Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-14
Meeting of the West Tennessee Division
IDstItute-Large Attendance of
Teachers and Much Enthu.
siasm Manifested
In the WOrk-Representat Educators
Present-Papers Read by Memphis
Teachers and Others-DiscussiOns
on Pertinent Topics.
Special Correspondence of the Appeal

| sessions JQ6rS nave Deeu present. DIT lestSJ OIt
hundred and twenty five teachers, represent
| ing the educational interests of every county
! in West Tennessee; eight or ten superintend
| ents, including the State superintendent, anC
nearly one hundred and fifty school directors
| This fine array of persons directly connected
| with the common school system has beer
supplemented by the presence OF dlstln
guished educators representing the college;
| and universities of the State, and the systems
| of other States. Among the former | desire
first TO mention Mr.. Shropshire, to whose
zeal and energy the success OF the institute
was mainly due, and to whose efforts, In con-
nection with those of the local committees on
reception and entertainment, the visiting
| teachers and others ascribe the hospitality
which has been so lavshly extended to all
Among the representatives of colleges pres
ent l note Profs. Joynes and kirkpatrick, Of
| East Tennessee university; Prof. nj. Z. Davis
of Pans, and Pro-. Dlnwiddie, of the South
ern Presbyterian university, at Clarksvllie
Superintendent Shropshire secured assistants
| in the persons OF Messrs. III Chez. of Tren-
| ton; Rev. J. E. Saby, Miss Towel, of Mem
| phis city schools: superintendent II. 3
| Thompson, A. j. Hall, Duke and Page, not
| to mention your present correspondent, who
| each contributed, as did others whose names
| were not mentioned, to represent particularly
| the beauties and benefits of the public school
| system of the State. The welcoming address
! of Dr. T. J. Edwards was, both in dIction and
| treatment of subjects bearing upon education,
| an effort worthy of the attention and interest
which it received, and stamped the speaker
as gentleman Of profound learning and rare
| culture. The response OF Prof. h. 5. Joynes
| was in fine taste, and the teachers cordially
concurred In his remarks, not only as to the
general scope of tne profession, but In re-
turning thanks for the generous hospitality Ct
the citizens of Union City, and also in his
Just eulogy on DIR. Sears, agent Of the Pea
body fund, and on State Superintendent
Trousdale, who was absent, whose efficiency
and ability received fitting recognition. After
a brief discussion by Prof. niece, of the BEN
efiss der1vable from a system of graded
schools, and practical exposition of the ne
cessity for higher education In connection with
it, Prof. fitzpatrick opened a discussion
on the subject of English grammar, showing
conclusively the faults of present textbooks
on this important portion OF the common
school system and the necessity for reform IN
methods of teaching, If we would attain as
satisfactory results in this as in other branches.
This discussion was afterward participated
in by Prof. E. S. Joynes and Prof. w. II.
Foute in much the same spirit, each exhibit
ing matters wherein the science could be SIM
phfied and the study of English grammar
shorn of many of ITS present difficulties.
Miss Augusta lowell read a wellwritten and
excellent essay upon the elements of success
necessary to the teachers career, and pre-
scented her ideas In such shape as to con-
vince the auditory that they were founded
not upon theory but upon a rare and compre-
hensive experience. Miss Clara Conway re-
ceived deserved commentator for IN essay,
entitled "We Women" which was not only
worthy of her reputation as a thinking
woman, but contained views of the status of
her sex which were eminently practical as
regards the education and training OF girls,
the duties of parents, and the sphere OF
woman in the world. Her explanation of the
difference between boys and girls as objects
of the teachers influence; her ideas on the
physical education of girls with a view
to their future happiness and usefulness;
and especially the argument in favor
of, educating girls not only as broadly but as
seriously for the realities of life, could not
fail to be received as In accord with the de-
mands of the age. The lecture of Prof.
Joynes on the English language was eompre-
hensive and interesting, exhibiting depth
of research and breadth of information which,
while adding much to his fame as thought
full student of language, inspired in his fell
loW-laborers of the profession not only a
clearer apprehension of the beauties of our
mother tongue, but a determination to extend
their researches in so inviting and delightful
field of study. the essay of Mrs. Emma c.
