Educational Association of Virginia
Dublin Core
Title
Educational Association of Virginia
Creator
[Unknown]
Source
http://addison.vt.edu/record=b1775388~S1
Publisher
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Date
July 1875
Contributor
Michelle Seref, Kelly Holler
Rights
Permission to publish images from The Gray Jacket must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
Type
article
Identifier
LD5655.V8 L4, ser.1, v.1, no.1 (July 1875), p.4
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
This Association of the teachers of the State, made the experiment of holding the Annual Meeting at the Montgomery White Sulphur Springs, commencing on the 13th of July and continuing four days. The number of members in attendance was not as large as it has usually been, when the meetings were held in towns; but the comfort and efficiency of the meeting, were not considered inferior to any heretofore.
As usual, some committees were not found ready to report on the subjects referred to them.
The average character of the reports presented was fully equal to the average of former years, and the papers elicited the usual amount of discussion with the usual apprehension of the points involved.
One report deserves special mention for its elaborate, discriminating, exhaustive, and conservative discussion of its subject. This was the report "on the Comparative Diciplinary value of Linguistic and Scientific studies," made by Messrs Tames M. Jarnett, St. John's College, Md., R. W. Jones, Martha Washington College., and Wm. H. Pheasants, Hollins Institute. Each gentleman on this Committee carefully prepared a paper on a portion of the subject, and the distribution of the work suited to the taste and views of each member, secured a report of rare and exceptional ability. Were this method of reporting more generally adopted, the discussion of subjects would be much more satisfactory, and much irrelevant talk, on topics partially treated in reports, would be avoided.
A report "On the Comparative Merits of the Curriculum and the Elective System in Colleges," made by Dr. Atkinson, of Hampden Sidney College, elicited the most animated discussion of the Session, and developed such a confusion of ideas as was not expected in an assembly of learned gentlemen, and professional teachers. As usual in the application of antagonistic forces on parallel lines, the matter was set a whirl, and spun amusingly in the remarks of the Speakers. So far was this subject from being exhausted, or settled, that it was continued to the next meeting, when, it is to be hoped, the antagonists will have jostled themselves into such positions, that becoming equipollent, or harmonius, the subject may vest.
This reunion of weary teachers, amid the de lightful shades, pleasant accommodations and cheerful society of the Springs, seemed to bring more than the usual pleasure of the annual meetings, in spite of the absence of so many old and honored members. This change of programme from meeting in sun-baked towns, with all their generous hospitality, to the cool retreat of shady mountain springs, with generous reduction of fare, seemed, to the members present, a wish that the plan might be continued.
Want of space crowds out many topics from this notice. But it would be unpardonable to wait all mention of the address of Hon. R. G. H. Kean, of Lynchburg, Rector of the University of Virginia. His subject was "The economy of the Higher Culture ;"and he discussed it with such breadth of views, such force of logic, such lucid argument, such sound philosophy, and such -wealth of learning, as not only to please and convince his hearers, but to delight and to surprise those Who had already accorded him superior ability. So able, sound, amid forcible was the address, that, the association took steps to spread it widely over the State; and it cannot fail to attract the attention of Educators in other States.
As usual, some committees were not found ready to report on the subjects referred to them.
The average character of the reports presented was fully equal to the average of former years, and the papers elicited the usual amount of discussion with the usual apprehension of the points involved.
One report deserves special mention for its elaborate, discriminating, exhaustive, and conservative discussion of its subject. This was the report "on the Comparative Diciplinary value of Linguistic and Scientific studies," made by Messrs Tames M. Jarnett, St. John's College, Md., R. W. Jones, Martha Washington College., and Wm. H. Pheasants, Hollins Institute. Each gentleman on this Committee carefully prepared a paper on a portion of the subject, and the distribution of the work suited to the taste and views of each member, secured a report of rare and exceptional ability. Were this method of reporting more generally adopted, the discussion of subjects would be much more satisfactory, and much irrelevant talk, on topics partially treated in reports, would be avoided.
A report "On the Comparative Merits of the Curriculum and the Elective System in Colleges," made by Dr. Atkinson, of Hampden Sidney College, elicited the most animated discussion of the Session, and developed such a confusion of ideas as was not expected in an assembly of learned gentlemen, and professional teachers. As usual in the application of antagonistic forces on parallel lines, the matter was set a whirl, and spun amusingly in the remarks of the Speakers. So far was this subject from being exhausted, or settled, that it was continued to the next meeting, when, it is to be hoped, the antagonists will have jostled themselves into such positions, that becoming equipollent, or harmonius, the subject may vest.
This reunion of weary teachers, amid the de lightful shades, pleasant accommodations and cheerful society of the Springs, seemed to bring more than the usual pleasure of the annual meetings, in spite of the absence of so many old and honored members. This change of programme from meeting in sun-baked towns, with all their generous hospitality, to the cool retreat of shady mountain springs, with generous reduction of fare, seemed, to the members present, a wish that the plan might be continued.
Want of space crowds out many topics from this notice. But it would be unpardonable to wait all mention of the address of Hon. R. G. H. Kean, of Lynchburg, Rector of the University of Virginia. His subject was "The economy of the Higher Culture ;"and he discussed it with such breadth of views, such force of logic, such lucid argument, such sound philosophy, and such -wealth of learning, as not only to please and convince his hearers, but to delight and to surprise those Who had already accorded him superior ability. So able, sound, amid forcible was the address, that, the association took steps to spread it widely over the State; and it cannot fail to attract the attention of Educators in other States.