The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-04-05
Preble County Teachers Association.

On Saturday, March 31st, a large as
semblage, including nearly all of the
leading teachers of Preble county,
Misses Ringwood, Mailman, Bowman,
Rose and Note, of the Hamilton
Schools; Sup't Jas. A. Clarke and wife,
of Paddy's Run; Sup't c. E. McVay,
of Mt. Healthy; Jno. B. Peaslee, of
Cincinnati, and others, met in Eaton to
attend the Teachers Association. An
usually fine programme brought the
teachers together at an early hour, not
withstanding the unpromising weather
in the morning.
The first exercise was a thoughtful
and well written paper on "Physical
Culture" by Mr.. j.. d. Dillman, of
physical culture lies at the basis of ALL
culture, it must be of paramount i'm
portance in every system OF education.
The many good points of this PAPER
showed that its author is both a close
student and a keen observer. The dis
cussion of Mr.. Dillman's paper was OPP
ened by Sup't L. D. Brown, who re-
viewed its contents and spoke of the
bad ventilation of churches and public
halls.
After a recess, Mr.. C. E. McVay, of
Mt. Healthy, presented the subject of
"Pueumatics" in a manner at once able
ard happy. By means of an improved
air pump and other apparatus of his
own invention, he performed many
beautiful and instructive experiments
in philosophy, clearly demonstrating
that his favorite science can be made a
power in every common school, and by
means of cheap apparatus. MI. Nc
Ways lecture was something novel to
many of those present and was receiv-
ed with hearty applause.
""The Study of Languages" was pre-
sented in a brilliant paper by Miss HOWE
Fl. Ringwood, Principal of the Hamil-
ton High School. Miss Ringwood's re-
putation for accurate scholarship and
literary culture had induced many la
dies and gentlemen outside of the teach
ing profession to attend the Association,
and their expectations were more than
realized. In this paper the high ground
"a taken that English should be the
language chiefly studied, but that scHoL-
ARsHIP includes a thorough knowledge
of Latin, Greek, and at least W mod
ern languages.
"Arithmetic," by Sup't Jno. B. Peas
lee, of Cincinnati, occupied the next
hour, and in this time the able lecturer
clearly explained the method of teach
ing Primary Arithmetic in the Cincin-
natl Schools. The limits of this article
will not permit more to be said of Mr..
Peaslee's admirable lecture than that
the "Peaslee method" of teaching ele-
mentary addition and subtraction is
both practical and philosophical ard is
certain OF immediate adoption when TN
derstood. The discussion OF "Arithme-
tic'' was opened by Mr.. Oscar Sheppard,
who approved Mr.. Peaslee's method
and showed how proportion may be
made clear by analysis.
Sup't Jas. A. Clarke, of Paddy's Run,
read a strong and gracefully prepared
paper entitled, elements of Success"
Mr.. Clarke said he would not undertake
to speak of all the elements of success,
but would confine himself to the discus
sion of only a few of them, but what
he said of these was convincing proof
of his right to be called a matter of his
tory, philosophy, rhetoric and Ian
guage.
Mr.. Clarke's paper was followed by
resolutions of respect for Miss Sarah
Crume, pI resented by Miss Jennie Shank
lin, of the Eaton Schools. After some
remarks on these resolutions by Mr.. l..
c. Abbott and L. d. Brown, in which
reference was made to the great worth
and noble work of the deceased, the
Association adjourned to meet August
Goth. L. P. S.