Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-13
THE INSTITUTE.
OUR ANNUAL TEACHERS CONVENTION.


Sp0llIng-Dr. Heiges and DR.. Shu-
maker COnclu0e-ROSOlutiOns,
Parting Words and Adj
jOurnmenr.
Friday Afternoon. the noon va
.ation, and indeed during tho entire after
noon, great numbers Of teachers visited
the orphans. court room to look at the
wonders shown under moro than dozen
there exhibited.
From haif-past one until two o'clock
Prof. Whittal lectured on astronomy, his
topics being the phases of the moon and
eclipses, of the sun and moon, which he ex-
planned and illustrated with the heliOtcl-
ms.
Prof. n. c. Schaeffer, formerly Of the
faculty OF Franklin and Marshall college
and now principal Of the Kutztown state
normal school, was introduced and de-
ivered lecture on ''Spelling," He COM
menced by stating that the great natural
ist, Agassiz, remarked ON one occasion
that if his son went to school he would
learn how to spell, because he (Agazzis)
could not bs there to prevent it. Prof.
Schaeffer added that there are only about
fifty Of the one hundred and twenty thou
sand words Of tho English language that
are spelled as they are pronounced. So
great is the proportion OF words in our
language containing silent letters that
many of the finest scholars, both in
America and Europe, have been
for years and especially Of late years,
engaged in efforts to accomplish
a reform. In view Of all these facts the
question is asked, "Shall We continue in
our schools to teach tho spelling of words
as We have taught it in the past" The
lecturer answered affirmatively he came
here to preach the gospel of the old fash
ioned spelling book. While it was not
especially creditable to spell well it is dis
graceful to spell incorrectly. He regard
ed it rs a greater accomplishment in u
lady to be able to write letter correctly
than to be able to do all kinds of crochet
or needle work. Ike would not have the
art Of spelling crowded back into a
corner even to mako way for M
tural philosophy or the other
sciences. lie would commence with
the youngest pupils and exercise them day
after day through all their school years.
He would have them spell orally to get
the correct pronunciation Of the word,
and he would have them write down tho
words dozens OF times if necessary, to fix
in the mind the letters Of which it is COM
posed. Every strange word should bo
spelled and written and examined at all
points from nd to foot, SD that it should
be recognized if it should happen to be
seen again. If pupils misspell words
they should compelled to write
them over and over after school
hours or at the end Of the week
until the correct spelling is fixed
in the mind. The only practical use We
make Of spelling is in writing, but tho
practice of spelling orally, besides teaching
us correct pronunciation, is i good cxer-
down some rules for capitalization and the
means Of fixing the true spelling Of such
words as Tuesday, leave, believe, niece,
which he regarded as being of great i'm
portance. lie had learned friend, who
lost fine situation because he spelled
professor with two fs, and thousands Of
young men fail to get places because they
can't spell well. It was stated that not u
single one Of England's primo ministers
could have passed the civil SER
vice reform examination in spelling
And one of our most learned savants was
named who averaged twenty misspelled
words on every page of manuscript. In
answer to the question as to whether re-
form in spelling would not save a great
deal Of time, Prof. Schaeffer answered
that it would not. 1t took three hundred
years to introduce the decimal system, .
still longer time to introduce the Arabic
rotation, and VIC have been for years vain
ly endeavOring to introduce the metric
system of weights and measures. TO re-
form our style OF spelling would compel per-
sons who have spent years in learning the
old system to spend years more in learning
the new one.
Prof. Hall sang "oh, for a closer walk
with God"
Prof. Hciges continued his lecture on
School Apparatus" urging the impor-
tance of having complete school cabinet
of all kinds of stones, ores, eartls, flowers,
weeds, ETC., to be found in the nighbOr-
hood of the school also all the metals
and specimens of all articles that enter
into trade or commerce, as sugars, syrups,
rice, coffee, silk, wool, ETC., etc., the pro-
duction and uses of which should be ex-
planned by the teacher. In conclusion
Prof. Heiges cOmplimented the institute
on being the largest, most orderly and in
all respects the most agreeable one he had
ever attended.
After music DIR. Shumaker concluded
his lecture OH the education Of the masses.
In the course of his remarks he favored
compulsory education, and in case the
state refused or neglected to sustain the
public schools he would have the general
government take hold of the matter. He
denounced Kearney communism, de-
plored the Pittsburgh riots, called attcn-
tion to the dangers to be apprehentled from
our immense immigration of foreigners
from all climes, and felt certain that our
only safety lay in the education of the
children OF these heterogeneous masses,
and thus moulding them into one nation
ality.
Current Buslness.
Mr.. Mouk, from the auditing committee,
reported that the COMMITTEES had audited
the books Of Treasurer NcCaskey and
found them to 10 correct.
The committee on resolutions reported
a series, eonsratulating the teachers on
the great success Of the institute and the
of education; favoring objective and
directors to visit the schools at least once
o month endorsing the county superin-
tendent as worthy exponent of the edu-
catiOnal interests of the county; extending
thanks to the microscopical society for
the use Of their instruments; to B. z.
Shreincr for the use of organs to tho
railroad companies for reduced fare to
the lecturers before the institute for their
services to the press Of Lancaster for
their report OF the proceedings to the
county commissioners for the use of the
court house, and resolutions Of respect to
the memory of John J. Mullen, Ella
Raub, Sarah A. Wynne and DR.. 8. s. Hal
deman, late members Of the institute.
Tha resolutions were adOnfed