Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-12

THE sEc0ND DzY's SESSION.

shs Psbssr s<hssls- Addresses - Hsn. A.
-. newell ssA General Aynsssss.
Conference met 1t IL o'clcck--Pre-
sident Farr in the chair.
Prayer BY Rev. A. P. Funkcuser.
The minutes Of the last meeting were
read and the roll verified.
COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS.
The following is the Committee on
Resolutions Messrs. Stevens, Sylman,
Smith, Franklin, Bristow, Bowls,
Banks, and Gummell.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Rev. DIR. Dame, chairman Of the Com.
mittce on Business, made . report,
which wss adopted.
The report simply announced the
subjects for discussion st the various
meetings, the speakers who were to
take part in the discussion, and pro-
vided for two sessions daily Of the Con-
ference.
EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
Rev. A. p. Funkhouser entertained
the Conference in brief speech on the
examination of teachers. None Of his
teachers fell below the minimum
grade Of rs per cent. in his
county, except some few who were
allowed to teach for special reasons. A
colored man had been licensed to teach
who had fallen below As per cent. in
the examination.
A number Of the superintendents
expressed their views upon the ques-
ton. About the only remarkable
thing suggested by these talks was that
there was no special method laid down
by the superintendent for grading and
examining teachers.
Hon. A. M. Newell, president Of
the State Normal School Of Maryland,
took part in the talk. He told some
very funny things, and among others
said that he was once examined him
self. On a question about which he
thought he was thoroughly informed he
barely passed, and was allowed to do
so as an especial personal favor. On a
question about which he knew nothing
in the world he went through with fly
ing colors. and absolutely was made a
professor of the very subject.
TRAINED TEACHERS.
At / o'clock President Farr intro
duced Hon. A. NJ. Newell, who pro-
ceeded to lecture on the subject, - The
County Superintendency the Life OF a
State School System"
The greatest need" said he, " of
the public schools in this State, the
greatest need of schools in this coun-
try or any other, was lack of trained
teachers" He did not mean to say
that training was sufficiency Of learn
ing. Experience was not always train
ing. Would the doing Of thing wrong
thousand times teach the way to do
it right? Were the old teachers the
best? The county superintendents
should see to all this. They were the
life of the school system, and more de-
pended upon their observation, if i'm
proved and extended, than upon any
other source. Mere book-learning never
made teacher, neither did experience
solely--both were good, but practical
training was what was wanted.
TECHNICAL TRAINING.
Following up the line Of thought laid
down by Professor Newell, General S.
c. Armstrong took the stand, and pro-
ceeded to lecture on technical training
in public schools. He said he hoped to
see, and believed he would see, devel-
oped in Virginia the noblest types Of
manhood and womanhood from the edu-
cational system that could be found in
this country. The system, however,
had to bo rounded out ; the world
was moving, pressing on, and the
great question was to make every
man count. AS much depended
on the muscles as the mind, and
all needed training. The hand, the
head, and the heart were the three
great phases. In the schools the head
was all right, and he believed the heart
was. Now all that was needed was
the training of the hand. He congratu-
lated Virginia that so large percentage
Of her population followed agricultural
pursuits. The great shadow which hung
over the North was the fact that
25 per cent. Of its population lived
in cities. Besides, in the South the
greater part of the population were
Americans, whereas in the North and
West this was not the case. He advo-
Gated the training of girls, as well as
boys, in the use of the saw and ham
mer and the practical use of mechanical
tools. Suggestive training, not ex-
haustive training, was what was needed
and what should be wisely superintend-
ed. Our girls should have practical
trainingin order TO develop solid woman
illness.
PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. Mcdonald arose to a question Of
personal privilege. lie wanted to know
{" if there was any conspiracy to freeze
the Conference out?" He had refer
ence to the fact that the room was not
very well heated.
Hon. Mr.. Newell said General
Armstrong and myself have done our
best to warm you up"
Mr.. Dalby said, You have both
touched my heart, but you haven't
warmed my feet at all
A member from his seat said. per
haps your feet are too large
The Conference adjourned until 8
o'clock.
Night Session.
Conference met at 8 O'Clock.
The Committee on Constitution and
Bylaws made report, which was
adopted, with an amendment which
provides that when the terms Of Office
Of he present members expire they
shall become honorary members. and
that the editor of the Educational
Journal be member of the Conference.
Considerable time was consumed in
.n....<l.~s.. A.. L.. 10 nc and amont tuU