The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-08-20
Afternoon Session.

The Association met at $50 p. 10. in the hall
OF the F. NJ. G. After music by the choir the
President Cork stated that all teachers wish
Ing to ask any questions pertaining to their
work could do SO by placing 1t in the ques-
tion box.
On motion of DR.. Grier the article Of the
Constitution referring to the payment OF an
annual fee OF 25 cents was referred to the con-
stitutlon and bylaws, without instruction.
The roll was passed and nine names were
offered for election. On motion OF w. G. Bell
they were received in full membership.
SPELLING, AND THE SYSTEM OF NOT SPELL
No further business, the regular exercises
we're resumed, Mr.. Griffin was then intro,
He gave his method for teaching spelling
which was essentially as follows: short be-
ginning exercise in Webster's spelling book,
speiler, and finally to plan of spelling diff.
cult words on q slate. The pupils are required
to produce the words from memory the next
day. Prof. Griffin advocated the phonetic
system and was of the opinion that we must
have reformation in spelling before our Ian
guage can become the language Of the world.
The paper was we'll prepared, was listened TO
attentiVely by oil the teachers, and gave rise
to O lively discussion opened by Dr.. Grier
He claimed that the adoption OF the phonetic
system would be the loss Of the etymology OF
agreat many words: Mr.. W. L. Miller op.
pOSeu LQ6 pQOucGlO SybieIDt auu uT6eu u luOIe
thorough knowledge OF spelling.
Mr.. McLees commended Mr.. Griffin's sys.
tern OF spelling TO the teachers, and stated
that his class was among the best found In
the two hundred schools he had visited In the
county.
Mr. Thomson was Of the opinion that we
lose the connection with the ancient Ian
glages when we adopt the phonetic system |,
translating our standard works into this
changed language.
THE ASSOCIATION STUDIES ARITHMETIC.
Next on the programme was Mr.. q. G.
Hodges, who lectured the Association on
Arithmetic, His address was fraught with
good suggestions and left an impression on
the minds of the teachers that will be pro
life in their respective com munlties. In his
address Mr.. Hodges maintained that the cur
riculum in our schools is too crowded that
too much time Is devoted to ARITHMETIC, and
yet the pupils are poorly prepared and that
would accomplish three times as much. IN
answer to the question, what part of arith;
metic should be taught? he recommended
o thorough understanding, OF the four rudi-
ments; Of common fractions, decimal frac.
tions, denominate numbers, one method OF
teaching interest, and some percentage: He
held that our teachers consume too much
time with little things ,,,
The discussion was opened by Mr.. Miller,
who repeated the idea that too much time Is
given TO the study.
might be saved by stopping elementary pro-
cesses, and that great part of the waste time
is due to pressing children forward In the rea-
son Of things.
The discussion continued some time, and
was Of much Interest and profit TO the teach
era.
OTHER MArTERs.
Six questions we're In the query box, which
were distributed TO Misses Giles, Parks. May
nard, Pressly and Griffin, and TO Messrs. Thom-
son and Griffin.
There being no further business the house
adjourned.