Terms of PiiWlcallon. THE TIOGA COUNTY AGITATOR is pub K „ed every Thursday Morning, and .l._ _» the very redffiiable'of "a^aonam," Itisintend notify every subscriber ,w)ien, the term for which be has shall have expired, by the stamp I‘Time Oat” on the margin of the last paper. The naner wilUhen be stopped until a further re mittance be received. By Ibis arrangement no man " i „ Kminrht in debt to the printer. ° a THZ Aoiwroa is the Official Paper of the Conn . “;,h - Inrye and steadily increasing circulation l l' ” } ; J nearly every ■ neighborhood- in the <Sunty g It is sent / rM °f P<* ta g e loan y Post-Office na the coaniy Umils.end to those livibg within limits, but whose most convenient postoffice may be m an adjoining County. . Business Cards, not exceeding 5 lines, paper in eluded, $4 per year. ' 1 For Tho Agitator, LITTLE WILLIE. to the home that be convened, one who loved him said, « Ererything seems very lonely now out Willie’s dead I w i Tes, and for & weary season, gladness has gone out, i’rom the rooms that once resounded, with his merry shout. Ko long weeks of pain and anguish, racked his Utile frame; Very soon, to end hla suff’ring, Death in mercy came. One bright, sunny, Sabhath morning— Willie was at play, Ere another Sabbath sunset, in his grave he lay I As the seasons como and vanish, o’er that little grave, Birds will sing, and flow’rs blossom, and the tall grass wave, But remember, ye who lov’d him, though the spot be fair, Where you left his body resting, Willie is not there! No, not there—but with bright spirits, in a happy home, Where no taint of earthly sorrow, evermore can come; And fir wiser and far bettor, Willie now will grow, Ibau ftio happiest little children, who remain below. May. 1853. VIRGINIA, PROCEEDINGS Of the Tlogo Co. Teachers' Institute. Second Day, Mr. E. Wudman in the Chair. Mousing Session. —On motion the words •‘in Tioga'County’’ in Art. 2. of Constitution were stricken out. On motion, An. 6 was so amended as to provide for a semi-annual election of officers. The resignation of the corresponding Sec retary was tendered and accepted. On motion, the President pro tern. was elect ed to the Chair for the entire session. On motion, a Committee of three was ap pointed by the chair to prepare resolutions for the consideration of the Institute, as fol lows : J. B. Niles, H. N. Williams and J. D. Vandusen. A discussion of the best mode of opening and conducting schools was entered into. Mr. Williams, staled that he usually open ed school by reading a portion of Scripture, following with a short lecture upon some ap propriate theme. He recognized order' as Heaven’s first law, and without system, no school could be profitably managed. He wo’d use the rod when all other reasohable means of persuasion failed. Mr. Wildman, agreed with the first speaker that school should be opened by reading a ponion of Scripture, followed by prayer— the latter to be at the option of the teacher. This might lead children to the knowledge of new moral truths. As to the conduct of schools, he would suggest a short lecture touching the relations existing between teach er and pupil. He was no advocate of many rules of order for the government of schools. The (ewer laws the better. Place confidence in the pupils, teach them to be men and wo men, and thus control them through the high er faculties. All necessary rules should be strictly enforced. Offenders should he mild ly reproved, and if the rod was called in, it should not be in the presence of 'the school, and then only at the last pinch. He was in favor of systematical-classification of studies and order of exercises. He was not in favor of the “pouring in” process. It was belter to develop the self reliance of the pupil. Mr. Emery presumed that the object in placing him on the list of speakers was to learn how schools were conducted twenty years ago. It was wisdom to learn of expe rience. He had not taught for many years, other than a private school, in which he had proved so successful as to induce a steady in crease. (laughter.) His old-time mode of opening school was first to become acquaint ed with the capacities of his pupils aad their peculiarities of character also. He taught in the good old days of rewards and punish ments, and thought it proper to excite the emulation of pupils either by rewards or credit marks. Were he to teach now he would open school with prayer—not formally —but earnestly and feelingly. Would ad vise others to do so, when it could be done conscientiously. He preferred the Peslaloz ztan mode of teaching. As to rules —the fewer the better. Confidence in pupils would gam respect from them for the teacher. He had heard of a successful teacher who always held his pupils incapable of doing wilful wrong. There was a chord which it was ° t, neC(,sSar y t 0 touch to ensure obedience. J he following resolution was then read : Resolved, that an examination of six hours, (t tee written and three oral) is not sufficient 0 properly form a correct opinion of a teach s qualification. Mr. Hickok, said he was not a little en couraged at the boldness and independence evinced on the part of the teacher’s of Tioga • p o ™?’ ' n 'he submission of this resolution, *. lae submission was in good faith. It wh ®real f ro S res3 end that confidence inir * necessar y 10 ensure success in teach ?■ A good teacher would, of course, fear u examination of 6 hours duration as little ,bal P er ' l,me ■ Still, he crert l '* e ma j° rll y °f teachers would not six * )ass lhrou Sh a longer ordeal than Do(t° UrS ' be ob j ect examinations was 0 candidates, but only to ascer edge° S avallabilil y °f 'heir practical knowl enf' r " ? alkins ’ sa lba ' 'he Superintend bv .'i ""Prove 'he capacity of the teacher onl l 7 n p er examination, so be it; but if ha y desired to ascertain the available amount dt Practical knowledge possessed by the can out 1 n S ’ u* Was not necess ary. He had found Jear laat ' n len minutes often. He could f J™ re °f 'he fitness of a candidate ,du tonm an bour ’ s v '*' llo his or her school the K " an ' D o:ber wa y- had known isfaci 681 leacberB t 0 he most timid and unsat eollec “ aa exam ' Qat 'on. Graduates of nation 8 °' ten OOl P aBS a good ezami- He thn, ye L We J 6 not "eoessarily.unfit to teach. a ruin * i° n g er ordeal than an hour, as ■me, to be useless. C- Reyn “ ld3 - hlld B reat faUh in examina. ’ Properly conducted, AH teachers ex- THE AGITATOR. .V* V Befcdteß to Ifie 35*teii0l<in oi tfce ea of JFmUow ana tfce of WHILE THEBE SHALL BE A WRONG UKEIQHTED, AND UNTIL “MAN’S INHUMANITY TO MAN” SHALL CEASE, AGITATION MUST CONTINUE. VOL. IV. amined last year who received certificates marked with morG than-two “I’s” (two ex cepted) gave excellent satisfaction. Those two wouhTget drunk. Certificates marked on an average of‘ i 2,” so far as be knew had done well; none had been turned out. Those of the grade “3” arid “4” had a hard lime of it generally. He did not agree with Mr. Calkins in regard to intellectual qualifications. If a graduate could not pass “a good examina tion, ho would not prove a'succesfnl teacher. He placed intellectual qualifications very high. He aimed to pul no puzzling questions to teachers, but only such as were really essen tial. Teachers should lake rank as they were more or less familiar with the practical knowledge necessary to successful teaching. As “embarrasment” had been offered as an excuse for teachers, he would ask how much embarrassment should excuse the candidate with the Superintendent ? Mr. Hickok, thought that would depend much upon the nature of the embarrasment. If it arose from modesty, every allowance should be made. Mr. Reynolds, thought it would be danger ous to admit diffidence as an excuse. Teach ers would not be slow to take advantage of such a rule. If teachers are to forget to-day, • what they claim to have known yesterday, of what practical use is the knowledge lost so easily? He thought teachers should be credited with just the amount of available knowledge they possessed. The true crite rion for the Superintendent was the present available knowledge of the candidate. A lecture was announced from Mr. Hickok, upon the efficacy of the Co, Superiuteudency, and the duly of the friends of education in sustaining him. Mr. H. said that so far as the utility of the office was concerned, lhal was settled beyond a peradveniure. That battle had been fought and won. True, there was still no little op posiiibn from a certain class—a class consti tutionally opposed to the entire system of Common Schools. this class proceed ed the great bulk of the petitions rushed into the Legislature last winter. The people had a right to ask how their money was spent.— They are the sovereigns—the source of all oppmprialions for public purposes. As one of the officers, he could conscienjiously say that the money expended under the present law was judiciously expended. The Slate had expended' $15,000,000 during the last 20 years for Common School purposes. How had it been expended? That Schools were necessary, all would agree—or nearly all. The question is. how can the evils of the sys tem best be cured ? The Legislature had ta ken the matter in hand and had furnished a framework for the superstructure of a noble system—the beat in the Republic. Means to carry out the refotm were needed. Under the old system the school bouses were not fit to receive the children of white people.