The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-03-12
Teachers association.
P 'rt Deposit, March 9Th 1ss

The Teachers Association Of the Sixth,
Seventh and Eighth districts met at the
pnl lie school building in Port Deposit last
Satu rday. President f. s. Everist in the
chair, and was opened with prayer by the
Rev. John Squier.
Owing to funeral which the Rev. james
Conway was Obliged to attend, the lecture
as announced was not delivered by him,
ard will be delivered at the meeting in
April.
Mile. Whistler from Cedar Hill Seminary
then read selection entitled THE Money
less Man." The selection was we'll read
and we'll received. All expressed themselves
as highly pleased with it. Neither of the
essavist1 was present. Miss Ella Thompson
not being present, the question referred to
her was answered by Rev. John Squier. He
stated that changing the course of the Gulf
stream would materially effect the climate
of certain portions of Great Britain. Miss
Thompson came in as Mr.. Squier finished
and stated she had nothing more to add,
Miss II l.. Owens was not present, but sent
an answer to the question. "What is read
ing and how should it be presented to class
which was read by the Secretary.
Miss Owens said reading may be with
the eye alone, while the brain remains inert;
or it may be such as involves thought and
expression, it should be so presented to
class that the pupils may learn to spell, to
punctuate, to capitalize, TO express ideas
with ease, grace and force, the teacher
should proceed slowly. The teacher should
lead the pupil to un lerstand what he reads.
Have the pupil close the book and give in
detail the subject read. Demand attention
from each pupil. No fixed rule can be CIV
en- to obtaa it, but the teacher must use his
own ingenuity in securingt.
The Association then proceeded 30 discuss
the Question. The discussion WAS on teach
ing beginner TO read, Rev. John Sqnier
said he did not believe in what was called
the ''word method" The child should learn
the names of the letters first. When tangh
to spell and then taught to read. Mr.. Nc
Name agreed with Mr.. Sqner and said liz
conId teach more easily that way. Mr.. Say
lor differed from the preceding gentlemen
and said the p'pil learns to pronounce
words from sonnhs which the letters repre-
sent and that the names of The letters afford
the child M assistance in pronouncing a
ord, all that is necessary to know is t.
have the form of the letter impressed rpo'
the NINA, and to know what sounds it stand
for. The reason that it is SO dificult for chill
,ir, to learn to pronounce some words anG
then spell them, is from The fact that word
are not sounded, aud some letters represent
sounds in different words. Mr.. S.
I. Tammany sail he did not think any al
the ways mentioned was the correct one:
Int that the sword method" was the CORE G.
way to teach child to read. All tn
writers he had read on that subject a'ivocat
ed the sword method"
"Whv are the trunks Of trees solid AMI
the stalks OF grain and grass hollow" was
answered by J. l.. Crothers, Mr. Crother>
said the stalk shonld only he strong en- u!h
to support the grain 1t bears, and thi.
should be produced by taking as little nour
ishment rs possible from The ground, whiri
,s done nv making the stalk in the form at
IL cylinder. The question "should the book
Zee be abolishei?" was discnSseI hy Croth
ers. Tammany, Squier, and Savior, Mr..
Sqnier stated the Board were always willing
tn abolish the book fee on condition thai
The taxes would he increased to make mp
the deficiency. All the speakers argued
with Mr.. Squer and stated they were not 10
favor of sbolishing it if it were to come off
the teachers. Mr.. Squier stated during the
meeting that an ff,rt had been made to
have the school fund dstribnred on differ
ent basis. He said the fund for the whites
was distributed upon the basis of white and
black population, and th@t the fund for the
blacks was distributed upon the basis of the
black population. This is unjust, Baltimore
and Cc:il counties pay more tax for schools
than they get back.