Messrs. Chase, of Lowell, Jones, of Roxbury, and Mansfield, of Cambridge, were appointed a committe on "Teachers and teachers' places." Mr. DANIEL B. HAGAR, Principal of the State Normal School for girls, at Salem, read an interesting paper upon the subject "To what extent shall school lessons be memorized?" Rev. B. G. NORTHROP, of Saxonville, introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That the teachers of Massachusetts cordially recognize and most gratefully appreciate the munificent and more than princely donations of GEORGE PEABODY, Esq., of London, so wisely bestowed, for the establishment and support of libraries and courses of lectures, the endowment of institutions of learning, and the general diffusion of knowledge. The Treasurer, Mr. JAMES A. PAGE, of this city, reported the present financial condition of the Association as follows: Total amount received, $3,773.99; total disbursements, $2,076.75; balance on hand, $1,107.34. Outstanding bills will reduce the amount to $607.34. A proposition of Mr. J. A. WHIPPLE to photograph the Association before the termination of their session was accepted. Mr. J. F. CLAFLIN, of Worcester, then addressed the Association upon the subject of "Rhetorical Exercises in School, with especial reference to Declamation," and was followed on the same subject by Mr. MOSES T. BROWN, Professor of Elocution in Tufts College. Adjourned until half-past two o'clock. After the adjournment of the Convention a large portion of the members proceeded to the Common, where a battalion review and drill of the military organization of the Latin and High Schools of the city took place. They turned out to the number of about two hundred, accompanied by Gilmore's full Band, and commanded by Col. Francis Welch. Being formed in line about half-past twelve o'clock they were reviewed by Gen. A. B. Underwood, accompanied by Hon. Henry Wilson, Mr. John D. Philbrick, Dr. N. B. Shurtleff, and others. The line then broke into column of companies and passed in review before the party, afterward going through the various evolutions of infantry drill in field movements, and in the manual of arms. A large crowd witnessed the display which reflected great credit upon the proficiency of the " boys' battalion" in military education. AFTERNOON SESSION. The Convention came together at half-past two o'clock, the President, in the chair. The Auditing Committee reported that they had examined the accounts of the Treasurer and found them correct. Mr. PERKINS, of this city, then addressed the Convention, by invitation, upon the subject of Right Methods in the Study of the Classics. Hon. JOSEPH WHITE, Secretary of the State Board of Education, made an announcement from Prof. Agassiz to the teachers, that he should resume his lectures at his Museum in Cambridge, to which they had free access, next Wednesday, at three o'clock, P. M., and continue the following Saturdays at ten o'clock, A. M., and Wednesdays at three o'clock, P. M., upon the subject of Geology. Illustrations of teaching vocal music in primary and grammar schools were then given by Mr. L. W. MASON, of this city, with a class of about fifty little boys and girls from the Webb Primary School, Chapman District. The children sang a number of songs in excellent style, and then, under the direction of Miss Carrie A. Littlefield, went through a variety of exercises, which were very creditable to themselves and teachers. They explained, in response to questions, miscellaneous musical characters on the blackboard, and went through exercises in reading music from charts. The exercises of these little ones were frequently applauded. Upon their retiring, another class of about the same number of girls of a larger growth, with ages varying little from ten years, from the lower classes of the Hancock School, came upon the platform and went through various exercises, sounding the different notes of the scale preparatory to two and three part singing; singing the duo "The Setting Sun," and the trio "The Evening Song," in excellent time and harmony. They afterward went through exercises in the triads of the major scale, the basis of training children in the harmonic relations of sounds, closing their performances with Boildieu's three part song, "Oh Come ye into the Summer Woods." The President read an invitation from Prof. WM. P. ATKINSON, Secretary of the Faculty of the Institute of Technology, to the association, to pay a visit to their new building during their stay in the city. Mr. ELBRIDGE SMITH, of Dorchester, then read a paper on "The Relations of High Schools to Colleges." At the conclusion of the reading of this paper, the Convention adjourned until the evening session. EVENING SESSION. The exercises of the