— Heretofore, money appropriated to school purposes, had been no better than thrown away. It was squandered hy defaulting offi cers or expended upon improvements not con templated by the law. Under the old system the schools were often the hotbeds of vice and immorality, and were in such a low condition, that, when he was called upon to assume the duties of Stale Superintendent, he recoiled from the task. But things.were different now. The new law removed the obstacles to pro gress, and has already, with but four years trial, lifted our schools up to a proud position. The only wonder was that it had not brought them much nearer peifection. Complaints poured in from every quarter, but in spite of all, the system was gradually winning the admiration of the people. It was based upon popular sovereignly—giving the whole mat ter into the hands of the people. With di rectors at least nine-tenths of the power is placed. There is no autocratic power at Har risburg, guiding and controling the mailer. — The Co. Supt. is the right arm of the system, as the directors are the back-bone. Of course a perfect organization cannot be had without a head in the Slate. Like the Judiciary, it must be perfect from (op to bottom. Strike out a link of the chain and you destroy the efficacy of the system. Each officer has his peculiar duty to perform. The system tends to place teaching in the front rank of profes sions. It was formed with a higher view ffian dollars and cents. Adjourned. Tuesday.—Afternoon Session, R. R. Austin staled his plan of leaching the simple rules of Arithmetic accompanying his his statement with lucid demonstrations. Ambrose Close followed with an admirable dissertation touching the best method of leaching fractions, accompanied with very clear demonstrations upon the blackboard. Hon. H. C. Hickok being called for, took the floor. Mr. H. said : If there were any difficulties, or misunderstandings touching the operation of the School Law, among directors or teachers in Tioga, he hoped none would hesi tate to interrupt him at any lime with ques tions relating thereto. Under the bid system there was no uniform mode of conducting Common School matters ; the masses being apathetic, good teachers were not always sought, nor found when sought. Teachers, then, as a class, were fit for almost anything else than their vocation. Sometimes a col lege graduate came along, and to "raise the wind," engaged to.teach. As a general rule, such persons were as poor timber for teachers as could well be got at. Their studies in College were not such as to render them pro ficient in the elementary branches. Often they had grownup blissfully ignorant of their own language while deep in the mysteries of a dead literature. Such seem to think that a knowledge of the common branches comes by intuition, Put lhs old tjme furnished *om s WILLSBORO, TIOGA COUNTY, PA., THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE 3, 1858. earnest, kind-hearted and capable teachers— men and women with ,a tact for leaching. Others were employed because they were cheap, or favorites with those in power in the districts. Under the old 'system directors could not prevent the swarming of these hordes of incompetent teachers; the districts were isolated, and, refused intone quarter they fled to another. Now, alt are but parts of one systematic whole and the uniform stand ard of qualification which had been estab lished under the new law operated to drive this class from the Schools. From them and their friends the opposition to the new law in good part proceeded. They had cause to be alarmed. He said that the present system had only to be fairly tried to become popular —it had become so wherever it had been best carried out. (Mr. H. here introduced several amusing anecdotes illustrating his subject which were received with applause.) The Co. Superintendents were but agents of the people to carry on the reform. The work of driving out incompetent teachers was going on silently but certainly. A hundred per cent, in progress had been made, and still we were 500 per cent, below where we ought to be. OurJJoards of directors are more effi cient than they were three years ago. They begin to understand that good teachers can not be hired at a small price. So when in competent teachers refused certificates we have a great complaint against the new system. He had established a rule that no candidate should receive a certificate whose proficiency in orthography would not entitle him to an apprenticeship in a country print ing office. As to the office of directors, nine tenths of the power was delegated to them, and rightly. Their duties are arduous and often thankless ; yet the Co. Supt. look much of the burden from their hands, (Some one asked if teachers might prescribe exercises suitable, in their judgment, to the capacities of scholars.) Mr. H. thought the teacher had such discretion, under favor of the Board of directors. The Superintendent had con current jurisdiction with the directors in se lecting text books. Mr. Reynolds : How do you understand the law in regard to keeping schools open on Saturdays 1 Mr. Hickok: lam utterly opposed to keeping schools open on Saturdays. Of course, the wishes of the