Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-07-15
The Educational Convention.


July, l4.-On the re assembling Of the Educa-
tlonal Association at p w., yesterday, COL
Venabe, from the committee on new members,
reported the names Of W. W. Valentine. of
Richmond, e. j. Scott, OF Eastoo, Nd, and
Rev j. Ii. Turner, Of Backsburg, as active
members one lady as an associate member
and Mr.. W. LeConte Stevens, of the Savannah,
Ca, High School, and Rev. H. J. Morton,
Superintendent Of Pubic Schools in Knoxville,
Tenn, as honorary members, aud they were all
unanimously elected.
Rev. }. Vim. JoueS, from the committee on
nomination Of officers then reported the names
given iu yesterday : letter. and after the sub
stitutioo OF that OF L. NJ 'B4cklord. of the
Episcopal High School, for Mr.. ". Q. English,
as Corresponding Secretary at the request of
the last named gentleman, the entire ticket
was unanimously elected.
Dr. Ruffuer, 10 returning thanks fer the
honor conferred upon him, took OCCASION to say
he was not uuch OF parliameutaran, and that
were the Association anything but small and
quiet one, he would, undoubtedly, refuse it.
lie supposed the recent heavy rains had cou
trlbuted, With other causes, to render the meet
Ing sUa!l one, but 1t was, perhaps better one
Way, that 1t should be so. He remem bered
once attending synod when a proposition Was
made TO divide 1t :; very WORTHY old brother
rose aud advocated it, his sole ground beiur
that II the body was smaller be would have
chance to speak sometimes whereas, as it
Was though be had been member niue Years,
be had never before obtained the hoor. He
hoped the members wou;1 not do as had some.
times been doue, plan for going homc before
the meeting ended. They were on one of the
high places Of the earth the waters here ran
lnto Albermarle Sound, those few miles farth-
er west, into the Mississippi. The ridge be-
tween this aud BIacksburg, which constitutes
the water shed is called the .Alleghamy, but 10
geological formation 1t was not part OF that
mighty chalO, and he suggested, laughingly,
the appointment of committee 10 ascertain to
what 1t did belong. 10 conclusion, he re relat-
cd an anecdote of relative of Henry Clay,
who much resembed him, but, on being told
OF 1t, remarked that they made their living
quite differently, Heory by his head, he being
d dancing master, by his heels. The application
was that as the young people wanted the ball
room at night, for dancing, the Association had
better give them their turn, aud not hold
night session.
Mr. J. ?. Mcclure, jr., of McGuire' School
Richmond, then read ooe Of the best essays to
which it has been my good fortune ever to
listen, on Method and Discipline, in lover
schools. 1t was discussed by Mes<rs W. O.
English, w. l. :Conte Stevens, Of Georgia, II
ii. Harris, q. II. Swami, Principal of the Flu.
castle Public Schools, q. w. Taylor, Of the
Montgomery Public School and R. l.. Carue;
the last named giving the result OF some expert
meots he had made as 10 the value of keeping
10 after school as remedy for bad lessons.
The remarks of Mr. Tay lor, who is very old
gentleman, were OF rather rambling character,
but abounded 10 quaint expressions which kept
the meeting couGulsed with laughter Dr..
RuHner spoke of him as one who had TAUGHT
most faithfully fifty years with the siurr inter.
val OF the time wheu, though mueh above mill
tary age, he had followed his sou, captalu III
the Confederate army to battle, and served his
country faithfully to the end.
A report 90 Physical Culture 10 Schools for
boys and girls, written by Rev. r. H. Phillips,
Of the Virginia Finale Institute, Stauntou,
with 40 addepdum on Calisthenics by WIN. \.
Simmons, Of the Norfolk Public Schools, was
| then read by Wm. ROOM Terry, of the New
London Academy, Botetourt Co., and discuss.
cd by him, and Mr. q. W. Taylor, Rev. Ii. L.
Martin aud Prot. e. S. Martu Of the Virginia
Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Blacks
burg Prot Martin spoke strongly of the
good effects and drill and labor at tina. school
and made some laughable remarks about PEG
pie who brought their children up Ia Sunday
clothes, with lrjunctous never to play in the
cutters. lie saw no use for artificial exercise
for children, for he thought the sooner the
whole race died out the better for the rest of
mankind.
Ga the re- assembling of the Association this
mn
and Prot. Julius K Drayer, Of Roanoke Col.
members Mrs o. S. Pollock and Mrs. H. Z.
Donovan, of the Montgomery Female College,
associate members Mrs. Annie l.. Walker,
of the Manchester High School, having been
so elected yesterday, aud Rev. \. j. Bledsoe,
OF Baltimore, are honorary members.
Mir. VIM. Ii. Pleasants, of Hyliin's Institute,
Botetourt, then read an essay on The CON-
paratlVe Value of Linguistic and Scientific
Studies written by Maj. R. w. Jones, of Mt.
Washington College, and one on the same sub.
Jcct by himself, both Of wnch were ably DIS
cussed by DR.. Biedsoe Hon. W. H. Ruffuer,
from the Committee on obstruction 10 Mental
and Moral Science" after explaining that Rev,
DR.. Fitzpatrick, who Was to have written that
part OF the report relating to colleges, was disa-
bed. read very excellent report on Moral
framing 10 Primary Schools, written by him.
self. 1t was not discussed, because the hour
for the address of Hon. r. q. H. Keaue, Rec.
tor Of the University Of Virginia had arrived.
This was magnificent address, to which the
limits OF my letter can do no justice, and COPY
OF which was requested for publication.
FlDELIs.
A STRANGE DANCING MASTER. The edu
cation OF the agricultural Lahore is matter OF
deep interest at the present moment; his
friends will therefore be pleased to hear that in
Scotland be is learning to dance and curious
question as to whether ploughmeu may act as
dancing, masters came before the Sheriff
Court at Perth on last Friday when Michael
Darcy, late ploughman on farm near Aucb
lerarder, claimed cps from his former EN-
ployer on the ground that he had been illegally
and unjustlhably dismissed from Service on the
29,h ultlmo. The farmer admitted that he had
dismissed the complainant, but denied that
such dismissal was illegal. Darcy he stated,