Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-06
THE SCHOOL TEACHERS,
QUESTIONS DISCUSSED BY THE
STATE CONVENTION.

Prominent Educators - HupeFlh'
tendent RTooty, of Columbus, on
the Relation Between Teacher and
Pupil-Dr. Hopkins on Industrial
Education.
The State Teachers Convention reas-
Bembled at st. johns parish hall Yester-
day morning at O'Clock, in conformity
with tue terms Of adjournment Of the
night previous. The attendance, while
not large, was very fair, and the minds OF
the teachers were evidently more concen-
trated on the business before them thau
was apparent the day before, when the
excitement attending the reception OIL
their distinguished visitors nat
urally distracted their attention
Prof. David c. Barrow, Jr., Of the UNI
versity of Georgia, was not present WIN
his paper on bleaching Elementary
Mathematical and Col. A. p. Mooty, ou-
perintendent OF the Public Schools Of Co
lumbus. assembled the platform and read
a well digested and thoughtful essay on
the "Relation between Pupil and
Teacher"
That Col Mo0ty duly appreciated the
importance OF the subject he was hand
ling was apparent in tue earnestness and
care manifest in the preparation OF his
fpaPer
METHODS OF TEACHING.
Many methods OF teaching prevail, ne
remarked, and each has special theory
which underlies It. Modern teaching, as
found in many Of our public schools, may
be compared 10 the tiiling OF many casks
from a reservoir. the teacher being the
reservoir, the pupils the casks. The
teacher must be full to repletion, the
pupils merely passive recipients. Another
mode of teaching proceeds on very al
ferent plan. Ii sets out with very dill
ferent estimate OF the chids capacity,
and never unfOlds to the pupil what he
can find out for himself. The first method
is constantly blazing the way for the pu-
pil, broadening IL and Frightening II; the
second encourages the pupil to grope his
way TO the pa5h of truth, and TO become
the active working factor and his own
rapidly advancing self-educatOr. Learn
ing IS essentially self-tuition; teaching
t4he superintendent 81 the process.
THE MASTER IS THE SCHOOL.
Hence the Importance of thorough fit
ness and preparation in the teacher.
Jules simon said, 1.-The master is the
SCHOOL, Being asked what was his
system. he answered, II am the system"
The only true definition of education is
that il il the system by which the pupil is
prepared, as his mind acquires strength
by the accumulation ofyears 10 become
schoOlmaster to himself, aud his own
active agent in the acquisition OF
knowledge.
At the close OF Col. MOoty's essay a
brisk discussion was excited by the CON-
ments, in an eloquent little speech, by
MIR. Cannon, the ground taken being that
moral and religious influences were as
vitality essential to education as technical
instruction in the several branches.
TOO MUCH PROFESSION.
"The curse OF the present day." said
Prot. Zettler, ''Is TOO much profession
and too little practice. The teacher who,
by the eloquent example OF his own cor
rect life, imparts instruction in morality
and true religion, is more likely to be sue
cessiul than be who carries too many
professions merely on his lips" Prot.
Dews advocated the unison of
moral and technical instruction,
and was followed by Mr.. q. NJ. Carswell,
of Wadley, VINO urged that while appli-
Giants for positions as educators are inter-
roqated as TO their intellectual and
political qualifications, it is, but
too often, the custom to ig-
more their moral and religious char
acters. The discussion, enlivened as it
was BY the participation OF such veterans
in the cause as Prots. Lettler, Train,
Dews. and others. was very instructive.
as maBiiesting the spirit in which our
well-knOwn educators perform their daily
duties.
THE NEW EDUCATION.
At the close OF the discussion Prof. Ed
q. Wingfeld, principal OF the High School
of Birmingham, Ala, and a graduate OF
the University OF Virginia, read an excel
lent paper on 'The New Education"
The basis of his argument was that
ssteachiDg has for its object the enabling
tue pulpit to be something and to do some-
thing, and not merely to know some
thing" MIR. Wingiield was listened TO
with much attention, bis subject dealing
with Obstruse educational questions,
which found ready apprecia-
ton in the minds of an
audience composed of earnest workers,
whose everyday life was spent in the 80
luton of such problems. At the close OF
Mr.. Wingfield's essay, DIR. Hopkins,
President of Emory college, Oxford, de-
livered a most interesting address ON
"Industrial Education"
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION.
The subject, so ably handled, covers
loo much valuable ground. and is too far
reaching in it's import TO be treated OF in
a synopsis, especially as by resolution
adopted at its close it was determined
90 publish it in connection with the pro-
Eeedings OF the convention.
The programme adopted for to-day is
rs follows:
At 10 a. m, paper on "History in
Our Schools" by Prof. Derry, Of Wesle-
yam Female College, Macon.
At IL a. m. an address by State School
Commissioner DR.. Orr on "The Best
School system for a Southern State"
At noon, report OF COmmitte on Ne
crolOgy. Memorial addresses.
To be followed by the tran saction OF the
final technical business OF the session and
adjournment sine die.
EXCURSION TO TYBEE.
Prior TO adjournment at 1 p. IN. COM
fnittee OF three members of the ColOred
Teachers Association brought fraternal
greetings from their body to the conven.
ton. President Caldwell responded in a
brief speech. AT o'clock the members
of the convention and their friends board.
ed toe steamer ST. Nicholas at the foot oil
Lincoln street, and proceeded on an ex,
cursion to Tybee. The band OF the Savan.
nah Volunteer Guards accompanied the
party. and dancing and merrment, to-
Rether with the exhihrating breezes oil
the Atlantic and the stimulating influence
Of the collation., supplied by the
committee Of arrangements, combined
10 render the occasion an enjoyable epi
Qodn of their visit 10 Savannah. rbe ~