Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-04-29
Dooa2w1Ic CORRESPONDENCE,

'N''N'~AS . :" vi Nj ItPOIt Oi tie IOWA
County Teachers Institute, held in
this village last week.
The Institute exercises commenced
on the l9sn inst. rs per previous
announcements, ander the able man
agcment OF Prot. Duncan McGrexor.
Fhe number Of Il ttachers in a tend
ance is said to have been larger
than that Of last year-forty-iive
names being enrolled. 1t may be
safely asserted, however, that not
more than two-thirds OF this num-
Der were in attendance throughout
the entire session, the ene-third
having merely made com.ttin.eu-
ta,y cisu OF one or two days. This
fact OF paurity OF numbers strikes
US as being nh lniav raMe feature
OF the institute, and as rejecting
somewhat on the intelligence anu
progressiveness of our teachers
Surely, out Of one hundred aud
scvcnty-fve applicants for certiti.
Gates, more than thirty have been
found seeking the best and latest
thought on those subjects pertain
ing to their vocation.
The work of the institute was
necessarily and properly, eliment-
ary aud technical, consisting Of ex-
ercises and drill in those branches
usually taught in our district
schools in addition to which were
given very instructive lectures on
the theory aud practice OF teaching
Perspecuity, tlioroughness aud
method characterized, in a high de-
gree, Prof. McGregor's instruction.
He was particularly happy iu the
use Of appropriate Illustrations, Of
which he seemed to have an i,ex-
haustable fund.
On Thursday Hon. Edward Scar
ing dropped in and delivered q
brief but quite feIicitous address.
Supt. Watkins gave an occasional
talk to the teachers in refereuce to
their work. Quite a sprinkling of
citizens might have been seen to-
ward the close of the session. So
far as those present were concerned
the institute was a success.
A very noticeable feature OF the
institute was scholarly address de-
Iivered by the Hon. Edward Scar
ing, on Thursday evening at the NJ.
f. Church He commenced with
the assertion that We are born into
the world bundle of latent capac.
tiles. Our surroundings in iii,
have much to do with the develop
ment of our faculties. In order t.
Il true culture must be had til,
influences of religion, morality an,
in its broadest sens,
While, with but one exception, th
facilities of our Stat
are not less than those of othel
western states, still they are NJ
greater. He here portrayed in
very ludicrous manner the condition
of more than one-half Of our district
schools. speaking ia scathing sar-
casm OF nepotism and favoritism
which, like blight had fallen Oh
many localities and were fast ac-
complisliing their work of destruc-
ton. Education should claim the
attention, occupy the Thought, and
reach the pocket equally with other
interests. Men make piIgrimages
and lavishly expend their money
for stock to improve their breed
Of swine and cattle. This is
all right. But what better or sfer
investment than to exp nd money
in educating our children. There
must be progress in education We
see progress in every other direc-
ton. Our state should not always
depend on the eastern states TO
supply her with educated profess
sional men. She should make her
own doctors, lawyers and preachers.
He spoke OF the superiority OF the
Pruesian and Austrian system of
schools over that Of tie United
States, quoting from Mr.. Phiibrick
of Boston. He also discussed the
subject Of education in connection
with our public. Believed that~an
ignorant suffrage in the South had
much to its trouble;
cited South Carolina as an eXalnpe.
Above everything else Democracy
must possess intelligence, without
which it cannot long survive. Very
much more was said to which We
have not referred. The address /
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