The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-09-06
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1879.
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
carroll County Teaeher-. institute.

80 a AAAh1t
carroll County TeReherS' Institute.
The Teachers of Carroll county public
schools met at Central Hall, Westminster. on
Tuesday. They convened as the Teachers
Association, aud, having opened their exer.
cises with prayer, proceeded to elect officers
to serve for the ensuing year, and the old
officers were unanimously elected, as follows
President. Prof. j. NJ, Newson; Vice. Presi.
dents, &. ii. Baughman and Miss Netlie Mil.
Ter; Secretary, George Batson; Assistant
Secretary, ii. y. Englar Editor, Daniel Nc.
Swincyi Treasurer, John Burgoon. The As.
ISOLATION then adjourned to meet on Friday,
Nov. 2lst, and Immediately recOnyened as
the carroll County Teachers Institute, with
Prot. j. NJ. Newson as presiding officer The
roll having been called, l0l teachers answer.
ed to their Names which was increased to 1872
A new feature was introduced at this SEES.
sion OF the Institute, that of drawing the
questions for discussion and the rames of de-
bators on each by lot, three on the affrma
tive and like number on the negative side
The question as TO the necessity for black
boards and "other school apparatus was
warmly discussed and occupied the remainder
Of the days session, other members than
those designated by lot participating. Al
though the question was not carried to n vote,
rs was desired by few, it was apparent that
the impression made was that blackboards,
&c., in the hands Of n competent instructor,
were necessary auxiliaries to the teacher.
Excellent singing, under the lead Of Professor
Spurrier, with organ accompaniment, added
TO the interest Of the exercises.
WEDNESDAY, sEPr SAP.
Tho exercises opened with prayer. The
beautiful hymn ais 1t Well With Thee" was
rendered in the same pleasing manner as on
Tuesday, under the leadership of Mr.. C. II.
Spuyrier, Mr.. Boyer presiding at the organ.
The following questions were then presented
and spiritedly discussed Can English gram.
mar, or any useful part fit, be orally taught
to young pupils while they are yet in the
lower grades Of readers? Is systematic Par.
sing, MS presented by Murray and other early
authors, necessary to the best instruction of
pupils in grammar? Is analysis more use
fol than PHsihgf Can one be better dis.
pensed with than the other? Ia n teacher
who cannot correctly parse English words,
however used, competent to teach n public
school in Carroll county? Should pupil at
his own option, or by dctation Of his parents,
without an approved special reason be ex.
empt from any Of the studies given to his
class From the number of teachers who
took part in the discussion, and the opinions
expressed, it is safe to say that the Institute
was but Of one mind on the first, second and
fifth questions, answering the first two affirm.
atiyely, and the last negatively On the other
questions they were not so unanimous. Prof
Newson closed the debate ia bis usually lucid
and felicitous manner, aud electrified not a
few Of his hearers by the statement that he had
successfully instructed an infant Of four or FIVE
years, ignorant of the alphabet, in the moods,
lenses, persons and numbers of the verb "To
Love" Il ia in the mind of the writer that
lao .pnulI ka. ..Ka..saknI
more immature age could be successfully
treated TO parsing by the new system of hyper.
dermic injection AT the close of the worthy
chairman's remarks, "Beautiful Home was
very PRETTY rendered by the "singists' Miss
Lizzie Matthews furnishing the instrumental
part of the music.
A short time prior to adjournment, Mr.
Francis l.. Herring, one of the School Com
nissioners, made his appearance, and was
greeted with warm applause. He made a
brief but pleasant response.
The Institute was bereil to-day of one Of its
most pleasing features, and one to which il is
indebted, in a large degree, for its present
unquestionable state of adyancement-the re.
port Of the critic, Mr.. Chas. Baughman, who
unfortunately was prevented by Illness from
attending.
THURSDAY, sEt'r. ITH.
As usual, the exercises were opened with
prayer, followed by music, roll.cal and the
reading OF the minutes of yesterdays pro
ceedings. At this stage Prof. Newell, of the
State Normal School, was announced, aud
was heartily greeted. lie presided till the
close Of the session, assisted by Prof. Newson.
The topics discussed during the day were:
In learning TO spell, will oral exercises or
Hriting The woris, conduce more to the pu
pills progress2 Can either be safely omitted?
y. 4 4
from County lnsiitutes2 Are County Asso
Citations worth the expense and time devoted
TO them7
On the question Of spelling the Institute
agreed that as correct spelling was desired,
that one may write correctly, icriting the
rOrds would seem 10 most readily effect the
object Of spelling correctly.
This conclusion was endorsed by Professor
Newell who in some admirable remarks sug-
gested that correct spelling was acquired by
means Of the eye rather than Of the ear, and
that as II was an requirement or study not
wholly founded upon just reasoning or analo-
gy, there is danger of its abuse in the primary
schoolroom.
If the teachers, young and old, had not
themselves forcibly spoken of the benefits
they have derived and continue to derive from
Institutes and Associations, the fact would be
evident from the manner OF their debates and
the topics so well handled in discussion.
Mr.. John Berry, Of Westminster, being
present, was invited TO address the Institute,
which he did in graceful manner, adding
his testimony 10 the beneficial effects Of such
assemblies. An adjournment was made at
O'Clock TO meet at 1880, p. m.
AT the evening session, which was well at
tended by visitors, and chnrmingly enliyened
tif such, indeed, could be said to be necessary
hy tho unanltofsI nr.f N.ut..I .II.r..o.l 4 Ia
teachers and the public on the school system
OF Maryland, and its advantages, showing in
detail the necessity for all the parts Of the
structure, and It's symmetry, from the State
Board Of Education TO the Board of District
School Trustees, including also the Normal
School, and pity it is that his words on this
occasion could not reach further than the
four walls ofthe building in which they were
uttered.
The address, though occupying about one
hour in It's delivery, and not OF so amusing u
character as the last given by the Pro.
fessor, on similar occasion in Westminster
was attentively listened to throughout by the
large audience, and at its close was heartily
spplauded. The critic, Mr.. Chas. Baughman,
was equal to the occasion to-day, and laid on
his good naiured but always Just criticisms
without fear, favor or affection.
Mr. Joshua Miles, Of Somerset county,
young gentleman OF much promise, on invita-
ton, made a somewhat humorous address 10
favor OF Institutes.
The audience, rising, sung the Doxology
and the Carroll County Teachers Institute Of
1879, was at 0 p. NJ. declared adjourned
siRe die. SIS ~
From The fall attendance Of members, add
The interest, and 10 fact the spirit manifested
the Institute was worthy OF the county and
the intention Of lis organization, and gave
warrant that its further advancement and eff
feeiiseness in the cause Of education will only
be limited by the period Of its existence
Meeting of the school Hoard.
At the regular monthly meeting the Board
Of County School Commissioners held on
Monday last, all the members were present
Ailer providing for the payment Of several
items Of expense for repairing and furnishing
school houses, &c., Mr.. Smallwood Q. Oh
rum, on Recommendation Of Mr.. Prugh, was
authorized TO occupy free scholarship in
Western Maryland College. IA
In lie case Of a petition 10 remove a teach-