majority of patrons must be prudently deferred to in such matters. You may hire a man to chop, split rails or mow, from Monday morning until Saturday night; but you cannot keep little children hard at brain labor six consecutive days with either reason or profit. Education does not consist in intellectual culture only, but in physical and moral as well. The law does not define the length of a teacher’s momh, but leaves it to the discreiion of the people. So, many improvements were made, not ex pressly provided for by law. Institutes, and township associations were of this class of improvements—signs of healthy progress and legitimate outgrowths of the system. Mr. Niles: Should directors receive a stated sura for their services ? Mr. Hickok : I would not at present alter or amend the present law. The directors have great responsibilities to sustain, but the office is highly honorable. He thought a salary attached to the office might work cor. ruption, by throwing the office into the hands of politicians, and the directors would then be the creatures of men who had axes to grind. Mr. Chapman : Is it legal for directors to break up old districts and consolidate two in one ? Mr. Hickok: The law vests that discretion ary power in the directors. It is almost an absolute power, yet in a very exalted sense, that powei is still in the breasts of the people. Mr. Calkins: What should be done with pupils using profane or indecent language in the school room ? Mr. Hickok: I would reprimand for the first offence. If that proved insufficient, the offender should be ejected from the school room. Profane or indecent language should not be permitted within the jurisdiction of the teacher. Mr. Emery: What is the bound of the teacher's jurisdiction 1 Mr. Hickok : That is a mooted question. The genera! rule however, is (hat when the pupil steps from the paternal threshold, he passes from the jurisdiction of the parent in to that of the teacher. There would be some difficulty in carrying this rule into effect in particular cases. Still, in his judgment, it was the proper rule to be adopted by teach ers and parents. There could be no subor dination without so extending the jurisdiction of the teacher. Adjourned to o’clock, p. m. ■ Tuesday.—Evening Session The discussion of the question touching the length of lime proper to be consumed in ex aminationsby the Co. Supt., was resumed. Mr. Niles, thought six hours sufficient for all practical purposes—to entitle a teacher to a certificate, or to refuse one. He could see no utility in changing the present custom, when nothing belter bed beep as yet proposed. He thought a teacher would find no difficulty in answering questions with . which he had rendered himself familiar. Embarrasment, he thought, should be taken into considera tion ; the Superintendent, of course to decide for himself in hqw much failure was attribu table to diffidence. Mr. Kirkeudall agreed Vith the last speak er in regard to time. If a Superintendent could not ascertain the qualifications of a candidate in sis hours, he could not, in bis judgment, in six times six hours. As ip em harassment, he was for ignoring it altogether. If a teacher knows his business, he can an swer without much diffioulty-r-thai is, touch*- ers can answer all questions of practical im portance without ernbarassmeot, in a majority of cases. Mr. H. N. Williams, thought teachers had no option in the matter of lime consumed by the Sup’t. in examinations. That officer must be his own judge as to the length of lime called for. Ha agreed with previous speakers that teachers haying a good knowl edge of their business would not, as a rule, be 100 much embarassed to reply. . He would leave it to the Superintendent, Mr, D. paeon, was in favor of reducing the time from six hours to half an hour. He thought six questions in each branch would <be enough to give the Superintendent a fair .estimate of the capabilities of candidates. ( Mr. Vanduzen, agreed with others that six hours was long enough time fur examinations. He did not think either six or twelve hours would be sufficient to enable the Superintend ent to.judge intelligently of the candidates tact fur teaching, Mr. Bailey, differed with the last speaker. Six hours to each candidate would be very well; but with a class of 10 teachers it would give only 36 minutes to each other. One hundred questions per hour would be a small estimate, giving the proper number to each of the six branches. Then, at least fifteen minutes would be lost in embarassment.— Three hours of oral examination would give but 10 minutes to each teacher. Mr. Hart, thought six hours sufficient time to ascertain the qualifications of candidates. He did not feel called upon to suggest the proper number of hours, but opined that it should not be an arbitrarily fixed time.