The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1879-09-05
Reported for The Hhgis d Mtclligcncer
Hartford County Teachers Institute.
MONDAY MORNING,

| The institute opened on Monday morning, I'M
der favorable auspices, in the First Presbyterian
| Church, Bel Air, with the county superintcnd-
| ent, w. H. Harlan, in the chair. After instru-
| mental music, Rev. T. NJ. Cathcart offered pray
| CT.
| The first question, "Should Teachers require
Pupils under the age of eleven years to study or
| prepare recitations at home ~ was opened by
j. W. Burkins who claimed that the minds OF
children were not capable of being exercised for
long periods at a time; that study should be ac-
companied with relaxation, and the time given
| to each should not be so long as to produce
WEAKNESS in one case nor "makc Jack dull boy''
in the other Like pigs they should be fed little
and often, and this being the case, it was neces-
| sary in order to secure the most progress that
the time out of school be interspcrscd with stu
| dy, SO that the habit could be imbibcd while in
youth. The various objections urged against
"homc study" were also rcfutcd.
Miss Kennedy thought they should by all
means learn to study at home.
Miss Bailey required all scholars above the first
grade to study some at home.
Mr.. Carter maintained that if children were
ever to study for themselves they should be re-
quired and it was absolutely necessary that they
be taught TO do il from childhood
Miss A. NJ. K. Mitchell said the teacher should
take especial pains to prepare the pupil for the
intelligent study of his lessons at home. She
was followed by Miss Bradley, who had all pupils
prepare lesson or lessons at home as soon as
Mr.. IL. w. Ramsay affirmed that children were
naturally of an inquiring mind, and if this be d-
rected in the proper channel no difficulty need be
apprchendcd about studious habits II they be
inculcatcd whilst they were children.
Messrs. N. o. Stokes and j. A. Calhoun thought
that no advantage was gained by pupils at this
age studying at home. The benefit would not
justify loss and wear and tear of textbooks, but
if the pupils wished, would allow them to study
at home. The latter raised the question of legal
w. and j. NJ. McNabb, III. w. Ramsay aud 9TH
erS.
Miss Ettie Wilson desired those gentlemen who
allowed those who wished to study at home and
those who did not to explain how they kept uni
formity in class and grade and was answered by
promotion to another class or grade if such be
the case. The opinion of the members of the in
stituc being conflicting with regard to the poll
cy, j. M. McNabb moved that the chair give u
summary of the views and render decision, and
John ID. Worthington moved that the sense of
the institute be expressed by vote Both motions
prevailed, about two-thirds ofthe teachers voting
In the affirmative The chair then gave Gus
sorry summary of the views, pro and con, and de-
cidcd that we must not give up the custom alto.
gethcr In those communities where home SIN
dy was held altogether necessary to secure
progress, pay the best possible attention to it;
but where the sense was against 1t, try to use
some other substitute, but warned teachers
against letting the pride of the patrons run away
with their Judgment.
Adjourned to meet at go, p. NJ.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The exercises were opened with music by the
choir, Mr.. 8. H. Griest presiding at the organ.
"'The responsibility of Teachers for tho care
and preservation of School Property" was con
sidered. The question was opened by j. ID.
Worthington who greatly regretted that so much,
doubtless just, complaint about the loss and
damage of school property was in vogue, but
very forcibly urged teachers to all due dill
geuce to prevent its being abused. He thought
teachers could not pursue more cut-throat
policy than to act and think that some other
teacher will soon stand in his shoes and his re-
sponsibiity he shutiIed upon him.
Prof Jackson, j. B. Scarborough and j. A.
Calhoun also gave valuable hints as to its pre-