evening session were opened with singing by a large number of the pupils of the grammar schools of the city, occupying the whole of the platform, under the direction of Mr. J. B. SHARLAND. The vocal performances commenced with the grand chorus (in parts) of "Over the Billow," by the whole choir. A duet, afterward sung by Miss Hill and Miss Danforth, elicited warm commendation. An alto solo, "He was Despised and Rejected," by Master Wilson, called forth profuse applause, which brought back the young vocalist in another fine song. Master J. F. Sayer, Jr., sang the soprano solo, "Thou Art so Near," in a style that brought him again before the audience and called forth warm applause. The choruses, "The Joys of Spring,” and “A Wish for the Mountains," by the whole choir, showed their musical training and proficiency. Rev. Dr. MINER then addresseed the audience. At the conclusion of his address, chant exercises, as conducted in the grammar schools of the city, were performed by the choir. The trio, duo, and semichorus, "The Herdsman's Home," sung by Miss Hatch, Miss Parmenter, and Miss Knapp, and "Wandering in May Time," by Miss Baker and Miss Soule, were listened to with the greatest interest and warmly applauded. The "Hollandish National Hymn," and the parting song (in three parts), closed the exercises of the evening, the Association adjourning to re-assemble the next morning at nine o'clock. THIRD DAY. The Association convened in closing session at 9 o'clock this morning, the President in the chair. The attendance was nearly as large as the previous day. The exercises were opened with prayer by Rev. Dr. Walker, of the Bowdoin, Square Church. The chair announced an invitation to the Association, from the officers of the Boston Society of Natural History, to visit their Museum on Berkley street, any time between 10 o'clock A. M. and 5 o'clock P. M. The following officers of the Association were then chosen for the ensuing year: President- C. C. Chase of Lowell. Vice-Presidents - A. A. Miner, Boston; Lucius A. Wheelock, Boston; E. A. Hubbard, Springfield; Chas. Hutchins, Boston; Granville B. Putnam, Boston; Birdsey G. Northrop, Saxonville; J. W. Dickinson, Westfield; Charles Hill, Newton; Daniel B. Wheeler, Cambridge; Albert G. Boyden, Bridgewater ; Albert Tolman, Lanesboro'; Harris R. Green, Worcester; H. F. Harrington, New Bedford; Abner J. Phipps, Lowell. Recording Secretary - McLaurin F. Cooke, Boston. Councillors - Charles Hammond, Monson; D. B. Hagar, Salem; J. D. Philbrick, Boston; John Kneeland, Roxbury; Henry C. Hardon, Boston; Josiah A. Stearns, Boston; John Jameson, Boston; M. C. Stebbins, Springfield; Wm. E. Sheldon, Boston; C. Goodwin Clark, Boston; A. K. Slade, Fall River; G. T. Littlefield, Somerville. A class of about forty boys, with ages varying little from twelve years, from the Eliot Grammar School in this city, marched upon the platform and went through the evolutions of Lewis' system of gymnastics in a most creditable manner, which elicited warm applause. After their departure from the hall, the chair announced that he was gratified to see on the stand the originator of the Massachusetts State Teachers' Association, Mr. D. P. Gallup of Lowell, and proposed three cheers for him, which were given. Mr. D. B. HAGAR of Salem, on the Committee upon an amendment of the Constitution, which will change it so as to admit female teachers to membership, reported favorably, recommending that such change be made. A humorous discussion arose in regard to a different amount for initiation fee for ladies from that now fixed. Mr. BRADBURY of Cambridge, wished to move that the admittance fee for ladies be fixed at one-third that of gentlemen on account of the smaller salaries which they received. The subject was finally decided to be out of order for the present, and the amendment proposed by the committee was unanimously adopted, and an opportunity immediately afforded the ladies to sign the constitution and become members, which was taken by a large number. It was then ordered that the paper read by Mr. D. B. Hagar of Salem, on Friday, upon the subject of " The proper limits of memorizing in teaching," be printed for circulation in the Association. Mr. FISHER, President of the Board of Education in Cincinnati, Ohio, was introduced to the Association and addressed it briefly, claiming that Cincinnati paid a larger salary to its female teachers than any other city in the Union. He was followed by Mr. J. W. BUCKLEY, Superintendent of Public Schools in Brooklyn, N. Y., who assisted, twenty years ago, in the formation of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association. Mr. WILLIAM R. DIMMOCK, of the Latin School in this city, then read a paper upon "The study