— Proper allowance should be made for embar assmeol. Few teachers could stand before the Superintendent and remain as free from embarassment as in their school-rooms. He remembered that some of the loudest now against allowance for embarrasmeot, visibly quaked in their shoes before the Superintend ent. (laughter.) Six hours was not suffi cient for a deliberate judgment on the pan of the Superintendent, as to tact, and those who thought that officer could make up his judg ment in half an hour, meant to flatter. It was too large to be true. Dr. Webb, thought the question of time should be left to the Superintendent. iHe can spend but one day with each of teachers. Six hours was deemed a proper time for pupils and teachers in schools, and the Superintendent was governed by the same rule. From the responses to the more im portant questions in the several branches taught, he could form a fair judgment of the claims of teachers to certificates. He. thought six hour’s time enough, except for first class certificates. Certificates of lower grades could be given after a six hours’ ordeal, Mr. Ritter, said there was great unanimity of opinion, so far, prevailing among previous speakers. He was willing to abide by the pleasure of the Superintendent. Mr. Walbridge, said he had taught during ten years, and had been examined by Justices of the Peace, Lawyers, Doctors, Ministers, and Tom, Dick and Harry. He had been let off with one hour and had been bored for three hours. Seminaries required at least a week to examine teachers. Can the Super intendent require less lime? He thought not. A person of a mathematical mind required more lime to digest and properly answer ques tions than one of a metaphysical mind. Six hours did not seem long enough for a thor ough examination. Mr. Cady, would leave the time optional with the Superintendent, but thought six hours long enough. There should be some allow, ance made for embarassmenl. He was sat isfied that persons might be so diffident as to fail in the simplest questions. He bad a'case in point in which the best scholar in a class in Algebra, failed utterly. Mr. Reynolds, asked to hear from the fe male teachers. He considered six hours all sufficient. There were seed-questions which would extract the practical knowledge of a class in a very short space of lime. If an examination was any lest, an hour was suffi cient to constitute that lest. In written exam inations he gave full three hours to each teacher. He would like to make some allow ance for embarassmenl in female teachers.— But the precedent would be dangerous. Each would plead it on failure. He believed a proper degree of embarassmenl to be "benefi cial, because excitement quickened the opera tion of mind. He had a poor opinion of rec ommendations of principals of high schools. Of course a teacher would recommend his pupils in some sort, since it was for his in terest to do so. Teachers must be content to rest upon their own merits. Mrs. Reynolds, thought if longer time was exacted, it would be necessary to gel a law passed exempting Superintendents from the exercise of eating and sleeping. She thou ght some allowance should be made for embar assmenl. Mr. Hickok, agreed with Dr. Webb that six hours was time enough for certificates of a lower grade, and not long enough for first class certificates. In written examinations, the Superintendent could ascertain the amount of practical knowledge of candidates, in six hours. In some, embarrasipcrjt was consti tutional; but with all the favorable circum stances usually attendant on such occasions, Jillle allowance should be made for it. Good teachers could stand the test. The standard of teachers would be raised 50 per cent, per year until none but first class teachers would be employed. The Resolution was lost. The following Resslulion was read and or dered to lie over. Resolved, That the office of Co, Sup’t. should not he abolished until fairly tested, Mr. H. N. Williams then read a fine essay upon “Primary Education.” J Adjourned to 9 A. M; of Wednesday. Wednesday Morning. Mr. E. Wildman in the Chair. Mr. Niles submitted the folloWing reso lution : i Resolved, That the members of the Insti tute accept the proposition the Editor of the Agitator to devote one column of his paper weekly to 1 the discussion of questions pertaining to the educational policy of this county or State. j- Unanimously adopted. Dr. Pratt, in! behalf of the \ Democrat, offered a column of that paper forithe like ob ject, which was accepted without I discussion. The State Superintendent Mr. Hickok, then addressed the Institute. He expressed him self delighted with the manner of] conducting the Institute. He further urged that teachers should strive to prepare themsejves for the proper discharge of the duties devolving upon the Co. Supt., since, from the ranks of that profession the Supl’s. must be taken when the system becomes perfected.! He pro nounced a farewell blessing. 