The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-07-10
TEACHERS INSTITUTE,
Tenth Congressional District.-MOst
Interesting Session.
2Ep DAYS PROCEEDINGS.


The Institute was called to order by Stat
Supt. Trousdale at o'clock, and the pro
gramme of the day was commenced with
choice instrumental solo by Miss Irene Wi
liams, which was executed with skill an
taste. This was followed by a vocal seleC
ton which was sung with much spirit b
4 Mr.. Knox Polk, the accompaniment bein
rendered with equal spirit by Miss Opheli
Bills.
Rev f. A. Shoup then addressed the In
stitute upon methods in Algebra" Hi
treatment of the subject went to exhibit tn
distractions of algebraie scieneetO demon
stIate its utility in developing the facultie
OF the mind, and particularly to show hov
the basic principles aud even the operation
of arithmetic may be illustrated TO a pupi
! by the aid of conventional signs and sym
bois, without reference to the quantities o
values which the latter represent. He IL
Illustrated this phase of the subject by refer
/ ing to the letters and words of u language a
mere arb.tr .ry symbols used to represcn
/ sound, etc. Further discussion was had anC
! participated in by DR.. Brown and also Prof
/ Scobey who illustrated the use and meaning
of opponents by writing letters with ;
line for an exponent and performing the
various algebraic operations with as much
/ accuracy as when numbers were employ
/ ed
I the tendency of the entire discussion
was to show the intimate relationship OF
! algebra to arithmetic and the value Of it,
conventional signs and symbols in estab-
! fishing arithmetical principles without ref
erence to concrete values.
| The Institute then listened to beautiful
song by Miss Laura Carter, accompanied
| by Miss Alice Robertson. Aterwh;cll
Prof. w. II. Foute requested leave to sub
NIT few queries on the subject of Eng
lish Grammar, stating his design to be
solely to provoke discussion and inqui-
ries with a view to the ascertainmcnt OF
truth and urging the universally acknowl-
edged inability of our schools TO teach the
practical and correct Use of the English
language according to present methods
and with present text books, as an unan-
swerable argument in favor of reform both
in methods and textbooks. For the sake OF
argument, Prof. Foute took the Affirmative
OF all the questions proposed, most OF
which were somewhat startling 10 the con-
sentative members of the Institute, who
could not help seeing III he establish
ment of the truth OF the propositions a
necessity for reorganization of the entire
science of English Grammar and the
elimination of forms and distinctions grown
sacred in the eyes of educators.
1TO1 route Helu 20 Inc view mat Wiletn-
er the propositions were true or false we
were entitled TO 4 pure and undefled
English Grammar without dependence up
en- the Journalism of the Greek and Latin,
or intiexiOnal languages. Very interesting
and exciting discussion followed, which
was participated in by Prof. Foute on the
affirmative and Profs. Brown, Seobey, Doug
lass, ShOup and others on the negative
The debate brought out a large fund of
useful information on the important branch
and was enlivened with many anecdotes
and humorous sallies, which were received
with high appreciation by the large and
attentive audience, who ,testihed their in
terest in the proceedings by continued
and spirited applause.
AFTERNOON SESSION JUNE 18TH.
The Institute was called to order.
Pres. Trousdale In the chair, and the exer-
cises opened with music At the request
of the President, Prof w II. Foute read
a short and beautiful essay on Poetry, -
by Miss Nora Cannon, who was una
bic to attend the Institute on account
of sickness. This was succeeded bv
the reading of an able, scholarly paper
on History in words" by Prof. Scott
a. Murray, of Memphis. The paper
indicated rare research and patient in
vestigation of writers upon the English
tongue and in a brief but interesting
way, pointed out the history which is
contained in many words Of common
use, and showed how the history of
countries may be easily and accurately
read in the word formations, as the
history of any region may be traced in
its geological layers and particularly
how the manners and customs of a
people in any given age may be inva-
riably found perhaps in a single word
His numerous and opposite illustra-
tiOns threw great light upon his subject
and rendered it of much interest to
his auditory.
On motion, the revised report of
the committee raised to report as to
what additional avenues of employ
ment may be and ought to be open to
wSmen, was read by DR.. Brown of
said committee and after earnest re-
marks in support of the objects sought
by Profs. Douglass and Foute, the re-
port was adopted.
The committee TO which was assigned
additional avenues of employment that
should be opened to women, beg leave to
report, that they regard it rs a source of re-
greet that the customs of society in the
Southern States have largely limited their
opportunities for employment to the voca-
ton of teaching in its various branches, and
that these customs have so largely contin-
ued to define this limitation, even i. our
altered condition of society, when so many
women are inpelled by necessity as we'll as
by desire to contribute to their own phvsi-
cal wants and comfort.
That in their Judgment there are other
avocations for which by special education,
women could be we'll qualified, and which
are eminentiy adapted TO their mental and
PHYSICAL constitution. That among these
are notably avOcatious that relate TO Tele-
graphy, Photography and Pharmacy and
also the avOcations of chemical ANALYSIS.
art-designers, bookkeeping, sales-wonen,
clerks in public offices of State and
newspaper correspondents.
That ia expressing their approval of the
plan of those Institutes that afford women
an opportunity to become skilled in the
applications OF science whereby they can
become fitted TO perform the duties of the
avocations enumerated, they oiler as the
sense of the teachers here assembled the
following resolution
That we cordially approve the PROPOSE
ton recently submitted to the Congress OF
the United States to appropriate portion
of the public lands for the establishment: of
Collegiate Institutes, eroIasiBslg Tor the tech
meal and industrial education of women
r.