The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-07-26
THE SUMMER NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Proceedings of the Sesslon-Impori-
unI En.inn.a


The Proceedings of the sesslon-Impori-
ant business.
The roll call during last week num-
bered 95. At the close of this mornings
session lO2 names swelled the list, PROV
ing beyond cayil that the interest in
this useful assembly not only continues
undated, but increases with each sue
eeeding day. Prof. Mcclure, with an
indomitable energy that rises superior 10
the physical prostration resulting from a
season of hard work, combined with the
facilitating influence of the weather, is
true to his post, controlling the move
ments of the Institute i'm such a manner
as to give general satisfaction. Those
who nave had the management of a
mass of people with varied tenpera-
ments ana dispositions, moved by diff
ferent motives, impulses anu desires,
will understand how nice and difficult
Is the task. each morning with glance
Mt the eNpectant faces, to know
what programme will best meet the de-
mands of the day and how to carry 1t
out in the best manner.
After the singing, with organ accom-
paniment by Mrs. Montgomery, Rev.
Mr. Hefily led in prayer. Mr.. Grave
then occupied the time assigned TO him
in the discussion of words, their spelling
and pronunciation, calling attention TO
some disputed points. Immediately
afterwards Mrs. Montgomery talked
with the assembly concerning new aid
to the rapid plishment of work
and the prevention of the resultant
-"ambideXterity." The lady
stated that the subject was being con
sidered in the public schools of Ger.
many, and is already taught in some OF
ihe commercial colleges of the United
States, where clerks are trained for eX-
peditious writing, and who, when the
right hand is tired, are taught TO write
with equal facility with the left. There
Is no reason for using the right
hand to the exclusion of the left
Rather than leave umbidexterity TO be
taught in schools, the instruction should
begin at home, with mother and babe as
teacher and pupil. Mothers invariably
train children, often by threats and
blows, to use their right hand, and thus
they grow up one-handed, as 1t were,
save in the case of skilled musicians,
who are, In q measure, ambidextrous
The little babe holds out one hand as
well as the Other 10 grasp bright toy,
ana the force OF this mistaken training
robs IL OF the benefit of the use.
ful power II would otherwise possess.
The Presidents Jefferson and Garfield
were cited as instances of persons who
had cultivated this ability. The dis
cusslon of the subject was commenced
by Mr.. Grove, who asserted that "the
desire TO use the right hand was nat
nral, and was transmitted from parent
70 child;" whereupon brisk and
brilliant talk pro aud con held the as
sembly for several moments, eiciting
divers opinions, hints and suggestions.
Prof. McGuire next called at
tention TO the blackboard,
while he explained certain
method Of teaching the arithmetical
operation OF subtraction. He was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Bryan with simple and
concise rule for teaching percentage
the idea his own.
Miss Knight read humorous selec.
lion with excellent taste and the session
closed with blackboard illustration OF
her method OF teaching reading in the
public schools by one of our most eilici-
ent teachers- Miss Mary Jacoby.
Before adjourning the following reso-