The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-28
CONSTITUTION.

programme Of the exercises appointed
Tor each day, and he should see that il
is promptly and strictly complied with.
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE /. This Institute shall be
known as the --- Teachers In
stitute.
ART. 2. The object of this Institute
shall be the mutual improvement of its
members in the science and art of teach
ing, the diffusion of knowledge pertain.
ing to the philosophy of their profess
sion, and the dissemination of informa.
ton among the people relating to public
school instruction, to promote harmony
and good feeling, and unity of interest
among its members.
Arr. 3. Any teacher or other person
friendly to the cause of education NAV
become a member of this Institute nv
subscribing to this Constitution.
ART. 4. The regular meetings of this
Institute in each year shall be held AT
such times and places as may be fixed
by the Executive Commute
ART. 5. The regular officers of this In
stitute shall be Preside- t, two or more
Vice Presidents, Secretary, an As,i,-
tant Secretary, a Treasurer, and Execu-
tive Committee; and shall be elected
annually on the first day of the first ses.
sion of each year.
ART. 6. 1t shall be the duty of the
President, land in his absence, the Vice.
Presidency, to preside at the meeting of
the Institute, decide all points of order
preserve due decorum, and regulate the
exercises according to the programme
| furnished him by the Institute.
ART. Z. 1t shall be the duty of the
Secretary to keep a faithful record Of
the proceedings of the Institute. note
an abstract of the instruction, debates
ESSAYS and lectures, and prepare certi6.
Gates of membership.
ARl. s. 1t shall be the duty of the
Treasurer to keep an account with the
Institute of all monies received and
paid out, and submit to the Institute
annually an exhibit of his accounts.
ART. 9. 1t shall be the duty of the
Executive Committee to fix the time
and place for the Institute, giving at
least one months previous notice Of the
same. and secure the services of Compe.
tent instructors, lecturers, essayists and
musicians, for conducting the exercises.
ART. 10. All the regular officers shall
be elected by ballot, and majority shall
elect.
| ART. IL. Any of the provisions Of the
Constitution may be amended, and new
articles added thereto, at any regular
meeting, by giving two days previous
notice of the proposed amendments or
additions; provided, two-thirds Of the
members present vote in favor of such
amendments or additions.
By laws, in keeping with pariamen.
tary usage, may be adopted by the In.
stitute.
METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE ENERGIES
OF THE INSTITUTE.
The first business after assembling in
the morning is the calling of the roll of
members by the Secretary. Especial
pains should be taken to obtain prompt
aud regular attendance. lis Importance
cannot be over-estimated.
The calling of the roll is followed bv
devotional exercises.
The regular order of instruction, As
arranged in the programme, now be-
gins. Various methods of conducting
the instruction obtains. The majority
of our teachers are employed in un.
graded schools, and their instruction is
principally of a rudimentary or primary
character; besides, very few of them
nave ever received any professional
training. An attempt, therefore, 10
give instruction in abstract principles,
or employ the technical terms of the
profession in presenting the subject
would be an utter failure.
Discussions are customary feature
of the Institution, and are production Of
much good, when kept within proper
limits. The object should be to elicit
truths, and develop thought aud idea,
pertaining to education which are ap.
plicable to the teachers work.
The most appropriate time for the de-
livery of the regular lectures of the In
stitute is at the night session; this, how.
ever, can be arranged to suit con,cn
fence.
The query box is another means Of
eliciting much valuable information,
and exciting interest. Questions upon
useful and IN portant topics are dropped
into a box, provided for that purpose,
and short time each day devoted 10
the reading and answering them.
In few of the counties of the State,
where County Institutes have been in.
augurated, the plan outlined in the
foregoing has, in the main been adopted,
and in every instance with marked sue
cess. An experiment in this matter will
soon convince school officers and teach
ers of the benefits to be derived there.
from. j. A. SMITH,
State Superintendent.