New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-06
CONVENTION OF TEACHERS
,ssorrsTToN AT YoNKERs.

tir.v-seventh anniversary vi 'A0 g.
Inv rr.a.Lers' Association BEGAN yes'oi""S "
s'A' - ,he assembly hall Of schooi w. ''..-.ia,
The various clsss-roohiS VI ~ -, "a
were tahe" =" @, I'm contained large number OF
apparatus ..,rt,bons attached TO the schools
procure - v,.ieh the pupils are instructed III
OF ionNI's' ti,ds of manual labor. Another room
the sllnp,' :.h snecimens of the work OF the stu
was hi0u a., school OF the Cooper Union. these
den's u .,tracted the attention of large num-
two too,"1 ;itors who fingered in them for some
bel u ' made the hour of beginning
ti'' ices somewhat late. Among 'hose Pie'o"'
the III Commissioner A. b. Watkins Oh au'''-i''
We1c e...ndent L. :. Packard, of Saratoga ouP.
suPerih'.IC + Barnes. of Little Fails; Comni'-
intenosAc Suvdam: Professor NJ. NJ. MOT
sionT - Work: Principal II. {. Kirk OF Pheips
rel, Of 'c.o,ce Griffith. of NewBerin; Prnclpai
Prnelpo1 ponpdy. of Moravia; Edward DanIortn'
,r,,-;rs. superintendent j. A. NlciloiN' "a -
u vi Gilmour state superintendent VI
,,,r-ction; superintendent y. A. Ca'Ain'' u
-. Professor H. II. straight, OF mt
ca! W Rabcock of Dunkirk. iocai ooill"'-V'
fessoi D. '" ..Iod 70 the comfort Of the visitors.
"e % - IN of the school was well hlieu NneH
.,a.a~cises began with singing by puplIs % Wv
''' ,,:.ohools Of Yonkers President Watkins 'i'H
p'D Dnncan Smith. president OF the Do"iu
,,5.'~at;or of Yonkers, who deHNeio" -"
- ,velcorne. He congratulated 'ho "o'o
"iui'o - +be i,nproved methods OF lnstruc'loH
- ,trodueed into the public Schools anu sPoNe
f the importance of practical teachlng anu i''
s,reriority over the old methods OF making UNI
sro, learn everything by rote. de expressed gIo"'
nloasnre at seeing the methods Of the hndergai'e"
more and more employed in the instruction OF A''lo
children. He also spoke earnestly OF the iinPOi-
.nce of the personal Influence OF the teacher Oh
b;s nuplls The results Of common-school euuC"-
+;on in the production Of good citizens ne sao' "e
nended more upon the Instructor than the 'eA'-
hooks The province Of the puDhc schooI was ~
t'rn, character. If it did not do this, 1t did not
accompsh the end for which the State supported
:; The sneaker pointed to President Garfield as
s,-;ling instance OF a man who, at the suInrs
90 hi e,oinence remembered with gratitude the IN
Thence of his early instructors.
Neil Gilmour. Superintendent of Public lnstruc-
tion RESPONDED 70 this address of welcome. lie
s,.ore Of the value of teaching the pupils OF the
nnblie schools the power and dignity Of labor ana
said that he believed the association was Cong OK
celent work in this line A. b. W ATKINS, Oh AuaniS'
nresdent of the association, was the next speaker
fl said that he wished resate some Ole truths lor
the purpose of reminding his hearers OF their I'M
variance. He then spoke OF the value OF "a ~ H.
,nnetTicaI physical mental aud moral development l.
He sal that, If the pubic school dld n0t euucaV
the morals Of the people, II ana not 1uInI Jus III?
