teachers.
1t was impossible that the teacher
should give pupils both brains and ins
struction. He thought the object of
education is to teach children to inves-
tigate rather than to impress bare facts
upon the mind.
Prof. Graves, OF Winchester, found
success to consist in teaching the child
self-respect, with a recognition of his
personality in class instruction.
Prof. Butler, of Knoxville, attributed
all the difficulties to want of properly
trained teachers. He thought the
graduate of normal schools would not
make mistakes on these points.
Prof. Millburn, of New Market, re-
ferred to the wise mans proverb of
"spare the rod and spoil the child, +"
and claimed that corporal punishment
was in some cases right and necessary.
DR.. Briggs, of the Evanston Univer-
sity, Illinois, followed the discussion
with his address on Common School
Education" He spoke extemporane-
ously and with power. He referred to
the great advantages of the States now
building up schools in having the ex-
perience of those where they are al
ready firmly established. He advoca-
ted unsectarian schools and the CONS
pIete separation of Church and State
in all departments of government.
He gave a fitting rebuke to those
sentimentalists who would force
the name of "God into the
constitution, where the essence of
His truth already abounds so copious-
| ly. Nor did he have more sympathy
for that other class who characterize
our schools as Goddess" because their
peculiar dogmas are not taught. He
would teach the great principles of
morality, and nothing more. He
claimed the right of the State to en-
force compulsory education on the
ground of self-protection. He con-
tended for the exclusion of foreign
languages from the public school, in
order to greater homogeneity of our
Tho 10 Il oil
would exclude as not being generally
NAL schools, but opposed State Uni
versity, because it can only be very
restricted in benefits conferred, and is
liable to fall under political control.
DR.. Harris followed with few re.
marks in favor of German in the pub
lie schools in particular cases. He
showed how by being taught in con-
nectiOn with English, it would break
up the German private schools where
the German is taught exclusively, and
in that way produce more homogene.
| ity than otherwise.
This ended the practical work of the
convention, . the whole programme
! having been completed with the eX-
ception of the popular addresses from
distinguished statesmen who failed in
their engagements to be present.
! A committee on permanent organ
ization reported fsvorably, and the
Association resolved to meet next year
at Memphis, as you have been iu-
formed by telegraph. The present
officers were continued, and instructed
to draft a constitution to be considered
next meeting.
An Executive Committee. consisting
of Messrs. Pickett and Mitchell, OF
Memphis, DIR. Lindsey, of Nashville
and Prof. Butler, of Knoxville, was
appointed.
A resolution to petition the next
Congress to distribute the proceeds
from sales of the public lands amor g
the States for educational purposes
was passed also a resolution urging
county superintendent and friends OF
popular education to do all in their
power to hold institutes during the
summer, since there is no general
| fund for this purpose.
The other resolutions were of the
usual complimentary character, in
Guiding thanks to the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia railroad, for