Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-23
TEACHERS MEETING.
The Last OF the School Year-Interesting
and Instructive Exercises.

The Last Of the School ear-Interestins
and Instructive Exercises.
The teachers of the public schools held
their regular monthly meeting, yesterday
morning, the last of the term. The attend
ance was large and the exercises were of
particularly interesting character. The pro-
gramme was introduced by an excellently
executed piece of music on the piano, by
Miss Kenns, of the Washington school. Fol
lowing this Miss Hand, principal of the
Adams school, gave an exhibition recitation
in reading, a class of ten pupils,
seven girls and three boys, of the fourth
grade being selected for the exercise. The
children ranged from ten to thirteen years
of age. The class was first exercised
In pronunciation of words of
the lesson, particular attention
being given to accent or proper infexion
of the voice. Preparatory to this, however,
the children were put through vocal Gales
thenic exercise of inhaling and exhaling
their breath, so as to grasp with full breath
and sound the words to be uttered. Reading
followed, which was given with effect and
understanding. Another feature of the ex-
ercise was to direct attention to q written
sentence on the blackboard, and almost in
simultaneously ask the children to repeat it.
Thus enlarging their capacity to comprehend
and memorize.
This particular feature, Mr.. Campbell, of
the High school, especially commended, and
said lesson could be learned from the untu-
tored Indian.
He set up objects, and started the chill
dren on run past them, and when the
gauntlet was run, each was questioned upon
what he had observed. In this way
their observation and q quick comprehension
was cultivated. At the conclusion of the les
son, Miss Hand and her pupils were compli-
| mented with applause.
Next IN order, Miss Beales of the High
school, from the committee on moral in
struction, made supplementary report to
| what had been submitted at previous meet
| ing. In substance the entire report recon-
mends the introduction of some moral in
struction in the schools, as distinct part
of the course, as for example,
| the reading of an account of
some exalted character, or narrative convey
ing distinct and easily applied moral. The
report of the day more especially provided
for the establishment of "Legion of Hon
Or" or, in other words, permitted teachers
to select scholars most exemplary in
conduct and manners, reward them with
badge, and extend to them
some especial privileges not enjoyed
by the pupils in general. The committee,
however, were not fully committed to this
scheme, and advised its introduction only to
q limited degree, Miss Miller, of the Neill
school, and Miss Hand, of the Adams, being
named the "victims" to attempt the plan.
! This proposition or morals in general
provoked quite an extended discussion.
Messrs. Slack, Taylor and Weitbrecht op-
posed in measure the introduction of set
! instruction in morals. First and foremost
\ was intellectual training, and morals was an
| incidental to be inculcated by the individual
teacher as the occasion offered itself. The
! devotion of half an hour or even five min
| utes to any set exercise of the kind was op-
posed.
On the other hand, the ladies favored the
introduction of some such study or exercise.
Miss Hand was particularly happy in her re-
| marks, saying the agents for evil in life, and
especially in st. Paul, were so active that
the negative manner of teaching morality
purpose. She believed in advocating virtue,
exhibiting and teaching it, and not be en-
gagged wholly in waiting for the opportunity
| to rebuke sin. Make virtue beautiful and at
| tractive and the occasion to -rebuke scholars
| for misdemeanors would become less and
less frequent. [Applause].
Prof. Wright sided with the ladies'. He
! could not agree with the narrow
! IS kha onka rfoiv,
| by Mr.. Slack. In fact he
believed some particular exercise should be
| had, whereby general benefit would accrue
| to the school, all the pupils.
| Miss Stanley, of the Lincoln school, be-
lieved in intoxicating morality, but would
leave it to the teachers themselves, by exam
pie and persistent individual effort, to I'M
prove the conduct of their pupils. She be-
lieved in no set exercise, for ultimately it
might become irksome, and become task
to the pupils, thus injuring more than it
benefited. Personal supervision and care
of the teachers would accomplish the object
through love and watchfulness.
| Superintendent Wright concluded the ex-
ercises of the day with remarks facilitating
the teachers upon the progress made during
the year, and particularly the benefit
derived from the teachers meetings. They
have been interesting, instructive and useful
in permitting an interchange of thought as
well as method in teaching.
It was announced that the principals
would hold meeting next Friday after
noon. 28th inst, after which Miss Rachel
Brown sang ga heart bowed down with
weight of VICE." with expression and effect,
Miss Belle Hitchcock playing the accom-
| paniment, and thus ended the last public
| meeting Of the teachers for the present