Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-09-03

punishment. He believed that whipping
had an opposite effect to what way inten-
ded, and if a scholar was too bad to be rul-
ed by moral suasion he should be expelled.
In his experience as teacher he had been
far more successful by appealing to the
conscisnces Of his pupils than by using
brute force.
Mr.. Bear expressed himself averse to
corporal punishment and believed children
could be far better governed by moral
suasiOn.
Mr.. Curtis believed one of the best
methods of discipline was by depriving
unruly children of amusements of which
they we're particularly fond.
Mr.. Arnold was not 10 favor Of corpore-
al punishment. He had never seen in his
experience as teacher any advantage de-
rived from corporal punishment.
The meeting took a recess until two
in the evening and then took up the SUBJ
ject of
COMPOSITION.
Mr.. Jordan thought that composition
taught by object lessons developed the
ideas Of the pupils more than anything be
knew of.
Mr.. marlborough advocated the teach
ing of composition by historical subjects,
and different matters that the children
read about.
Mr.. Grattan said the object of compost
ton was to teach children to think and to
spell, and also to teach them to express
themselves, both in reading and writing
correctly, and he also thought it was sub.
ject that children could be particularly in
terested in.
Mr.. J. F. Wilson used composition as q
means of teaching both grammar and SPELL
ing.
Mr.. Garbsr had commenced to teach
composition with his youngest scholars and
had found it both interesting and advan-
tageous to them. He had even taught
them how to address letter.
Mr.. Steffey had been of the opinion for
years that composition was the best means
Of teaching spelling.
Mr.. Booker used composition to improve
his children both in writing and the en-
largement Of their ideas.
Mr., Jordan taught his children to write
letters correctly, and had every reason to
be gratiied with the plan he had pursued.
Mr.. Grattan said the teaching Of c0mpo-
sttion had . two-fold advantage. it inn
proves children in every way, it enlarged
their ideas, and improved their spelling.
Mr.. Davis (col.) would get child to
write composition on his walk from school
to home, and by that means encourage in
them habits of observation.
Mr.. Garshberger began to teach his
scholars composition by getting them to
write sentences on the blackboard, and by
this means improved them in spelling and
reading as well as composition.
Mr.. Curtis said the subject Of spelling
was q most important one, and one that
teachers should pay particular attention
to. He was very particular in teaching
this subject.
Mr.. Shoveler (col.) advocated the pho
netic mode of teaching children spelling.
Mr.. Grattan then announced that the
next subject for discussion would be
THE TEACHING OF READING.
Mr.. Booker, in his practice as teach er,
always kept his pupils at a sentence until
they read it correctly, no matter how much
time it occupied.
Mr.. Calhoun spoke Of the great impor-
lance of teaching reading. He approved
of the plan of lecturing on the subject
about which the children were going to
read, SO Is to give them clear idea of the
subject before they commenced.
Capt. Hoover, being invited by Mr.. Graf
tan, made some instructive remarks on the
subject. In regard to the teaching of
grammar Capt Hoover said that he COM
naenced to teach his little girl when she
was about four years old. He began by
inatructing her in the use of nouns, then
adiectives, and as her capacity increased
he ora. <uslly took her through all the parts
NJ aneach- So successful was this ora
system of Coaching grammar that when
10 wears of aye, she went to Miss. Bald
VIM school she knew the grammar
through although she never had text book
in her hand.
At four O'Clock in the evening the meet
inc adjourned after a farewell address by
the Superintendent in which he salG ne
hoped that all had pro6ted by the inter
change of views which had passed between
the teachers. He hoped next year thu
schools would be able to run six months