The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-01-23
TEACHERS MEETING.
Two RIVERS, Jan. Is, 1879.

Aoi S-ufo tcScuefS ptSSeub. oupt- Val
ker in the chair. On motion J. A. Hus-
sey was chosen secretary.
The Chair then stated that, owing to
the absence of two of the teachers who
were announced to take part in the ex-
ercises, those teachers in charge of the
remaining exercises should each occupy
more time than had been assigned in the
published programme.
The teachers then listened to an able
and interesting paper by Mr.. Viebahn,
on chow children acquire words. No
synopsis which we could give of this
paper would do it justice, hence none
viii be attempted. Mr.. Viebahn poss-
esseS the faculty, so desirable in teach
er, of popularizing subjects the discuss
ion of which is generally considered dry
and unintere5ting; and if any of the
teachers present failed to become in
structed and interested by Mr.. Viebahn' s
clear exposition of his subject the cause
of such failure rests with the listener and
not with the reader.
The next subject, lease of nouns" by
Mr.. Brown, gave rise to a rather ANNA
ted discussion i'll which several of the
teachers joined. Theories and classif-
cations the correctness of which has
remained unquestioned for quarter of a
century, were torn to pieces and scattered
TO the winds; definitions which had
hitherto been regarded with feelings akin
10 veneration shared the same fate, and
the entire subject of case was discussed
with disregard for stereotyped forms
and authorities that must ave made the
bones of Lindley Murray, rattle in his
grave.
1t was bad day for the grammars,
and if some one had not interpose with
a motion to adjourn for dinner, it is i'm
possible to predict what the result would
have been. But motion to adjourn to
i.45 P. NJ. prevailed, the discussion came
to an end, and the teachers went to din
ner, most of them mentally rejoicing
that they now knew all about case, and
that the terrors which it formerly held
in store for them had, at last, received a
final and lasting quietus; while others
signified their readiness to wager that
case would never entirely recover from
the shock of the previous discussion.
Meeting opened at 2 P. NJ.
Some discussion took place as to
whether the next meeting should be
held in Manitowoc or Mishicott, and the
chair appointed committee to consider
the matter and report before the close of
the session.
Oceanic Currents" by Miss Merrill,
was the next exercise. The teacher,
with commendable good Judgment, made
little effort to develop the causes, origin
and effects of currents, but devoted the
greater part of her time to a development
of her method of teaching this interest
ing subject. Subsequent discussion
elected nothing but appreciation of Miss
Merrill's manner of conducting the ex-
ercise.
The next subject in order. penmanship
by Miss Nelson, was one of the most
interesting exercises of the day. Miss
Nelson began by saying that she intend
ed to present a course of primary pen
manship. Writing is both mental and
mechanical. As a mental operation it
consists in conceiying the forms of let
tiers, and as a mechanical operation it
consists in executing those forms.
Conception of form preoedes execution.
Hence, with an imperfect conception, the
execution must be imperfect. The first
duty of the teacher of penmanship is to
see that the child has ample opportuni-
ties to acquire proper conception of the
forms to be executed. But, as the forms
of the letters executed by skillful pen
man seldom more than approximate in
beauty to his previous conception of
them, the teacher should so direct his
instruction as to secure the necessary
amount of drill in the mechanical part of
the work.
Miss Nelson then presented an outline
of course in Primary Penmanship, af-
ter which the subject was discussed by
Mr.. Thomas Walsh, Miss Richter, Miss
Nelson, and others.
A recess of fifteen minutes was then
taken, after which the report of the COM
mittee on Teachers Library was read and
adopted. The said committee reported
in favor of a library, and recommended
the appointment of committee of Eve
to solicit subscriptions, the membership
fee to be fixed at two dollars, and when
fifty members are secured, to make
purchase of the necessary books.
The chair appointed as members of
said committee, Messrs. G. L. Powers,
Tbos. Walsh, Thos. Burke, and Misses
Canright and Howarth.
''Rules of spelling" by Mr. Canright,
closed the list of exercises for tie after
noon.-The committee appointed to di-
termipe the time and place of the next
meeting, reported in favor of Manitowoc,
February Sth. Messrs. Viebahn, Briggs
and Hussey were appointed "a COM
mlttee to prepare programme of exer-
cises for tie next meeting, and the Asso-
citation then adjourned.
j. A. HUssEy, See.
FARMERS TAKE NOTICE.
CHIrAGO TIT Ian II 70