STATE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE 16th annual meeting of our State Association was held in Waterbury on the 30th and 31st of October. It was feared that, owing to the state of the times and also to the distance of the place of meeting from some sections of the State, the number in attendance would not be large. In this the friends of the Association were happily disappointed. The number was unusually large and the meeting, as a whole, may be regarded as one of the largest and best ever held. An excellent spirit prevailed and the various discussions were conducted with spirit and good feeling and nothing occurred to detract from the pleasure of the occasion. The printed programme was carefully observed, and there was no failure on the part of those who had been announced to take part as lecturers, or teachers in the sectional meetings.

The Association met Thursday evening in the Baptist church which was well filled. The assemblage was called to order by the President, J. W. Allen Esq., and the divine VOL. IX.

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blessing implored by the Rev. Mr. Bailey, after which the Rev. Mr. Magill, in behalf of the Board of Education of the city of Waterbury, in a few brief and appropriate remarks, cordially welcomed the association to the city and assured its members of their interest in the objects of the meeting. The President made a suitable response.

The introductory lecture was given by Charles Northend, of New Britain, who gave a brief review of educational movements during the last thirty years, alluding to the various changes that had been made and showing that marked improvements had been made in many particulars. He gave a deserved tribute to Hon. Henry Barnard for services rendered in times of general apathy in school matters.

The lecture was followed by a discussion of the question. "Should pupils be required to give answers in the precise language of the text-book?" The speakers were Messrs. D. N. Camp and J. N. Bartlett of New Britain, Pratt of Hartford, Harriman of New York, Burleigh of Plainfield, and J. M. Turner of Rockville. They were all agreed and on both sides of the question. While it was contended that it might be best to require certain rules and axioms to be given in the precise language of the book, it was the opinion of all who spoke that it was, in many cases, better to allow, and even to encourage pupils to give answers in their own language, provided the same were clearly and properly expressed. Various committees were appointed by the President after which the Association adjourned to meet at Hotchkiss Hall, at 9 o'clock next morning.

Friday A. M. The Association met per adjournment, and prayer was offered by Prof. Camp. The Auditors of the Common School Journal reported that they had attended to the duty assigned them and were happy in being able to report that the Journal would be free of debt at the end of the year. Messrs. A. Morse and F. F. Barrows of Hartford, and J. N. Bartlett of New Britain, were appointed to make all needed arrangements for the continued publication of the Journal.

At 9.40, A. Norton Lewis, Esq., Superintendent of the

Schools of Waterbury, gave a very entertaining and spicy lecture on "The Schools and School Teachers of ConnectiMr. Lewis occasionally invoked the aid of the muse and his many well given hits at "boarding 'round," etc., kept the large audience in excellent humor. It was a very creditable performance.

The question of "Truancy," its "causes and cure," was discussed with much interest by Messrs. Camp of New Britain, Thomas of New Haven, Lewis of Waterbury, and Wright of Greenwich, after which the President of the Association was instructed to bring the subject before our next Legislature with a view to secure any necessary legislative action.

At 11.15 the Association resolved itself into two divisions. The first or higher division, was under the charge of Messrs. Pratt of Hartford, and Bartlett of New Britain. The question discussed was "How much time ought pupils be required to study out of school?"

The speakers were Messrs. Bartlett, Pratt, Lewis, Balcam and Ensign, and the impression seemed to be that pupils should be encouraged to study from one to two hours out of school. The second division was under the charge of Prof. Camp and F. F. Barrows Esq. Each of these gentlemen gave some excellent hints, the former on Geography, and the latter on Mental Arithmetic.

At 2 o'clock P. M., the choice of officers took place and resulted as follows:

AUGUSTUS MORSE, Hartford, President.

