The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-07-06
REPORT CT THE MANITOWOC GO.
TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
FRIDAY EVENING, June 16, IS7

Owing to the moist state of the atmo-
was anticipated gathered in the Assem-
bly, Room of the Second Ward Schoul
house at the time appointed for the
opening exercises of the Association
AS il was nearly time for the lecture,
a motion was made and seconded, to the
effect that matters of business be post
poned until the following day. The
vote i'll the affirmative being unanimous,
the lecturer was introduced to the audl-
ence by the President of the Association
The highest compliment we can offer
| the speaker is with regard to his happy
faculty of attracting and holding the
attention and sympathy of his entire an
dience. The lecture abount!ed in pleas
antries fine thoughts, choice language,
and beautiful figures
! How can we desire to be otherwise
when ignorance is such a bliss?
Meeting adjourned to meet ct o'clock
A. NJ. Saturday, June II.
Outside the weather is very unpro-
pitious. The nNnl1er of teachers limit
ed. All of those, however, whose names
appear on the programme are present,
which argues favorably for the success
OF the meeting.
The President made some remarks rel
alive to finances, and the probabilities
that many Of the county teachers were
detained on account Of bad weather. He
also suggested, in order to occupy de-
ficiencies i'll the programme, several sub
jects for discussion, viz. High Schools,
What Should be Taught ID Country
Schools, &c.
The conductor of the educational col
umn, who is just about to step down
and divest himself of editorial honors,
expressed himself briefly with regard to
his past duties and the lack of assistance
he has received, even after urgent APP
peals TO those who pretend to be inter
ested In educational matters. Thele was
one exceptional case, our present Supt.
OF Public Instruction. M. Barns sug-
gested the ACCESSIBILITY of continuing the
column, and that, if properly conducted,
it could be made power for good in
Manitowoc county.
Miss Bacon read well written paper,
and we would fain have tarried forever
in the idcalistic world she so gracefully
pictured, and not in the one which is so
real and so full of unsatisfactory results.
This paper occasioned quite q lengthy
discussion.
Mr.. Kirwan spoke of the lack of text
books containing valuable information
for teachers, that this lack is not observ-
able III any other profession, that if two
thirds of the discussions in modern text
books were omitted, they would be OF
more benefit to teachers. He also sug-
gested that teachers should encourage
pupils i'll asking proper questions, and
not resort to Stumbling" when Questions
are put which the teacher can not answer
without considering or reviewing the
matter himself.
Mr.. Barns spoke of the resolutions
invariably made by teachers after each
examination, that they will have better
CT ryificates tie next time. Headvocated
strongly analytical reading as a means
of enabling teachers to possess them
selves of facts III science, history, etc,
which will be of Invaluable good to them.
He said that the discipline received fl, m
thorough preparation for our daily du-
ties is equally as beneficial for those con-
templating examinations, rs studying at
home for the same purpose.
Mr.. Maggie believed that the features
of a good recitation consisted not in Ger
batiN2 reciting, but in ideas obtained
from text books and expressed in the
pupils own words as far as possible.
That the latter is indicative Of thought,
and shows that the pupil is master of
ideas and not merely anoads. Teachers
must not be specialists, but must work
generally. A teacher must be master Of
the situation and understand what he is
endeayoring to impart to his pupils, as
the same sympathy exists between teach
er and pupils as between q speaker and
his audience, -protionsions viii not pass
for genuine thought or knowledge.
Mr.. Walker spoke of several faults he
had noticed in visiting schools; one was
a lack of plan on the part of the teacher.
Another, want Of enthusiasm on the
part of pupils which was due perhaps
to similar want on the part of the
teacher. He said the same lack was
verified in the present appearance of the
Association, which depression of spirits
be accounted for i'll this way,-that the
results of the Convention at Cincinnati
were not altogether satisfactory.
The next exercise, Claw Making" was
very clearly analyzed on the blackboard
by Mr.. Hussey. In his predatory re-
marks he gave rs one Of his reasons for
selecting this subject, that it was a stand
ing question i'll examinations. During
this exercise 4 little excitement WAS
aroused, and we saw CLEAN of the
lacking enthusiasm breaking over the
Association the opponents waZed warm
when just at critical moment an apt
quotation from Story, by one who ought
to know, adjusted the disputed point
amicably. Some Of the well defined
points were: = How bill becomes law;
how amendments sre made; reasons for