1 On motion, Hon. H. C. Hickok, was elect ed an Honorary member of the Institute. Adjourned. i * Afternoon Session^ Minutes of the morning session read and adopted. . j Demonstrations in Arithmetic.) Greatest Common Divisor, —by Miss Amy Rockwell. ! True Remainder. —Miss Augusta Orvis. Cube Root. —Miss Beach. | Proportion. —J. B. Niles. f Square Root. — S. E. Ktrkendall. Least Common Multiple.— j-J. D. Van duzen. ! Best Method of Calculating Inter est. —Miss Liciitenthaler. f Reason of the Rules of Alligation Alternate.—J. Walbridge. These demonstrations were characterized by great clearness and elicited general ap proval. i Recess of ten minutes. Mrs. Maynard was elected Treasurer pro tern. The Institute then listened to an oration by F. D. Ritter. It was a highly creditable production. R. C. Bailey read a very excellent essay upon Education. A motion to amend the Constitution was lost. Mr. Vanduzen and Misses, Beach and Rockwell wfere made a Committee to report permanent officers for the Institute. Messrs. Ntles, Williams, Kirftendall, Rit ter and Bailey, were made a Committee to report resolutions. I ■ The Institute voted to close its labors on Thursday night, and adjourned until 7$ P. M. ! Evening Session. The minutes of the afierndon session were read and approved! The board of Counsel reported in favor of Mansfield as the place for holdihg the next session of the Institute. Adopted after a sharp debate. I The following resolution was submitted for discussion : , ; Resolved, That the word “Tcjwer,” in the resolution relating to text bookst b« stricken out and the word “Brown” substituted. Mr. Hart, was in favor of the resolution. “Tower” was a minor work, having for its only recommendation, its patent right sys tem of analyzalion. Ilshowed little research, while Brown’s is remarkable for its depth and perfectness. It had been j adopted by nearly every college in Americas It cost its author years of patient labor, «jas made for all time—not for dollars and cents but as a benefaction to the language. He would vote for the resolution. [ Mr. Bacon, was in favor jof Brown’s grammar for Common Schools, j Tower was too silly and Kenyon too abstruse. Brown’s was ihe grammar of grammars.! Mr. Niles, had never used other than-Ken yon’s grammar and was not j prepared to choose between Tower and Brown. He dep recated this' constant meddling with text books. It was the fruitful source of grum bling among parents, who .were laxed enough already. He did not favor these vain at tempts at uniformity in text books. It was impracticable. ; i Mr. Williams, agreed wiih the last speaker touching their meddling with text books. He preferred Kenyon in Etymology, Brown in Prosody. As a text book he certainly pre ferred Brown before Tower, j } Mr. Rogers, said ho was little acquainted with Tower’s grammar, therefore could not discuss the resolution in all its bearings.- He regarded Bqown’s grammar 'superior to all others. It contained all that w6s necessary to be known touching the science of (he English language. N ! Mr, Spencer, preferred Brown very deci dedly. He had given Tower a thorough trial and found it wanting in many essentials —very defective. The best results accrued to a substitution of Brown for Tower, as he could testify. ' 1 I Mr. Elliott, decidedly favored Brown as a book for qur Schools. Tower analyzed better than Brown; but Rrowh reaches the same result by rendering the student faqiiliar with the drift of a sentence U shorter route. He had heard the Co. |Supt. remark that students in Brown were more advanced than those in Tower. He ’thought Brown superior to Tower in every department. The fine print in Brown’s grammar was worth more than Tower’s entire work. - Mr, Vyalbridge, had studied Brown’s gram mar and preferred it for beginners as well as * • I . 1 ’■ i . • . 1 , 1 I Advertisements will be charged 81 per square o fourteen lines. Ibr one. or three insertions, and 25 -cents for every subsequent insertion. AH advertise, menu of less than -fourteen, lines considered as a equate. The following rales will be clmrjted for Quarterly, Half-Yearly and Yearly advertising:— Bqnare,(l4lines.) . 82 50 $4 50 $G OO . . .4 00 ’ 800 808 i column, .... 1000 15 00- ...80 00 ..column,- . . . .18 00 30 00 40 00 All advertisements not having the number of in. serttons marked upon them, will be kept in until or dered out, and charged accordingly. Posters, Handbills, Bill,and Letter Heads,and all' kinds of Jobbing done in country executed neatly and promptly. Justices’, Const a bles’ and other BLANKS, constantly on band and printed to order. ■ - - NO. iXLIY. for advanced classes. Men of long expert, ence preferred it before all others. No one could leach Kenyon except Prof. Kenyon. As for Tower, he began at the wrong end and ended where he begun. Mr. Bailey, had changed m opinion some, what since hearing the matter discussed. He had given an inch and they had taken an ell. Did they wish to introduce that monstrous book into Common Schools? What had its adoption by colleges to do with it as a Cora mon Schools book ? He thought Kenyon as good in every sense; and would turn out some of his Kenyonites against any number of Brownlies. Mr. Ktrkendall, said the gentleman would, do well to remember chat he, himself, taught Brown’s grammar in the same school but a before, when he talked about turning:' outj his Kenyonites against Brownites. Mr. Bailey, said he only remembered that fact, but he had not forgotten in what condition he found the pupils.