The Portland daily press., 1879-07-12
THE TEACHERS.
Close of the Meeting of the American In
stitute of Instruction.

Close of the Meeting of the American In
stitute of Instruction.
FABYAN HOUSE, N. H., July 1.-THE ex-
ercises of the Institute opened this morning
with prayer by Prof. Isaac Bridgman of
Cleveland, Ohio, and singing by Mrs. West
II know that my Redeemer iveth
The auditing committee reported that they
had examined the books of the Treasurer and
found them correct. The report was accepted
AThe committee on honorary members
reported the following names for honorary
membership:
Matt Head, Governor of New Hampshire.
Hon. W. T. Harris of st. Louis, Mo-; Hon;
John Hancock of Dayton, Ohio: Hon. e, e.
White of Lafayette, Ind, Tanetaro Megata,
japanese Commissioner of Education Boston,
The committee on journal of Education
eulogized the publication and claimed that it
is the best educational publication in the
world They presented lengthy resolutions
indorsing the publication which were unani-
mouSly adopted.
The following gentlemen were elected Ad-
visory Board of the Journal: G. c Rounds,
Maine; Hirm Orcutt New Hampshire; Ed
ward Conant, Vermont; ID. b. Hagar. Massa-
chusetts; w A. Mowry, Rhode Island; j. n.
Carlton, Connecticut.
Resolutions were adopted expressing high
appreciation of the work of the National
Bureau of Education, favoring the application
of the proceeds of sales of public lands to
educational purposes and a more thorough
supervision of schools.
l. N. Carleton of New Britain CT, was
elected president; III. e. Sawyer of New
Britain, secretary; Geo. A. Littlefeld of
Lawrence, assistant secretary; Geo. A. Walton
of West Newton, treasurer. Among the vice
presidents are j. III. Hanson w. j. Corthell,
c. c. Rounds and G. T. Fletcher of Maine,
and among the councillors w. o. Fletcher of
Maine.
The neurology shows death of eight mem
bers, including Eben Wentworth and Geo. e.
Taylor of Portland.
A discussion of ''How Teaching May Be-
come Profession was begun by Hon. Ed
ward Conant, State Superintendent Of Schools
of Vermont. He said educators and the
friends of education have long insisted that
teaching should become profession. Teachers
do not now constitute profession, because a
large proportion of them lack general learning
and special training. Teaching can't become
profession till all who teach schools of any
grade are subjected to proper tests, and having
stood the tests are certified to the public as
qualified for the work they undertake. Quail
tications are necessary to practice other pro-
fessions. There is no reason why qualifications
should not be demanded of teachers. They
should be examined and licensed as teachers,
not as servants of municipalities or corpora
| tions. All who teach whether public or
private schools, should be licensed. II teach
| ing is to become profession authority to teach
must be derived from teachers, for they only
are qualified to judge of fitness Teachers
| must have power to establish and administer
| rules governing the admission and standing of
| persons that may be admitted to standing in
| the company of instructors They should also
! have authority to determine how and for what
| causes persons may be expelled from the order
| and expel members when necessary; also to
| divide their membership into grades and form
outline courses of study for different grades.
| Membership in the association should be
| licensed to teach any school of the grade to
| which the member belongs, and once granted
| should continue through life unless forfeited
| by neglect or overt act. In order that teaching
may become profession provisions must be
| made to furnish professional training for all
| grades To this end normal schools should be
established, each having the preparing of a
certain grade of teachers for their work.
G. 7. fletcher and Hon. E. P. Morris of
Maine, heartily commended MIR. Conant's
paper:
Educational Journalism was the subject
of paper by c. C. Rounds of Maine. A read
ing was given by Prof. Hibbard: "The Bugle
Song" and 'The Owl Critic.'' A party of
sixty-hve members of the Institute started this
noon ON an excursion via Central Vermont to
| Niagara, under direction of DR.. Lyon and
| Prof. Morey of Providence.
The evening exercises opened with brief
eulogy on the late Rev. Chas. Hammond,
| Principal of Munson Massachusetts, Academy,
and an old and honored member of the Insti-
| tute.
| A letter was received from O. F. Barron.
| who lies dangerously ill at the Crawford
House, expressing sympathy with the InStl-
! tuse and wishing it a success.
| A letter was read and resolutions passed
thanking Mr.. Barron and expressing the hope
that he will speedily recover.
After singing by Mrs. West and reading by
| Prof. Hibbard, Gen. Eaton, United States
Commissioner of Education, spoke of the pro-
gress being made in teaching and the result
that will follow ifteachers do their duty
After piano solo by S. L. Studley of
Boston humorous remarks were made by
several gentlemen, and Mrs. West sang several
songs followed by Prof Hibbard.
The institute then closed its session for the
year, but a directors meeting will be held to-
| night to consider business matters. The ses-
sion just closed is admitted to be the best ever
| held by the institute. More than 1900 mem
bers were present during the session.