of the classic languages." At the conclusion of the reading of this paper it was unanimously ordered that it be printed for circulation through the Association. Mr. L. W. RUSSELL of Watertown, then read an interesting paper upon "Teaching composition in schools.” At their conclusion the Treasurer announced that nearly a sufficient number of ladies had already signed the constitution, and thus become members of the Association, to outnumber the male members. A series of resolutions was then presented which gives the thanks of the Association to both branches of the city government for their kindness, cordial welcome, and the manner in which they had provided for the sessions of the Association; to the Superintendent and Committee of the schools in the city for their warm interest; to the Faculty of the Institute of Technology and the officers of the Natural History Society for their invitations; to the hotels and railroads for the reduction of their prices; to the teachers who had furnished them with addresses; to the scholars of the public schools, for their exhibitions; to the officers of the Association for their faithfulness, and the Press for their support. The resolutions further request that the Legislature be memorialized to make the days of the sessions of the Association holidays for all the schools in the State. They also give the thanks of the Association to the School Committees throughout the State who closed their schools this year, during the session. A resolution fixing Boston as the place and the middle of October as the time for holding the annual meetings of the Association gave rise to considerable discussion, and was finally stricken out, and the whole resolutions were then adopted. The following Committee was appointed to memorialize the Legislature: C. C. Chase, J. A. Stearns, H. F. Harrington, D. B. Hagar, A. J. Phipps. The newly elected President of the Association, Mr. C. C. CHASE of Lowell, was then introduced and briefly addressed the Convention. Mr. PHILBRICK, on retiring from the office of President, which he has so effi ciently and acceptably filled, returned his thanks to the Association for their courtesy toward him while in office. The Convention then finally adjourned, a large portion of the members repairing to the steps of the State House, where they were photographed as an Association by Mr. Whipple. We have received a prospectus of a new educational journal from a State not yet provided with such an organ, our sister State of Maine. It is to be published at Farmington, and edited by the Principal of the State Normal School, recently established there. We wish our friend Gage all success in his labors, but may we not be allowed to enter a protest against his title? We cannot yet find in the dictionary any such noun as normal, meaning either a periodical or a teacher. Nor can we imagine either of them as " a straight line perpendicular to the tangent of any curve." We hope, to be sure, that their walk will be always in the straight and narrow path, and that their principles will not be oblique, but perpendicular, — but would it not be better to call the magazine the Normal Teacher? We leave the question for our Maine friends' consideration. We ask the attention of our readers to the programme of our friend Professor Bôcher's Course of French Lectures and Readings. The terms are low, and one course is expressly intended for teachers. His programme may be found at the office of The Teacher. BOOK NOTICES. THE AMERICAN UNION SPEAKER, by John D. Philbrick, Superintendent of the Public Schools of Boston. Boston: Taggard & Thompson, 1865, 12mo, pp. 588. THE PRIMARY UNION SPEAKER, by the same author. Boston: Taggard and Thompson, 1866, 16mo, pp. 159. Mr. Philbrick's two volumes of selections have been made with good judgment and conscientious care, and are distinguished beyond almost any others by the fact that they are fully up with the times, that the compiler has ventured to take many of his best pieces from living authors who breathe the spirit of to-day and deal with subjects interesting at this hour. We have extracts from the speeches of Charles Sumner and Wendell Phillips, of Gov. Andrew, and Gen. Butler, and Senator Wilson, and Richard H. Dana, and Horace Mann,- along with other recent names from which the author perhaps found it more difficult to make a suitable selection,-side by side with standard passsages from Webster and Burke and Chatham: and poems from Whittier and Bryant and Lowell and Holmes, along with those from Scott and Campbell, without which a Speaker could hardly be a Speaker. Our author has even ventured to anticipate the verdict of posterity, when the bitterness of sectarian jealousy shall be at an end, and to |
