The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-02
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
PERIPATETIC NORMAL SCHOOLS
DURING THE SUMMER vACA-
TION WEEKS.

A Characteristic Address by f. I
Cooper, Esq, Before the Missis-
sippi Teachers' Institute,
July, 1879.
In his definition of the word 'peripa
tetic," DIR. Webster informs us that it |
sometimes fused humorously;' and DR.
Webster is nearly always right in the us
and orthography Of word always max
it point to be very careful how raise al
ISSUE with Webster. look upon him, In
general way, as an authority on this subject
1t has occurred to me that there is
sort of droll humor in regular system O.
peripateticism, whether you apply 1t to re
ligion, as oxemplihed in the itinerancy o.
the Methodists, or to rudimental knowl
edge, as is now being exemplifed in this
rowing programme of school-teaching.
But if the word is used "humorously,
and if 1t be apart of the design of the peri.
patetics of this Institute to take that view OF
it, and manufacture little fun as they go
along, all the better. A wholesome lesson
is all the more thoroughly inculcated by in
fusing into it something calculated to throw
off the coagulated bile which gravitates
naturally towards the long faced pedagogue.
HOW TO KEEP oRDER IN THE SCHOOL ROOM
Tbo l.,
able to the development Of humor, nor to
its enjoyment when it is developed. In the
school-room he has to look solemn no mat
ter what happens The little urchins may
cut up such fantastic capers around him as
would stir up the risibilities of a stoio, but
the school master must not laugh. They may
make such ludicrous and side s-splitting mis-
takes and blunders as would overthrow the
equanimity of an anchorite, but the school
master cannot afford to take cognizanoe of
it, He must maintain his dignity and
solemnity at all hazards. 1t would never
do for him to relax the muscles of his face,
however sorely tempted. He can't venture
to crack smile, for if he do the whole
school will be certain to seize the opportu-
nifty and open In chorus, and thus his
authority would be overthrown.
Therefore, If there is fun ahead for these
dry and sultry weeks, no GLASS of people
need it more than the school teachers. 1t is
an age of humor, and no who has no
humor in his soul is Just about as bad off
as the poor trickster and spokesman OF Shak-
speare, "who had no music In his SOUL
IMPORTANCE OF NORMAL TEACHING.
am not an expert in pedagogy, and 1 do
not profess to be able TO offer any hints,
ladies' and gentlemen, that will be useful to
you in your great vocation. But claim to
be coadiutor in the cause, and do not
hesitate to give 1t US my conviction that the
work in which you are engagedis one whose
Importance no man can now estimate. AS
far as can comprehend the proposition
you are hore to consider, am impressed
most favorably with It, 1t strikes me from
every point of view as just the thing the
true educational interests In Mississippi
most need. And the excellent practical
lectures and vivid demonstrations on the
blackboard by our distinguished visiting |
educators, Prof Smith and Maj. Hotchkiss,
have strengthened the conviction. If I
understand the full purport and scope of
your Institute, the main point is to teach
teachers h01o to teach.
So far as 1 know, the thought, in its pre-
sent application, is new to Mississippi, and
Is due to the watchful observation and |
fatherly care of our State Superintendent.
It Ia true, the venerable Aristotle, gen.
tleman of celebrity In his day, inaugurated
some years ago a system of philosophy
which he taught in peripatetIc manner
But there was a good deal of oriental mys-
ifioation about DR.. Aristotle's doctrines. 1t
ook wise man to understand him in his
.ge it takes still wiser man understand
lin now. This early educator dealt largely
n metaphysical distractions, newly invent
ID and underlined technioalities, and the COM
non mind finds difficulty in comprehend
ng what he was driving at Besides the
eachings Of Dominic Aristotle were meant
wholly for adults and applied mainly to the
.dyanced classes. The object of Dominic
smith, mean Gen. Smiths the better
eaching of the youths of the State in the
udiments of knowledge. I
But whether the plan has obtained in
'ther ages and countries and States or not, /
me thing is certain, it has never been en- ,
,loyed before in Mississippi, and we are In /
ebted to Superintendent Smith for its in 8
uguration hore and the formula of pro- I
ramme which gives encouraging promise
f Rrand results. And if this scheme works q
ut as expect and hope it will, the Superin- i
endent will have done enough TO make his G
onstituents feel justified in having voted o
Or him for the high Office that be holds. h
lie need do nothing more to make them b
atisfied with that vote. |,
DUTY OF PARENTS AND OF THE STATE. @
In his lecture at Memphis a few weeks q
20 upon ''The Reign of the Common a
'eople," Henry Ward Beecher asserted d
nat the best way to increase the property Il
reducing power of State was to open n
be sohools-''to put brains on the anvil o
nd beat them out-for the best crop that Il
ny soil could bear or produce was men
lteIligent, thinking men," And Beecher