The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-09-10
AFTERNOON SESSION

was opened with the usual preliminary exercises
after which one of the most important questions
that of Letter Writing, was considered in an able
paper by X. w. Eubank, who thought that 1t should
20 perseveringly and vigorously taught between
the ages Is Of 10 and II Years as memory was most
pated In by Messrs Cathcart, Williamson, Harry
McNabb and Burkins, and Misses Norris, Oftiey
Scarborough and HendOn. The subject was con-
tinhed Tor fnrthcr discussion on Tuesday morn
ing.
TUESDAY.
The Institute was opened with music and pray
er. Mrs. Nj. IL. Chase began the morning exercises
with class drill In map-drawing, which was the
best, most simple and attractive exposition of the
subject ever presented to the institute Mrs Chase
has pupils familiar with the physical outline of
home-countrics in the 4th grade. In teaching she
FIRST develops the idea of scale, then construction
lines. Has always found boys to have an aversion
to II until they are taught to color maps. She re-
quireS practice on mountains, etc, before insert
ing IN II map. CoinS waterprecn, outline yellow,
mountains white, smaller streams yellow, and the
different counties or countries, using brown to
represent hills or mountains and green for level
districts in blackboard drawing.
w. I'll. X. Jones found that geographical know
ledge was retained much better 10y drawing than
any other method.
in mechanical drawing ought not Ia hu invorpor-
atGd with map drawing us the time which /: wuuld
other branches. This view was not maintained by
j. W. Carter, Prof Jackson and Others who b"!icv-
ell that it was Impossible tu cultivate more taste
from the aesthetic than necessary.
The difficulties To be overcome in successful
grading and the advantage to he derived from IL
were then considered hy C. W l.url,iue in an
essay VINO urged that the disposition of teachers
To Halter the pupils and patrons, the irregular AT
tendance often found at school and the impossi-
biiity of correctly estimating the pupils capacity
and qualifications for successful study at first
were the chief obstacles to he sulmountcd.
J. %. Worthington stated that the school being
in operation bitT to 9munthS, while the schedule
was arranged for n year, was prominent difficult
ty, and the suppostiOh that the instructor abi-
ty depended upon the number of pupils headvan-
and rat n nIgSN tS
another barrier.
q X. Cumming read an able essay upon the
j. w. Burkins was unable to understand how
any difficulties should exist in keeping schools
graded or why II teacher upon entering school at
present should commence to grade, rs the last
public examination for promotion, complete
record of which, as required by law, must he fully
recorded for the incumbent or his successor s
guidance and that those pupils who receive the
requisite average of 70 per cent ms per the records
and the pupils report or certificate. he promoted
and all others not, thus leaving the teacher to
start the machinery precisely as II stood. live
ly discussion cnslled, +. A. Brown and others
claiming that no such records rs were required
were left
What improvements could be made by Teachers
and Examiner in the present method OF holding
public examinations in the schools.
A. +. Galbrcath said the system would improve
in time and wished the word public to he stricken
| out Though these examinations were not Il fair
| test of knowledge yet they were test of fitness
Miss Barnes wished the examinations were at
the close of the first and third terms instead OF
second and fourth terms.
| Miss Bradley thought the examination prepared
| for the An grade was too difficult while W. :
J. W. McNabb, who was well satisfied with the
present plan. After various expressions of opin-
| ion from many members, n committee Miss Lnll" I'll
Bradley chairman, was appointed to consider tho
subject and report on Wednesday morning.
| Rev. w. Y. Il. Kieifcr was then introduced, who
| spoke good words of announcement for tho
teacher, saying that the teacher who did not study
was as unfit for his calling as an unsudious min
| lister for his divine calling.
The committee of examinations in making thcii
report, through Mr.. Williamson, chairman, re.
| commended that the time for holding them be
changed to the end of first and third terms, that
| the time for holding them he during one week and
only twogrades be examined each day, both grades
| having the same study and that the questions fol
| the 4th grade had boon too difficult. The report
| by vote was sustained with the exception of hay
| ing each grade answer the same subject Mt tho
same time.
| H. s. HUFF gave class exercise in grammar, by
the outline method which created much interest
proposed also created much interest.
| @Miss Oney conducted Il class drill, a number O
her pupils composing the class, which cxcitet
| much interest
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On assembling number of questions were ask
ed one the responsibility of the teacher for thu
moral conduct of his pupils was referred to j.
Scarborough and on teaching history to 9th grad
TO MISS NJ. NJ. OHley.
Miss Annie Ofiley finished her instructions con
corning arithmetic and a spicy argument ensue'
among members us to increasing the subtrahon,
or diminishing the mnuend in subtraction.
| j. Il. Smith opened the discussion on the legiti
mate sphere of the public schools and was follow
cd with spirited addresses by +. A. Brown, J.
Carter and others.
Mr.. S. A. Williams of the School Board then nd
dressed the institute upon the Importance of ab
solute harmony of action between the Board an
the teachers, and the necessity of endcavorng +
influence the County Commissioners to levy SUI
ccnt funds to run the schools the entire scholas
tic year.
| Adjourned to meet Thursday morning.