SION He wanted the morals or the puplls ,cuIt-
led NV every possible means, ana strongly ac-
vocated religious instruction OF general nature III
the public schools. to a. tbo an,
d,tion of education was then read by eX-ConmIs-
soncr A H. Humphrey OF Ithaca, CHAIRMAN Vi tIe
committee. The substance Oh the report ""' 40 10i
lows: ,
The attendance in public schools was less last year
Than the previous year. This Is attributed 10 the IN
demands made by MANUFACTURING ntercsts Inc
distinct schools have been slowly but surely adopting
better methods OF education There Is sun the usulI
,rsnsipg over district bOuudaTlts and the absorption
OF the smaller districts by tue larger ones Such slues
As language United states History ana CNm Govern.
ept are being introduced pretty generally Inc ldea Oh
Teaching more language less technical grammar las
gained ground Industrial ecucatloh has IecelseH i
oded I'M Use There are AireaJ{ many " ho3 he
connection with schools The I0iOwlns points snO &c
Kept before the public First That college OF normal
OF state certificate should be required as con
dillon OF eligibility foI the conllnlssonersAP anu
sye attention to the duties OF Sechool Com
missioner should be exacted from these officers
Secondly Work should be equallzed through,
to correspond with the requirements. The textbook
law still remains in force so that TEXTBOOKS can DC
ohise VI in school matters was not general!
taken advantage Of commttee OF three mas oee1 up
pointed u visit teachers classes throughout the stare "
order inspect their work state superintendent OF
teachers classes has been provided by law, ana Dr.
Albert b. Watkins app0iutel 10 Ill tie POSITION 4heIe
decrease OF fifteen school districts ID lIe otate
last year leaving liza The value OF schoS propSI
Is ISL 600 600 increase OF One-ihlTd OF III non
feS 90 The 9c7ese over iast wear is 209i6 OF the
public INSTITUTION OF earning The average attendance
was 55g 399 decrease Of 1890 from The previous
year OF 10000 teachers employed last year lO9o held
normal diplomas, 964 held state ceIdDcdlcs, ~
normal teachers during the last year was "a The
normal graduates VINO received diplomas EXCEEDED W
Al that rate OF increase the State Oh W. 10
supplied with normal teao hers In about 1IVV years
This report was discussed by the members pres
eut. the discussion beng opened by = >. Cheney
of Kingston and {. ID. LarkIDs OF Fayetteville
Owing TO the absence OF the members 81 the Com
I1ltee Life Insurance ior Teachers their report
was postponed TIL this afternoon IAe report Of
the Committee on Industrial EXhIDlt was also
postponed.
Bonneville read the report OF the committee on near
Egutedne,s N schools. The report described the
construction of the eye with view - showing now
II could be made near-sghted II then stated mat
one OF the man causes of near-sl gntedneSs Was
reading fine PRINT or dong the WORK By insufficient
light Tie report stated that Tor studying 10 The
best advantage the hight should not come from III
front, whence II would shine INTO the eyes, nor
from behind, as the student would then De n
his own hight, but from the sides. IL - better
that 1t should come tiOm the left than from the
night side Tor the right hand, being the ole most
used viii throw Ii shadow Oh tie work II the light
comes from that side. school buildings are otten
lnsubcieutly lighted. Iney should be out OF the
shadow OF other buildings, and v lndows into winch
the directly shines should be provided with
translucent shades OF an agreeable color. The
walls OF the school, also, should be of color
pleasant 10 look at. At home many persons inlure
Their eyes by straining them at twilight The
committee stated IN the report that was astOnlsh-
lng 10 notice how few persons use lamp shades
Unsteady lights must be avoided all artificial hight
Is injurious inst III proportion II departs from the
natural standard The materials used IL school
books should be examined. The paper ia school
books should be 80 timex that the letters Will not
show through nor should 1t be the clear BLUSH
white 20 often used. Unbeacbed Is lar better
Cheap books are usually TO be avoided. Bad ven
tilauOn Is also productive OF near-si ghtedness
sometimes producing irritation of the mucous mem
brane winch often passes into actual inflammation
More personal instruction by teachers and less
poring over textbooks would be beneficial. The
report presented some statistics with a view 10
showing how the eyes OF children different aces
were Affected by the circumstances under which
lhey worked. The question OF heredty as affect
my neal -sgbtedness was also discussed. Hesedity
wa considered a small element in the PRODUCTION of
near.alg lteuness. lnn reuort Declared thnt a larpe