New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-08
Meeting Of Teachers Of the Public Schools.

for the purpose of discussing questions of
and after an interesting session it was
agreed to call q meeting of all the teachers
for a more complete deliberation of the
same subjects. In response to the call OF
the division superintendent, all the teachers
assembled yesterday at eleven o'clock in
the assembly room of the Boys High
School.
The meeting was called to order by Su.
perintendent Boothby. After the calling of
the roll and the reading of the minutes of
the last meeting, the superintendent ad-
dressed the meeting. thanking the members
for their prompt attendance, counseling
earnestness in the work, and a permanent
organization, with the view of perpetuating
the life of the association.
The duet "In the Starlight was then
sung by Misses Annie Ludwick and Annie
Cotton, Mr.. Cardona accompanying them
on the piano.
The music done, the superintendent again
addressed the meeting explaining its OBJ
ject and referring to that portion of the
school law which enjoins upon division
supe1intendents the duty OF calling teach
ers meetings at least four times in the year
and of holding a teachers institute once a
year. He referred to the last general meet
ing of teachers in 1872, and charac terized
it as having been too abstract in its Charac-
ter and too much occupied in listening to
tho Of ri hoH
visitors, and hoped that this meeting would
be less formal, more colloquial and conse-
quently more practical in its nature and re-
suits. He considered it a matter of surpr ise
| that our schools were 50 successful as We
find them, the teachers not having the
benefit of an educational journal, teach
| ers' association or even Normal school.
! The superintendent then alluded to some
| defects in the disciplinary manag ement
which he had observed IN his rou nds OF
visitation, and, having expressed his thanks
| to the teachers for the faithful and Jealous
performance of their duties, and his sym
pathy with them in their deprivation of
their hardly earned and scanty pay, he re-
! quested Professor Seaman, the princi pal Of
the Boys High School, to address the as
sembiy.
Professor Seaman occupied about twenty
minutes in his rem srks upon the Importance
| of the teachers association; and in the
polished language Of the scholar, he de
picted with much elegance and force the
great necessity there was for its establish
ment and the fruitful results which would
| tlowfrom its continuance.
Mr.. Stoddart. superintendent of the sec
ond division, favored the meeting with an
account of the sue cessful operation of the
nestly insisted upon perseverance in the
coed work; and among other suggestions
of practical nature. he requested an
answer to the question, How long should
it take an average teacher to teach child
to read!" To this query, he hoped to have
various answers at the next meeting.
Mr. Z. Heath next spoke, as a representa-
tive of the School Board, and assured the
teachers that they might rely upon the
countenance and aid of him self and all the
members of the board in their efforts to
promote the interests of their profession.
A debate then sprang up upon the subjec,
of the classification Of the schol lars, in which
Rev. Mr. B. Wayne. p,iaciDal Of the Bien
vile School; Mr.. George Gordon, principa
Of the Jackson Boys School; Mr.. A. S
Leche principal of the Keller School, Mr.
Beane, principal Of the Fisk School, and
many other teachers took part. Mr.. Wayne
in an address conspicuous for clearness Of
style and thorough knowledge Of the sub
ject of discussion, plainly and lucidly
pointed out some of the radical defects il
the grading of our schools. The remarks
of Mr.. Wayne made deep impression upor
the meeting, and certainly deserve the
serious attention of those charged with the
administration of the schools. It must b.
said, however, that Mr.. Wayne confined
himself to pointing to existing evils, with
out stating their causes or proposing thei
remedies.
Upon the question OF holding but ont
class in the principals rooms thera existed
diversity of opinion Miss NJ. A. Wicke
|
Gordon and others two.
Mr.. Leche considered that d supernumer
ary might be usefully employed on tw'
days in the month to relieve the principal
so as to allow the latter an opportunity o
spending the day in examining the Othe
departments of his school, and moved tina
petition to this effect be presented to th'
board through the superintendent.
Miss Lambourne and Mrs. S. E. Cooney
thought it unnecessary to employ super
numerary for the purpose, and counselet
principals to subject their pupils once ,
month to written examinations and to en-
ploy that time in visiting the rooms of theil
assistants. Mr.. Leche then withdrew hi
motion.
On motion of Mr.. Leche, the superintendent
appointed the following members as a com
mittee upon permanent organization, will
instructions to report at the next meeting
Mr.. A. S. Leche, Mr.. Lowe, Mr.. Golden
Miss Wickes and Miss A. NJ. Armstrong.
The superintendent then briefly addressed
the meeting, thanking the teachers for thei
attention and the general interest mani
tested, and announced as topics for dis
cussion at the next meeting, the same ques
ton of classification, and the best methods
of instruction in reading in the various de
partments of the schools.
After the singing, by the whole assembly
of America" the meeting was adjourned
| t;ll Er;6ov tho uanfrniuhfh instant nj