JOHN N. BARTLETT, New Britain,

GEORGE F. PHELPS, New Haven,

W. L. MARSII,

New London,

LUCIAN BURLeigh, Plainfield,
A. NORTON LEWIS, Waterbury,
JOHN M. Turner, Rockville,
B. B. WHITTEMORE, Norwich,
CHAS. H. WRIGHT,
F. F. BARROWs,
J. C. HOWARD,

CHAUNCEY HARRIS,

Greenwich,

Vice Presidents.

Hartford, Recording Secretary.
Meriden, Corresponding Secretary.
Hartford, Treasurer.

The new President was conducted to the chair and signified his acceptance of the office in a few appropriate remarks. The following vote was unanimously passed:

Voted, That the thanks of the Association be expressed to the retiring President, J. W. Allen Esq., for the able, faithful and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of the office during the last two years.

At 2.30 P. M. A. Morse Esq., of Hartford, gave a very earnest and sensible lecture on "The Teacher of the Present day." He forcibly urged the importance of inspiring both teachers and pupils with a higher ambition for the true performance of required duties. The lecture was listened to with much satisfaction by a large and attentive audience.

The lecture was followed by a discussion of the question "What motives should teachers use for securing study." Messrs. Wright of Greenwich, Dowd of Danbury, Pond of Ansonia, Porter of Waterbury and others participated and the general feeling seemed to be that such motives as would tend to the development and cultivation of the moral faculties should be most prominent.

At 3.45 the Association again met in sections as in the forenoon.

The first division met under the charge of Messrs. Pratt and Bartlett, and Messrs. Dowd, Pratt, Bailey and others discussed the questions "How many branches ought pupils to attend to at one time?" "Should prizes be offered in school?"

The second division was under the charge of Messrs. W. L. Marsh of New London, and B. B. Whittemore of Norwich. Mr. Marsh gave some very sensible and practical remarks on the subject of Object Lessons, and illustrated one or two methods in this department. Mr. Whittemore made some valuable suggestions on the subject of Reading, and gave some illustrations which were listened to with deep interest by his audience,

Friday evening. The Rev. Lucian Burleigh of Plainfield gave a lecture on "The Parent and Teacher, or the Family and School." It abounded in good advice and valuable

hints and given in an earnest and clear manner and listened to with much interest by a very large audience.

After the lecture gentlemen from various parts of the State were called upon to make speeches,—each being limited to five minutes,-quite as long as some cared to speak. Among the speakers were Rev. Mr. Woodruff and Bushnell of Waterbury, Messrs. Pratt of Hartford, Thomas of New Haven, Dowd of Danbury, Bartlett and Northend of New Britain, Jennings of New London, Whittemore of Norwich, Pond of Ansonia, Turner of Rockville, Lewis and Porter of Waterbury and others.

The following Resolutions were then unanimously passed after which the audience united in singing America.

Resolved, That in the opinion of this Association, our Normal School, for the professional training of teachers, is indispensable to the true elevation of the profession and to the highest good of the educational interest of the State, and is therefore worthy a liberal appropriation from the State Legislature; and we hereby pledge our best efforts to promote the prosperity and extend the usefulness of this important institution.

Resolved, That our thanks are eminently due and are hereby cordially tendered to the local Committee, the citizens, and hotel-keepers of Waterbury, who have so generously opened their doors and extended their hearty welcome to the members of the Association, and we assure them that we shall long cherish among our pleasant memories the delightful hours we have just passed in their city and society.

Resolved, That we gratefully acknowledge the sympathy and co-operation manifested by the City Board of Education, and the cordial welcome extended by the Rev. Mr. Magill, one of their members, to the Association at the opening of our session; also, to the Baptist Society for the free use of its very pleasant church during that evening; and to A. Norton Lewis Esq., for his untiring and successful efforts to promote the interests of the Association.

Resolved, That the thanks of the Association be tendered to the Providence & Fishkill, Naugatuck, Housatonic, Norwalk & Danbury, and the New London & Palmer Railroad Companies for their liberality in granting free return tickets, to the members of the Association, over their respective roads.