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

Local
-~~~~~->~~-
Augusta County Teachers Institute.
INTERESTING NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
TOPICS DISCUSSED, :
&C., &C., &C.
On Tuesday morning last at IL o'clock,
the Augusta county Teachers Institute
met in the Hall of the Y. M. e. A. The
meeting was well attended notwithstand-
ing the unfavorable weather. Superinten-
dent of County Schools. Charles Grattan,
presided over the meeting and Mr.. G. T.
Jordan acted as Secretary. After prayer
by the chairman, the following names were
enrolled:
THE TEACHERS PRESENT.
Ell. Curtis, Staunton; s. W. CARRIER,
Stuart's Draft; John w. Stefey, Roger
Atkinson, q. Halle. Jr., B. w. Tams,
Staunton; W. r. Marshall, Long Glade;
W. F. Whitmore, Weyer's Cave; David
Carter, (col.) Staunton; Jacob H. Swart-
eel, Middlebrook; James l.. Hutchens, M.
! l.. marlborough, J. D. Mcdonald, (col.)
s. K. Taylor, J. H. Becks, (col.) Miss Sal
lie g. Teabo, Staunton; Miss Annie M.
Dudley, Pond Gap; William B. Franklin,
Staunton; L. w. Carter, Staunton; James
Wilson, Bells Valley; l.. V. Whitmore,
Parnassus; w. J. Styles, Staunton; J. W.
Calhoun, Middlebrook; Miss Kate F. Ed
son, Stanton; A. B. Jackson, Staunton;
e. T Jordan, Swoope's Depot; A. s. Bald
win, Staunton; Mrs. L. M. Gilkerson,
Mint Spring; F. L. Guthrie, Fishersville;
Miss Josie Hyden. Sherando; John S.
Kerr, New Hope; Geo. M. Grove, Hermit
tage; Mrs. g. II. Tyler, Staunton; John
D. Bailey, Staunton; Jacob Bear, Arbor
Hill; A. A. Arnold, F ishersville; Miss An
ME FL. Noon, Staunton: Isaac S. Hum.
bert, New Hope; L. w. Fl. Davis, Waynes.
boro; Geo. A. Phillips, New Hope; James
I. Anderson, Staunton and Miss Susie
Noon, Arbor Hill; r. J. Dyche, of Folly
Mills, and Mrs. s. W. Sellers, Of Staunton
THE IMPORTANCE OF MORAL TRAINING
Superintendent Grattan then made a
short address upon the Importance Of NOR
al culture as well as intellectual. He said
a good citizen cannot be made out of a boy
by merely making him smart; he must be
made good boy at the same time, and il
at the end of every session we cannot say
that our scholars are better and more hon
est as we'll as more intelligent we have
fallen short of our duty. He did not ad
vocate bringing actual religion into tn.
schools, but simply that the children should
have high moral training, and he would
like the teachers remarks to be directed
to this point.
THE WRONGS OF LADY TEACHERS.
Miss Annie Dudley read most excellent
: paper on ''Woman's Rights,'' which WI
contemplate publishing in full when space
permits. She said that what the LADY
, teachers desired was fair play, which, sh,
, alleged they did not get. She knew Of in
stances in which ladies holding first clas
certificates had been pushed aside for mel
, with only third class ones. She though
the matter of appointment ought to b.
placed in the hands of the County Super
intendent. So great was the prejudice il
some places against female teachers thai
she knew of an instance in which lady
was promised handsome dress by pat
ron of o school if she would not board
lady teacher.
; Mr.. Turk said that the handsome dress
the lady alluded to only cost one dollar
(Laughter.)
Superintendent rattan said the law hai
placed the appointment of teachers beyoni
his jurisdiction. If he had the appoint
ment of them his weakness for the ladie
if nothing else, would procure them fail
show.
The meeting then adjourned until two
in the evening.
At two O'Clock the Institute re-assemblei
and Superintendent Grattan announced
the subject for discussion to be
1.-THE BEST METHOD OF TEACHING EN-
GLIsH GRAMMAR AND THE AGE AT
WHICH IT SHOULD BE COMMEN-
CED IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS"
Mr.. Calhoun did not approve of com
mencing to teach children from text
book, but thought oral lessons best. After
a child had become we'll acquainted with
the use of words it might then with ad.
vantage be put to the study of text
book.
Mr.. Steffey said the teacher ought. to be
faultless in his use of words and thus set
scholars a good example. lie thought there
were few scholars capable of taking uI
the study Of grammar at very early age
and many have become discouraged by
commencing the study before they were
capable of understanding it. but children
are never too young to be corrected for in
correctly speaking and these kind of les
sons ought to commence in the nursery.
Mr.. Becks, (col.) approved of teaching
children to speak correctly without text
book at the earliest possible period.
Superintendent Grattan said it was the
duty of the teacher to move around in the
neighborhood and find the peculiarities of
speech that prevailed -provincialisms sc.
and correct the use of such terms among
The children. 1t would be we'll to make a
list Of provincialisms on the blackboard
that are used in the neighborhood of the
school and constantly draw the attention
of the children to their incorrectness.
Mr.. Jordan thought that if the study o.
grammar was delayed until the children
had made an advance in age there would
be risk of their never learning it at all
He thought too much grammar and too
little composition was taught, and did moi
approve of writing list of slang phrases