Tucker, of the Memphis Female Seminary,
on "Who Must Dwell in the Hidden Recesses
of the Mind" was a chaste and beautiful pro-
duction devoted to the necessity for individ
ual effort and the fruitlessness of the teach
not consulted, and exhibiting the evils which
must inevitably result when the pupils desire
for knowledge remains either dormant or I'M
cultivated. One of the most interesting fea-
lures of the institute was the address of DIR. |
VIM. L. Harris, superintendent of the city |
schools of st. Louis. His subject |
was most admirably chosen, as he |
cd tO nh cny1hI aal
discussion of the rise and progress
of the industrial arts OF life, their Influence |
upon the progress Of human society, from the |
period when caste made the sole distinction, |
to the present day, when the necessities of |
men call for a division of labor. He traced |
the intimate relations between the invention
of labor-saving machinery and the manual
arts, showing how such inventions have re-
suited upon the laboring class, in FIRST throw
ing large numbers out of employment, and |
thus producing a spirit or unrest and then of
He then showed how the pres
emit evils might be cured, and the Importance
Of education .(not simply documentary, but
as broad and extensive as could be securely
IN the settlement of the labor troubles of this
and other countries The impression pro-
1uced upon the institute may be understood
when say that it was resolved Immediately
lpon its conclusion, to request the State SUI
to Incorporate Its views IN the
next annual report. Prof. Newhardt dis
,ussed the Importance of securing the con-
,urrence of the pupils will in matters of
school discipline, and the uselessness of all
Jules founded upon the suppression of the pu-
oil individuality and the employment of
brute force for the control of a school. Prof.
Onwiddie elucidated the subject of fractions.
Among the many efforts of the session, your
remembers none with more
pleasure and profit than the able essay of
Prof. Craven, who exhibited IN a most im-
)ressiye style the value and beauty of illus
rative teaching" or the necessity for secur-
ng the constant use of the eye in order to
'btain a perfect understanding of abstract
questions, not only in natural but In mathe-
natical science. His diagrams, which
dorned the walls of tie hail IN which the
institute met, were not only proofs of rare
rtistic skill, but evidences that Prof. Craven
5 accustomed to practice what he breaches.
The last regular business session of the inst-
ute was devoted to the discussion of ''Three
characters of Every Age, by Prof: W. H;
foute, and the subject of "LIttle Things"
" the venerable DR.. William T. Hamilton,
# Jackson. The former made use of an ex-
mple taken from the history of the time of
edward ", of England, to impress upon his
earers the existence of the cold fogy," the
isionary and the man of the present, In ev-
ny age and profession, and especially in that
f the teacher, exhibiting the evils which
aust inevitably result to the practical work
ng of the school system, either from
hose who oppose all change and reform,
r from those who forget the demands of
he present for visionary speculation and the
ry. DIR. Hamilton presented in most earn
st and effective manner the application of
his subject to educators, and sought to i'm
ress upon them by a series of opposite illus
,ations, drawn fiom nature and religion, the
ecessity for taking strict account of little .
1ings'' in the school room. The institute,
uring its entire session, was under constant
blIgations to Pot. ]. r. Hodges, of May
ED, Kentucky, who contributed, in response
} repeated demands, his rare and interesting
overs of elocution to the amusement and
eight of his fellow-teachers. Whether in
rousing the sympathetic tears or awaking
lie unrestrained laughter of the members, he |
,emed equally happy, and among the many
easant memories which will follow US to
II homes, | am sure that none will prove
ore endeariDg and more productive OF
leasing reniniscence Tx. -t.liiie eloquent and
1morous Rotations of the able and genial :
edges. Long may he live to diffuse the = !
brit OF h1mor and pleasantly, which seems
natural and easy to him as breathing is to
ost people. Your correspondent has always
zen strong advocate for the teachers in
itute, and is ROY prepared with additional b
guments in favor of its utility. 1t secures, c.
4 !