REPORTS. NASHVILLE, TENN., February 15, 1886. Hon. Thomas H. Paine, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Nashville, Tenn.: DEAR SIR-In accordance with your request, I submit the following report of the five Normal Institutes held by me during the summer of 1885, under your general supervision. These institutes continued in session, each one week; beginning respectively on the dates and at the places designated in your published announcement, viz: Adamsville, June 29. Centerville, July 6. They were conducted on the plan indicated in your instructions, and the general character of the work was similar in each. The respective programmes, minutes and lists of attendance are herewith filed, as a part of this report. The following regular instructors, employed by yourself, were associated with me in conducting them: Prof. Frank M. Smith, Primary Methods and Grading of Country Schools, at Centerville, Hartsville and Fayetteville; Prof. A P. Bourland, English, at Adamville and Fayetteville; Prof. S. A. Mynders, Geology of Tennessee, and Supt. M. R. Abernathy, Primary Methods, at Adamsville; Prof. W. T. Payne, assisted by his accomplished wife, Primary Methods, at Sparta. In addition to the regular instructors above mentioned, many teachers resident in the respective localities where institutes were held, took part in the exercises, and rendered valuable assistance. Among these were some of the most skillful teachers of the State. It would exceed the limits of this report to 4 give a synopsis of their work, and would, perhaps, be invidious to give a portion of it. (Of this work so cheerfully and skillfully performed, you were yourself a witness, being present at all the institutes). Some of them displayed a high order of ability, and won the approbation and gratitude of their fellowteachers. The total attendance at the five instiutes was about 500 teachers, and about 5,000 citizens. The largest attendance of teachers, as will be seen from the accompanying rolls herewith filed, was at Adamsville, at which place 121 teachers were present. At Sparta, although held in the month of September, while the schools were in session, more than 100 teachers attended. In addition to the regular institutes, I spent one day, in accordance with your instructions, in conferring with the people of Tullahoma, and addressed them at night on the subject of "Grading the Schools." At each institute, three sessions were held each day. The morning and evening sessions were occupied with illustrations of school work. The night sessions were devoted to popular addresses on literary and educational topics. In the strictly professional work which occupied the morning and evening sessions, our efforts were devoted to the development of common school education, and were mainly directed to the primary departments. We endeavored to carry out your instructions, "to make the work practical." We did not consider it our office to attempt to impress upon the teachers our individual ideas of education, or to lay down dogmatically any particular mode of teaching as the method, or the fixed standard. While expressing our own views freely, and in some detail, our main efforts were directed to showing that there are many ways of doing the same thing, and that teachers should know all the methods and principles of teaching; that teaching is a science and an art, and lacks only inter-communication among the teachers, and investigation and practice, to make it a profession. We endeavored to induce teachers to consult each other, to compare the methods used in their own localities, and to widen the sphere by reading and investigating; thus summoning to their aid the experience of the educational world. We endeavored to cover in our work the ordinary course of the common school curriculum. We exemplified methods of instruction in the various branches embraced in the school law of Tennessee, and invited those present to illustrate the methods in use in their respective localities. In response to this request, many of the teachers took part in the exercises, and exemplified some very beautiful work. It gives me pleasure to report that in many portions of the State we found the most admirable methods in use, and a high degree of skill and intelligence on the part of teachers. I regret that I cannot report that this was general. Although we found many excellent primary teachers, and saw some capital primary work, yet, in general, the primary department is the most neglected and worst taught department in the common schools of the State. The teaching in the grammar and high-school departments usually receives much more attention from the people, and is more skillfully conducted by the teachers. I recommend to you to give special attention to the improvement of primary work. I think I may safely report that we succeeded in