Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-02
HOW TO TEACH WELL.
ADDRESS or HON. J. L. NJ. CURRY
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
Thorouehness and Originality Of Tnstruc-
ton Recommended Old Euts
to BE Avoided.

In accordance with the announcement
made bv Professor william +. Fox, Super
intendent Of City Schools, meeting Of
oil the principals and teachers Of the pub
lie schools Of this city was held at the
Richmond High-School building at ~
o'clock yesterday afternoon. The largo
assembly-room was crowded with the
teachers and friends and distinguished
visitors TO hear DR.. Curry's address. Among
the visitors were DR.. Frost, DR.. Jabez
Hall. DR.. j. T.. Buchanan, Mayor Llly59n,
chairman of the board, and MAJOR }. il.
Capcrs. Of the board.
THE spEAEEa PETsENTED.
cupcriutendont Fox SAID II gives me
pleasure to meet ali the teachers Of the
schools Of Richmond. Or. Curry kindly
accented NV invitation. IL needs no IN
i PRODUCTION. He has made the subject OF
education q special study, andln the coun-
cil4 Of tine nations as we'll a. IN the proies-
sor's chair be has ever been the friend OF
education He "a now the agent OF the
Peabody Fund, one of the most important
educational trusts IN the whole country,
which j. foi the benefit Of the southern
schools. He then introduced DR.. Curry.
THE ADDRESS.
Dr. Curry SAID that he knew Of no an
dioncc that il would give hln more plea
sure to address than al audience OF teach
crs He rojOiced that there are so many
opportunities for employment for the gen.
tier sex. but he thought that the work If
teaching should be committed 10 bpth
sexes. IL required 10 choose he would OF
course prefer tho ladies, but II he had 20
elect it should be divided. There Is no
thing in which there has been more I'M
provemcut than in oducat,On-ln III build
incs. books, appliances, and methods
of teaching.
GREAT PROGRESS ~ TEACHING.
lie said that in the days Of his boyhood
tho chalk and the ink-wcll and the black
board were things unknown. They used
quill pens md walls Of ink hung 20 the
buttons of the coat. The wrtng-desk
was slab. the schOOl-hOuse was log
building. and had no windows bat chnEs
between the logs. There has been great
Improvement in teaching and IN public
opinion of teaching. I'm former days 1t was
rdiculcd aud caricatured. Macaulcv says
that one OF the method. Of degrading the
clergy was 10 make them teach the ciul-
dren OF tho parish. The Improvement is
rot only i'm professional teaching but IN
every other respect.
Nv object tins afternoon, said he. Is 70
stimulate Won to 90 outside OF the routine
work of grammar, reading, and spelling,
DC. You ought TO nave an ambition to
make continual progress.
NARRow-MINpEDSKss.
Tho history of teaching end the philoso-
phy of teaching. the methodology or
science Of methods the art and science OF
education should. Ur. Curry sald, claim
vonr constant attention. Teachers ought
10 avoid narrOwucss in their work. Prcacn n
ing the Gospel is right alongside Of teach
iug. hut no man ought tOcOnfine his whole
attention 10 his particular calling, and thus
become narrow-mndcd until they run INTO
ruts. Some professional men get int0 mar
row ru'9 and then think that these ruts are
the highways of the nation.
GIVE THE SOUL A CuANCE.
We want breadth and enlarged views
Give the e0ul q chance for greater develop
mcnt. said the Doctor. In some respects
"a teacher occupies the most important pO-
sition in the world.
The teacher should seek not only to
develop the mind hut 20 DO more than
that. The teacher the editor. the
mcchnnic j. more than his trad'. Ihls l5
a world Of intcrdepcnderce These chill
drcu are humps of infinite possibilities.
Train not only the mind, but form the
character.
THINNING PEOPLE.
Teachers should learn to think Tor them
selves. 4 wOman's intellectis just rs strong
and lust asgOod ~ mans, and there should
be manliness Of thinking on the part of
the teachers. Teachers should assert them
selves bv work and success. We want above
all things thinking in our teaching. There is
much humbuggeTy In teaching. Don't let IL
hc 30 with YOU. Don't dilute everything
into thin Cruel. Give the pupil something
10 work ont in his ow' mind.
Business COLLEGES do for the children what
tho schools should do. Let the teacher
find out the child and make him think
about his work and be- will be able TO take
any position in business circles.
Do not rob child Of his individuality.
Don't reduce them 10 an arlthmotical cl-
uher Elevate them by calling forth the
latent powers of the mind, that they may
develop into men and women OF great
character.
1t IS the province Of education 20 lead
the children e. be thinkers, and thus be-
come better fitted for the duties of life, for
Out of thinking will come ideas. You Will
not have worked in VAIN ifyou can lodge in
the mind Of child one good idea. True
education puts big idea IN the mind
something that will grow and expand.
DIGNITY INSTRUCTION.
Tho Doctor concluded bv urging upon
the teachers to have "a higher conception Of
the grand work OF instruction. Dignity
IL. Honor your calling. and make II homo
rablc hy doing your duty thoroughly and
satisfactorily in theschOOl and Ia all the
walks of life.
Mr.. Fox returned the thanks OF the
teacher, 10 DR.. Curry for his able and use
ful address. and assured him that they
would try 10 adopt his advice and thus