The Portland daily press., 1878-07-11
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF IN.
sTRUCTION.


/ 1oA
the teachers among the mountains, and though
every stage and railroad train running from
Fabyan's was crowded to its utmost capacity
with excursionists, so too was the parlor of the
hotel where the morning session was held.
/ The two favorite excursions with the teachers
are the ascent of Mt. Washington and the
ride through the Saco valley to North Con-
way. The Osdensburg trains were literally
crammed yesterday, with those visiting this
most beautiful of all the grand beauties of the
mountains The hotels too are reaping rich
harvest, the Crawford House having displayed
now for two days placard, standing room
only" while at Fabyan's and the Twin Noun
tain there is quite as great a crush. The
meetings of the Institute are exceedingly in
teresting and practical something that
can't always be said of professional gatherings
and notably of teachers associations.
Sapt Corthell of this state opened the
session with we'll considered paper on 1.-THE
Examination of Teachers Examination Is
| necessary, since the character of the teacher is
an index to the character of the school, but of
the nature of the examination erroneous ideas
| exist. The speaker showed how far an
examination will test the ability of the teacher,
and how far not. The speaker then argued for
an examination by central board, who should
consist of men of large and practical ex-
| perience appointed by the governor. The
advantages of such plan for all concerted
were pointed out. Mr.. D. B. Hagar, Principal
| of the Salem. Mass, Normal school, continued
| the discussion Of the same subject, developing
the following leading thoughts: First-The
/ e. e bo
by skilled educators. the speaker COM
pairing the examination of teachers
with that of other professional men.
He differed from Mr.. Corthell lin regard
to the gubernatorial appointment of examiners,
| recommended that the state be districted and
that each district should elect superintendent
who should have power to give certificates for
| his own district The superintendent of the
whole county should constitute board who
might give certificates to hold good in any part
of the country. There should also be state
board, selected in part by the State Board of
Education, and in part from their own number
by the subordinate superintendents, this board
to give certificates good in any part of the
state. Second-The qualifications of teacher
should consist in moral character, personal
address, knowledge, practical skill in the
theory of teaching and finally ability to
govern.
The third point was a discussion of the i'm
portance of physical health in the teacher.
Short remarks on the same topic were made by
Hon. W. D. Hinkle of Ohio, and Miss Mary
Scribner of West Galesburgh, Ill.,, the county
superintendent.
The next paper was read by Prof. L. A. But
terfeld of Massachusetts, subject, "Visible
Speech" illustrated by diagram of the vocal
organs, and discussing the relation of phonetic
symbols to the organ and the mechanism of the
universal phonetic alphabet, in which may be
written any language or dialect. This alpha
bet of languages was discovered in 1864 by
Alex Melville Bell, Professor in Edinburgh
University, and has been used for instruction
Of the deaf in more than twenty states and
private schools in the United States alone
during the last few years. Its utility in prim-
airy instruction was shown by the great econ
omy in obtaining results in very short time
by this system, but which are taught by hard
and long continued drill in the usual way. By
knowledge of this system the children in our
schools may attain more elegant and correct
articulation. 1t would be means of economy
/
would place the children in condition most
favorable for acquiring any modern language.
In the United States children of foreign pa
rents could readily be taught to speak English
as American children speak it, Teachers may
readily acquire knowledge of this system,
and by its use save much valuable time and
labor.
In illustration of the system Mr.. Tanetaro
Megata, Japanese Commissioner of Educa-
ton, pronounced his native language.
Mr.. Bdtsertield wrote his articulation IN SYM
bos of the phonetic alphabet on the black
board. Then he and others understanding the
system pronounced the language on the black
board with most wonderful accuracy. 1t has
been thought that only children can learn to
pronounce foreign language with freedom
and expression. Visible speech makes it pos
sible for the student of twenty or thirty years
to pronounce a foreign language with the
facility of child. The wonderful results of
this universal alphabet may be imagined when
we consider its many applications in all coun-
| tries. Universal language is one of the posi-
bilities of the system.
W. f. Warren, President of Boston Univer-
sity, presented the next paper. HIS theme was
s'Jointed and disjointed education in the pub
| lie schools" Beginning by an allusion to the
| diversity observed in our municipal and state
school systems with respect to the education of
| the sexes, he stated that this profound question
ought not to be settled by accident, but by rea-
son and sound pedagogical science. He advo-
Gated the joint educational plan, but numerous
| ly admitted that there were conceivable ciroum
stances under which he would recommend the
| adoption of til g opposite system. Eight such
instances were given with due gravity such,
| for instance, as these: In all cities and towns
where the children we're all boys or all girls, or
in which all the boys were geniuses and all the
girls dolts, or where the girls were so much
worse than the boys and the boys SO much
worse than the girls that they cannot possibly
associate together in school without mutually
running each other. This pleasantly over, a
compact argument in favor of the joint plan
of organization was given, on the ground of
economy. convenience, discipline, morals, sc.
The new arguments of the late opponents of
coeducation, based on the alleged progress of
society and the necessary accompanying "spec-
ialization of function, received specialization
Then followed discussion by Rev. A. D. Mayo
and other speakers.
The Institute passed the night on the sum-
NIT of Mount Washington and held session
there.
The Appalachian Mountain Club held fl cid
meeting this afternoon, with papers by Prof.
Pickering of Harvard Observatory, G. Fl,
Hitchcock of Dartmouth, s. 81, Scudder and
others.
The following is the programme for today:
Business. Reports of Committees, etc.
| Political Education in the Schools,
w. A. Mowry. A. M, of Providence, r. L
Discussion-Thomas fash, A. M, Maine.
| Present Condition of the Spelling Room,
Larkin Dunton, A. NJ, Principal Normal School
of Boston, Mass.
Discussion T. Fletcher, A. NJ, Maine; A. G.
Boyden, A. M. Mass.
THURSDAY EVENING.
4 An Address Hon. Geo. B. Loring, Salem Mass.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.-A thunder storm
of fearful force passed over Kennebunkpol
village Wednesday afternoon, and the lightin
struck the house of Mr.. Samuel Folsom, a
short distance from the Ocean Bluff Hotel