The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-11-09

is spent in spelling in our schools. In every
class in reading he uses the spelling book, and
each class every time they spell must recite
lesson.
MIR. Burkins thinks emulation the greatest
motive to study, and combines writing with
oral spelling
Mr.. Wetherel is in the habit of giving
merit cards to the best spel'er.
Prof. VIM. l.. Baird thinks the eye and
ear must be used in concert
Prof. Newell said spelling is very unin.
terestng process, but thought the plan of
having children to watch each others errors
an Improvement over the primitive one of
allowing each boy to spell his own word,
and that in all cases the oral spelling must
be followed by written, but that there should
be oral spelling for all the classes, more espe-
cially tor the younger ones. Children should
be taught what they will have to practice,
that in real life we spell entirely by writing
not by sound. Headvscs his pupils never to
think about their spelling; that the fingers
are better guide than the memory. Spelling
belongs to the division of formal knowledge,
not of material. 1t is n SOFT of superstitious
value we attach TO spelling. Shakespeare
often spelled u word three ways on one page,
and scarcely ever spelled his own name twice
the same way. A mistake in spelling is Just
like hole in the elbow of mans coat, it
uOCS ilOl EuIb Hllll VI GNGu IlukC hin colo,
but he loses caste by it among educated men.
1t is useless acquisition to learn 10 spell
many English words at all. Teachers neg
lect easy simple words to spell difficult, unu-
sual ones. To spell easy words we must
give out phrases rather than words. Spell
ing should'be learned indirectly by our read
ing
The next topic introduced was the "Best
method of teaching reading"
f. A. Brown always reads the section first,
then has the pupil read it. To get the sense
of anything it must be well read. Pay par
tculnr attention TO the pauses. 1t is difficult
to prevent singing in reading poetry. This
can be overcome by concert reading.
Mr.. II. s. Huff has small children to begin
with Il few words at time and doesn't allow
children to pass a lesson until they can read
every word Is careful to have the children in
advanced classes write difficult words ON the
slate. Thinks children should read to acquire
information us much rs for practice Have
children refer to the dictionary for the mean
ing of words they don't understand.
Miss Alice Harvey has small children prin
the lesson or write it on the slate.
Miss Fannie Miller followed the same prac-
tiCc.
Mir. Wethercl believes in reading in
concert 1t is not necessary for II singing
class TO sing each one by himself-no more
is it necessary for reading class to do so.
Mr.. Baird wanted to learn if there is any
way of teaching q child to read well who las
been taught TO read badly. Mr.. Brown
thought it can be cured by compelling child
rcn TO continue reading section until they
read it we'll
George Jackson would compel such child
ren to bring their primers and read few
extracts from Mother Goose.
Ill -, n1ync
good reader out of bad one. 1t being SO
difficult to cure bad habits, it becomes the
duty of every teacher TO prevent their being
formed The best book out of which to learn
spelling is the Reader. The first thing to be
learned is the names of words; child must
learn the words before reading them. A
great part of our reading is formal. A child
reads the lesson without having any idea of
the meaning of what they read. To get the
ideas out of a book is the one thing that we
do not teach children.
The Institute then took recess.
Afternoon SeSSi0n.-SCventy.o one teachers
present. The third subject on the list, viz,
How shall History be taught?" was taken
up and discussed.
James e. Deets favors giving lesson, hay
ing the children memor.ze and then write an
essay embracing the chief points
! j. o. L. Wetherel would teach the history
of his own neighborhood and spread out on
it.
A. d. Clopton thinks we all have our own
methods of teaching history.
Mr.. Wetherell explained that by begin
ming at home he meant simply the history of
our own country.
A. Finney Galbreath was fearful that
much that was not true was taught as his
| tory.
| r. w. Ewbank thought it best to get child
rem to learn few dates and words and
around that cluster the leading events.
| f. A. Brown thought the great need is to
get children interested
Grammar" came next. John b. Scar
borough has never been able to teach it sat.
isfacorily to himself; has tried to teach it
orally. IT is hard to teach Grammar from
Smiths book, but tries to supply some of its
| deficiencies Tries to show the children how
to analyze sentences by writing incorrect
ones and having children correct them,
! Miss S. i. Sinclair tries to teach orally
and by black board lessons, or uses sentences
from the reader and has them analysed by
the children
Mr. Wetherell can't tell how he teaches,
but how lie tries to teach it. Tries to supply
some of the deficiencies of the text book,
smaller classes he tries to teach orally. Has
one class with books and one without and
the ae, IS doing best
Mss S. p. Galloway has her children write
the reading lesson and tell what part of
speech each word is,
| j. A. Calhoun thinks the only use of
Smiths Grammar is to fill place in geo,
logical cabinet.
George jackson thinks Browns grammar
has more sense on one page than in all of
Harveys.
VIM. l.. Baird offered resolution that the
Commissioners be requested to change the
present grammars and substitute some book
more in accord with modern ideas, which
was adopted by unanimous vote.
"Should we have Teachers Associations
and how should they be conducted" r. w.
Ewbank spoke of The association in Balli-
more county.
Mr.. Wetherell moved that committee of
three be appointed to organize District AS
socations, which was adopted.
Prof. Newell then called attention to the
cause Of the School Journal, stating that it
would be continued for another year.
The Institute then adjourned and Mr.. Ew-
bank Immediately called the body to order,
as Il Teachers Association, with Charles w.
Wilson acting as Secretary.
Mr. Baird moved that a committee be APP
pointed to revise the Constitution and to
take into consideration the propriety of
meeting twice a year. Adopted. Commit
tee appointed as follows:
Mr.. Wetherell, Miss Mitchell, Messrs. Baird,
Smith, Stokes and Jackson. Adjourned.
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THE RESULT IN OTHER STATES.
Pennsylvania, for many years the strong.
| hold of ReDublicaniSn, has turned over to