The Portland daily press., 1878-07-10
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF IN
STRUCTION.
Opening Session.

=
The opening session of the fo,ty-niNth annual
meeting of the American Institute of Instruc
ton was held in the pallor of the Fabyan
House yesterday morning. 1t is thought that
from 2500 to 5000 teachers are now in the noun.
tain region, and of these fair proportion W ere
present and listened closely to the address
of the morning
After prayer by Rev. DR.. Gage of Hartford,
Ct. Hon. Thomas w. Bicknel, editor of the
New England Journal of Education and Presi-
dent of the Institute, announced the following
committees:
Fletcher, Me-; H. T. Fuller, VT. s. 5. Greene r. l.
p. P. Goblin, Conn.,; W. d. Hinkey. Ohio; G. j.
Resolations-W. A. Mowry, r. l.: NJ C. Fernald,
Me-; John Kneeland, Mass. u. N. Carleton, Conn. !:
II. orcutt N. H.; c. j. Alger, VT; M. Newell,
-Necrology-C. Northend, Conn.,; A. P Stone
Mass; G. z. Rounds Me-; NJ. Lyon, r. l.: j. s. Gil
ley Vt; G. A. Downes, N H.; C. Richards, Wash
RoS oa M Of E %sama T1 Camp Conn.,
H.; j. D. Barley Vt: John Hancock, Ohio.
Teachers and Teachers Places-W. j. Corthe,
Me-; Isaac Walker, n. H.; Edward Conant, VT. S.
| On Honorary Members-M. Lyon, r. T.. ;Arct Par
ish, Conn.,; A. q. Mayor, Mass. j. 81. Hanson, Me-;
,. u Az ID. N. A.
Calkins, N Y.
The opening address of President Bicknell
was remarkably clear, forcble and cogent
plea for needed reformation in our educational
| system. 1t is not too much to say that Mr..
BicknelPs address gives the key to the solution
of some of the most vexed educational prob
lens of the day, and that too, ia as true and
forcible language as they are often presented.
The speaker having briefly reviewed the work
of the association in its forty nine years Of exs
tence, during which its has unrolled member
ship of over thousand from the educators of
fifteen different states, and noted some of the
more evident steps of advancement in educa-
tlonal science in that time, advoc ,ted the press
ing needs of our schools at the present day.
Among these, the most important reforms ad-
vocated are the employment of expert SUPER
Visors, more seura tenure of Office for teach
ers, salaries to be arranged according to a
teachers term of office and not to suffer d.
mlnution while in office, life certificates to be
given teachers after an examination by their
peers, and as means of disposal of incompe-
tent teachers the payment of higher salaries,
and as the attraction of higher talent and quail
fications to the profession.
Mr.. Bicknell was followed by Dr. L. Sau
veur, the teacher of language, whose method in
teaching is just now attracting very general in
terest. DR.. Sauveur speaks English with diff
hculty. In the discussion which followed his
paper he was at a decided disadvantage, what
ever may be the merit of his position. He
criticised what he called the old method of
teaching language as artificial and unnatural,
Q1lapnU that thrnuoh II Ind
quire an accurate or practical knowledge of the
subject.
The natural or Sauveur methed is called
natural because it reasons from the particular
to gensralza tous, directly opposed to the "old''
method. Words and sentences should be
learned before commencing grammar. The
advantages of the new method are ~recoonjzad
but professors are inclined to reach it by
gradual change rather than radical innovation,
Prof. Sauveur's paper was severely critised
first by S. s. Greene, LII. D., OF Brown
University, and author OF Greene's series of
grammars who distinguishes between language
as an instrument for the expression of thought,
and as philosophy which we study, examin-
ing its peculiarities in comparison with other
languages. Both uses of language are i'm
PoAtoAt Dub III ulnorGut ways. n IOrolSn
language becomes available as means of in.
tercouiss only as we learn to speak it and
think it. 1t becomes valuable attainment to
the student when ne learns its pc culiarities and
learns to read it.
In discussion of the same topic, Mr.. Grant
Daniel of Boston had read paper opposing
the natural method of Prof. Sauveur. He
claimed that great Improvements had baen
made which that gentleman failed to recognize
though admitting the general truth of his
statement that faulty methods of teaching
language have been in vogue. Mr. Daniel
questioned whether conversation in foreign
Language ought to be made the chief object of
teaching in ordinary school work, bus rather
literature and the ability to read it easily. He
criticised the term s-the natural method" and
pointed out what seemed to him grave faults
in the application of the method to classical
languages. Finally he thought that the true
test of the method would be its results in
ordinary circumstances in average classes of
boys and girls in schools where foreign LAM
guage form only part, ard fen times a small
part of each days work.
Secretary j. W. Dickinson of the Massa
chusetts State Board of Education presented a
carefully prepared paper on School Supervision.
Having argued for the necessity of supervision
of schools he claimed that the true office of the
superintendent is to determine the number of
schools that shall exist, how they shall be
graded, to mark out course of study, to decide
upon methods of teaching, to examine
teachers, to secure the means of teaching, and
complete attendance of pupils and finally to
enlist the interest of the people in cordial
support the public schools. Henry Kiddell,
superintendent of the New York city schools,
discussed the essay after which the institute
adjourned to last evening.
Last evening short addresses were made by
Governor Prescott Of New Hampshire, State
Superintendent Corthell of Maine, Downs of
New Hampshire, Conant of Vermont, Denni-
son of Massachusetts, Gen. Eaton, the u S.
Commissioner of Education, John Hancock of
Ohio, M. A. Newell, LII. D. of Baltimore,
President E. E. White of Lafayette College,
Indiana, ard other distinguished educator,
from different sections of the country. At
both morning and afternoon sessions, Prof. r
j. Hillard of the Wesleyan University, and
Mrs. Anna Randall Diehl of New York, read
selections.
Fryeburg Summer Restrt.
This beautiful village has for few gears
past increased in popularity and especially
with Portland people has become famous as