arousing a spirit of inter-communication among teachers and people, a desire to investigate and test improved methods, to read, to attend institutes, and to use all the appliances of investigation and mutual aid. In this connection, I cannot refrain from testifying to the efficient work of my colleagues, Profs. F. M. Smith, A. P. Bourland, S. A. Mynders, and Prof. and Mrs. Payne, in their respective departments. Believing that all public institutions in this country must rest upon the solid foundation of popular sympathy and support, we directed the work of the institute to the people as well as to the teachers. When education shall touch the public heart, and be recognized as a public care; when the people shall understand improved methods and educational needs; when they meet to discuss education as they now meet to discuss politics; then the educational institutions of the United States will become, like its political institutions, the admiration of the world. It gives me great pleasure to report that the citizens everywhere attended the institutes in a body. At various points the merchants closed their stores, the farmers left their fields, the judge and lawyers closed court, to attend the meetings of the institutes. The newspapers placed their columns at our disposal, the ladies aided us with music, recitations and essays, and in every form the most cordial sympathy and hospitality was extended. Many citizens of influence and eloquence lent cordial aid to our work, and participated in our exercises. Among these were: Gen. Alex. Campbell and Gen. M. H. Meeks, at Adamsville; Col. O. A. Nixon, Rev. J. G. Bolton and Rev. J. J. Comer, at Centerville; Hon. John M. Bright, Hon. J. B. Lamb, Col. D. W. 'Holman, at Fayetteville; Gen. G. G. Dibrell, Col. C. Marchbarks, at Sparta. County Superintendents M. R. Abernathy at Adamsville, W. P. Clark at Centerville, John M. Price at Hartsville, J. W. McDaniel at Fayetteville, and J. M. Johnson at Sparta, deserve the highest commendations for the zeal and ability with which they discharged the duties of local managers at their respective institutes. The success and popularity of the meetings was largely due to their excellent management. At every point resolutions were adopted by the citizens, expressing their approbation of the work, and petitioning the Legislature to give to the "Normal Institute" a legal status. These resolutions will be found among the minutes herewith filed. I believe them to express the earnest sentiment of the people. In every case they were carried with enthusiasm. I give below a portion of the resolutions adopted at Fayetteville. These resolutions were offered by Col. D. W. Holman, and were unanimously adopted: 1. Resolved, That we are deeply impressed with the fact that the institute is exercising a deep and wide-spread power and influence for good in advancing the intelligence and morals of the people of the State, and we hope that it will become permanent by legislative enactment, with suitable powers vested in the Superintendent to require from teachers of public schools such attendance on the exercises as public interest may demand. 2. Resolved, That we respectfully petition the General Assembly of Tennessee to adopt suitable legislation, and to provide an appropriation of $10,000 to enable the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to hold State Normal Institutes annually at suitable points throughout the State. In concluding this report, I express the sentiments of all my colleagues and associates, in tendering to you our thanks for your uniform courtesy, and in testifying to your zeal and ability in the cause of education and in the administration of your public trust. Respectfully submitted, W. R. GARRETT. Hon. Thomas H. Paine: DEAR SIR-I herewith submit to you a report of the institute work of the summer of 1885, held at the following time and places: Dyersburg, June 15-18. Jackson, June 22-27. A copy of the programme of each institute is also submitted, together with reports of the special work done by Profs. Bourland and Karns: PROGRAMME OF STATE NORMAL INSTITUTE AT DYERSBURG. Address of Welcome-Tom W. Neal. Response-State Superintendent Thomas H. Paine. General Exercises-Vocal Music and Lecture each morning at 9 o'clock, at the Methodist Church. 'Prof. Frank M. Smith, of Jackson City Schools-Instructor in School Management and Methods of Teaching Geography and History. Prof. A. P. Bourland, S. W. B. U.-Methods of Teaching English. Thomas C. Gordon, County Superintendent Dyer County— Methods of Presenting Arithmetic. Miss Lula Trousdale-Primary Kindergarten Methods and Calisthenics. LECTURERS. S. L. Cockroft, Newbern-Outlining. H. Parks, Jr., Dyersburg-Needed Legislation for Common Schools. Dr. J. D. Smith, Dyersburg-Physiology aud Hygiene as a part of the Common School Course of Study. |