The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-05-27

BY PROF. \. b. HENRY. III.
Special Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.

lSpeclal Cor. STATE oHhoN ltlEI
As far as possible, the lectures on Meth
DDS of Teaching should precede the class
exercises upon the respective branches;
l. e. Arithmetic, for instance, should be
introduced by a lecture on Methods, and
then should come regular rccitations in
which all the principles advocated in the
lecture should be made plain, and all the
processes familiar. That the teacher know
a thing is not sufficient he mast make it
a part of himself-it must live with him.
The naked statement. no matter how well
understood, 'sProceed from the particular
to the general, IS not worth much. There
is science in it when the teacher knows it,
but art only when ii8 does it, and it is
poor satisfaction to anyone but Il mlSer to
have a mine of wealth which he cannot
use To learn to do, one must do. The
instructors need t. do very little talking,
but a great deal Of teaching. The plan,
therefore, of conducting an Institute solely
by lectures-or even largely So-is an er-
roneous one The teachers should be at
work solving problems, analyzing senten-
ces, making examples discovering truths,
giving illustrations; in all of which they
should be guided by the instructors. The
office of the instructor is not to do the
teachers work for them, but to assist
them in doing it.
There is the other extreme of having no
theoretical work at all no method classes,
but all practice. While this is better than
the all t.cory plan, it is not so good as it
might be. Such an Institute possesses no
advantages over an ordinary school, save
that the work, made up of ''reviews, IS
pushed forward much more rapidly. AS
would be expected, attendance upon an
Institute so conducted, does not make one
a very strong advocate of what are sup
posed to be Normal Institutes. The intro
ductiOn into the Institute of ''short meth
DDS and ''lightning processes is not at
all profitable; while hair splitting qucs
tions, silly bubbles, and prolonged dis
cussOns have no place in an Institute of
any kind, and in we'll ordered Normal
Institute they never occur. An instructor
who understands his business will prom pit
ly cut off everything of this sort. What
the teachers need is not an opportunity to
kill time, air themselves, or play the
smart Aleck;' they can take this time
for such things on other occasions when
there is not so much at stake: but they do
need classification Of the knowledge
already possessed and the acquisition of
such additional knowledge and skill as
will make them more efficient WOrkmen
To pursue a straightforward course, cut
off everything superfluous, and keep the
Institute in good working condition dur
ing the session, requires good, strong
principal. He should be man of liberal
views, since persons of all political, relig-
ious and social opinions are likely to be
among the teachers; a good scholar, that
he may be ready for all proper questions
which may come up: prompt III the per
formance of his duties, since the natural
tendency of the Institute is to drag; dis
! + hot bo bo ol, tn no
of the work he is doing; earnest and ener-
getic that he may impress the teachers
with the weight of responsibility which he
! feels: noble man, that his example as
well as his instruction may influence the
| teachers for good. Aside from the teach
| ing there are matters Of
Business
I with which it is best for the instructors tC
4 have nothing whatever to do. There must
then, be some one else to attend to this
! The business management of any enter
prise is very important, and should be il
the hands Of c0mr,tent persons. Business
qualifications at4.. teaching ability are not
necessarily united in the same person. A>
business man, PestalaZZi was not a sue
cess, and Baredow had to transfer tn,
management of his own institution tC
Campo. Indeed. good managers are a:
important to every School, College or In
stltute as good instructors are. The Off
GERS Of th6 Normal Institute should be: \
President to preside at all business meet
ings; a Vice President with the usual du
ties OF that officer; a Secretary 70 keep ;
record Of the business transactions. etc.
a Treasurer to collect and pay out money
on order of the Institute: and an Execu
tive Committee to prepare programme
make publications, provide place 10
holding the Institute, and attend to an.
other duties not otherwise provided for.