Daily Republican., 1881-08-24
STATE SCHOOL MARMS.
THE ANNUAL REUNION MEET.
ING AT REHoBOTH.
YesterAay's PrOceedingA-An In.
terestinx SessiOn-The Attend
0M0e Increased.

Special Correspondence of the REPUBLIcAH.
REHoBoTH, Aug. 23.-The teachers
could not have made nicer weather for
their re union, now in progress here, had
they all been possessed of Vennor's
powers. The weather has been pleasant
and the nights not too cool. The school
lnistres ses and masters are having an
exceedingly enjoyable time, and the
meetings are interesting.
The attendance upon the session of
the state Teachers Association was
largely increased by to days arrivals,
making it necessary to secure the
Methodist church as a meeting place.
This mornings session was devoted
to the reading and discussion of IA paper
Oh Improved Methods of TEACHING 1t
was divided into two parts, the fret be-
ing read by Superintendent Gro tes, and
the last by his assistant, Mr.. Carpenter.
Mr.. Groves discussed the subject of
writing and then that of arithmetic
Tie believes all schools should be
thoroughly Classed in writing that
twenty minutes each session should be
devoted to its study, and that black
board AID slate exercises would be
found ,cost profitable to the scholars.
Arithmetic is unsucessfully taught be-
cause theory instead otpraCtice has been
too greatly resorted to by teachers. They
should be imbued with the necessity Ot
practical work, and thus III time their
pupils will be enabled to originate as
we'll as solve problems, for there is
something fascinating and attractive in
- I,.yt k.,
ner in winch they are treated in most
schools.
Mr.. Carpenters part Of the paper re-
lated to the best methods of teaching
the young, and said the A, b, y system
must give way to something with less
drudgery in it. Tell them d story to-
day and get them to repeat it tomorrow;
ask them what they saw on their way
to school; tamiliarizo them with OBJ
.jeCts, their names, uses and Orthogra-
ply; teach them primary arithmetic
by the use OF pebbles, etc, and the re
suit in every case will be more valuable
than at present.
Rev. MIR. Skinner thought in this
connection thai the educational IDEAS
OF the teachers should be farther al
vanced, and Rev. Mr.. Williams thought
improved means OF teaching meant
practically improved genus Of the Ian
.uage rs well as that the mere matter
should be mastered.
Superintendent Harlan, of Whining
ton, thought that many good methods
Of teaching die with good teachers,
and that normal sch OILS are necessary
10 improve both methods aud teach
crS.
An inquiry as to the Quincy, Mass,
method having been made, Mr.. Carpen-
terand MIR. otausbury }. Wiley thought
it did not materially differ from other
model New Eng and schools, except
that it had been ably chempioned by
able men. The latter, while tavoring
the teaching Of scholars to tell the
truth and act honorably and uprightly,
Thought there was no danger of these
moral lessons being strongly tinCtured
with the theology Of the teacher.
At the afternoon session. Professor
G. S. Gonwel, OF Dover, read an essay
illustrating the beauty and usefulness
of the study Of Shakespeare, which
was subsequently discussed by Messrs.
Purnel and Reynolds.
During ths evening there was an en-
tertalnment consisting Of select read
iugs, music, etc, followed by i lecture
by Rev. w. Is Gordon, Of Smyrna, on
the cultivation Of the beautiful.
A number Of the members of tn
Philharmonic Society are here-no'ablv
the Misses Connor, Prof. G. Il. Rhoad
and DR.. Howard Ogle. They will sing
at the meetings. Prof. Ferd. Fullmer
presides at the piano.