— (great laughter and cheers.) Mr. Kirkendall, just so; And somebody will remember in what condition the gentle man left them, (laughter.) He thought that when a pupil understood how to read, that was grammar enough. None but good grammarians could be good readers. Miss Beach, said she was not prepared to discuss the resolution ; but jvould say that these frequent changes did not, in her judg ment, tend to improve either the temper of parents or Ihe-knowledge of pupils. Dr. Pratt, said ihat grammar was a plain common sense science,. When an author only displays research in coining new words he had little claim to preference. Bethought that grammar the best which taught the science of the language in the plainest manner. Mr. Reynolds, was willing to leave teach ers to senle ihis question as suited them. It was the most vexatious of all questions. He would not advise those teachers marked low on their certificates to try to teach grammar f or if they did,'to make use of the simplest elementary work which was Tower’s, tie liked all kinds of grammars, and thought a good teacher would make a good grammar out of any one in use. He preferred Tower in many respects before all others. Brown did not give good definitions. Tower taught by inducing thought. Brown piled form upon form. It looked like retrograding to adopt Brown. > The resolution was adopted. Mr. H. W. Williams read an essay before the Institute. On motion, a eopy was re quested for publication. Adjourned. Minutes of last day’s session read and ap proved. Report of Committee on nomination of offi cers, m ide by Vanduzen, as follows : President. —S. E. Kirkendall. i Vice Presidents.— R. C. Bailey, M. F, Elliott, Morgan Hart, D. L. Vanduzen, Guy Snover. Treasurer. —Mary E. Pitts. Recording Sec. —J. D. Vanduzen. Cor. Sec —Mrs. E. K. Reynolds. Counselors. —Miss Marta Rotf, Miss M. P. Emery, H. C. Veit, A. E. Rockwell, Kate Morris, Mary Bowen, J. B. Cady, Nancy Poller, Morgan Hart, N. L. Reynolds, A. J. Webster, O. A. Smith, Rebecca Tate, Mari etta Cloos, A. M. Simpson, D. VV. Brown, E. C. Cummings, Maria Rathbone, Triphenia Ca'lin, J. E. Peters, Benj. Dorrance. The following orators and essayists were reported by the proper committee : Misses E. L chtenthaler, E. Beach, L. A. Smith, S. M. Locke, L. Fish, M. P. Emery, Mrs. N. L. Reynolds, Mrs. VV. F. Richards, Messrs. M. Hart, A. Cloos, E. Wildman, S. E. Kirkendall, W. VV. Webb, G. Snover, A. J. Spencer, Dr. Pratt. On motion of Mr. Emery, the Institute re quested a copy of each oration and essay read, or to be read before the present session of the Institute, 10 be furnished for publica tion. On motion, Dr. Pratt was requested to form the Institute into a class, and to drill them in Geography. Gave his method of teaching in a lucid manner. He was fol lowed by Miss Beach, Miss Rockwell, M. P. Emery, Dr. Webb and Mrs. Reynolds—a I of whom expressed themselves with great brevity and clearness. The following Resolution was then dis cussed at length: Resolved, Thai female teachers are amply compensated. Mr. Kirkendall thought that female teachers were amply compensated. They were not capable of doing so much, mentally or physi cally, as males. Therefore, they should not receive as much wages. There were some exceptions ; but as a rule, they could not gov ern large schools as well as males. Females received all they asked. If they could do as much work their wages should be the same. Mr. Hart, said that females should be well paid—as well as any teachers, that is, if they could perform as much labor. In his judg. muni, there were many teachers overpaid— male and female. He was for employing good teachers and paying them a fair price for services. Mr. Bailey, said he could not say upon which side of the question the Inst speaker intended to be. He thought for one, that the grade of the certificate should govern the wages. It was an absurdity to say that fe males could not govern schools as well as males. Mrs. Reynolds, said, that though not now employed us a teacher she yet felt a very deep interest >0 all that concerned those of her sex in tho profession. The question now Bates of Advertising. Smooths. 6 months. 12 mo’s Thursday.—Morning Session. Mb. E. VVTldstaN in the Chair.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers