Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-03-06
A Peep into the Teachers Institate.
To the Editor Of the Ledoer.

. Peep into the Teachers Tnstitate.
To the Editor Of the Ledger;
1t is really astonishing to what an ex-
tent kumbugging is carried on in these
times. Those who can deceive the peO-
pie by making outward appearances,
which are wholly at variance with the
inward reality, are the successful ones ia
most all the departments Of life. OF
course there are honorable exceptions
70 this assertion; but such are like
angels visIts-few and far between.
vas more fully impressed with this
fact while attending the Teachers Insti-
tute than ever before. In the first place
| wish to say that | am not opposed to
conventions of this kind, for | think
Shen they are properly conducted that
they are OF infinite value to the teacher
who may have an opportunity of attend
ing them, In Teachers Institutes there
should be an interchange Of thought be-
tween the teachers as to the best plans or
systems for teaching and government.
But aside from remarks made b. Messrs.
Davis, Shropshire, and an essay read by
Miss Conway, there was very little said
OF done which might be considered Of
real practical benefit to any teacher.
The Teachers Institute which was held
in this city week before last seemed to-
I be wholly m~ohopolizGd in the interest of
Pickett and a few of his favored ones.
Miss iewallen drilled a class in reading.
With th~cexception of one little boy the
reading wa q not above ordinary, especially
when we consider the fact that they have
been under he instruction for two years
or more. Most of them, in trying to
avoid reading too rapidly, went to the
other extreme and read 10 a drawing
manner that was truly ludicrous. This
lady when asked what system she had
used in teaching her class to read could
not tell. Although it was announced
several days before that Miss Lewallen
would give an exhibition Of her class,
Dir. Pickett said she was taken by sur
prise and was not prepared for it.
Miss Mays class-drili Ou geography
was not very extra. Ore pupil in draw
ing France put it in ftCo forms Of Kan
sas, when it takes three Miss May
asked the pupil to tell her the width oil
France. As she did not reply very
promptly, Miss May said ut is four hun
bred miles wide" This is not correct,
France, from its extreme western point
TO it's eastern boundary, is very near six
hundred miles wide. The pupils also
showed a wonderful lack of the correct
pronunciation OF names which occur in
geography.
A certain teacher MRS, Smith had on
exhibition a map of the Western Hemis
phere and a map Of North America,
which she said was drawn by one of her
pupils for the Centennial. The worL
was donei in such an artistic manner thai
it led me to believe there was something
wrong. Upon inquiry Learned that thii
pupil has been taking lessons in drawing
fer some time from an artist who no.
only instructed but assisted her in pre-
pairing these maps for the Centennial
This work will go to the Centennial as tn,
work o. this pupil under the instruction
Of her teacher in the public school
when in reality she has received lessons
iu map drawing from a first-class artist
Mrs. Morgan.
| mention these facts in order to SHOW
what frauds are perpetrated upon thu
people. ONE VINO VAS THERE.