Pittsfield, Emerson of New Bedford, Kneeland of Dorchester, Hammond of Monson, Hunt of Plymouth, and Allen of Boston. A Lecture was then delivered by Mr. Goldthwaite, of Westfield, on "Permanent Results in Teaching." [The Lectures will all be published in the "Transactions." We will, therefore, not attempt a report of them.] The motion to amend the second article of the Constitution, so that any practical teacher of the State may become a member of the Association, offered at the last meeting by Rev. Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, was taken from the table, and after a long discussion, Messrs. Peirce, Reed and Kneeland, in the affirmative, and Messrs. Vail, Thayer, Poor, Greenleaf and Northend, in the negative, was decided in the negative by a large majority. The Association then adjourned to meet at 9 o'clock on Tuesday. SESSION OF TUESDAY. Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, gave notice that at the next Annual Meeting he should move to strike the word "male" from the second article of the Constitution, and also to amend the title of the Association by adding thereto the word "male." The subject of Membership was introduced by Mr. Joshua Bates, Jr., of Boston, who offered the following resolution, which was discussed and adopted, to wit:-Any individual who has once been a member of the Massachusetts Teachers' Association shall be considered as such after leaving the business of teaching, until he shall obtain a regular discharge. Mr. Greenleaf reported for the Committee on Nominations, and was instructed to report in print. The Report of the Treasurer was read, and referred to a Committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Hammond, Philbrick, and Parish. A Committee of fourteen, one from each County, was appointed to take the names of teachers attending the meeting, with the view of publishing them in the "Massachusetts Teacher." At 10 o'clock, the orders of the day were taken up. Mr. Blake of West Tisbury, Chairman of the Committee appointed at the last meeting to take into consideration the subject of Phonetics, reported favorably in their behalf, and the report was read. [See page 25.] The following resolution was offered for consideration: Resolved, That School Committees be recommended to introduce the new plan of instruction only into schools under the charge of teachers willing to use it. Mr. Hammond, of Monson, by request, read a minority report, [to be published in a future number.] After remarks by Mr. Sherwin, of Boston, in favor of testing Phonetics in our schools the reports, with the resolution, were laid on the table, and the orders of the day were proceeded with. The Committee on Prize Essays submitted the following re port, which was adopted: The whole number of Essays offered is twenty: sixteen b ladies, on "Moral and Religious Instruction in Schools," and four, by gentlemen, on "The Self-Improvement of Teachers." One of the former class being sent in after the 1st of Novem ber, was thought, on that account, to be void of all claim to con sideration. In estimating the relative value of these Essays, the Commit tee esteemed it their duty to take into consideration, not only the sentiments, motives, and arguments, presented in the severa contributions, but also the literary merits or defects by which each might, in any degree, be characterized. Hence, the ar rangement of the matter, the choice and collocation of the words and phrases, and other requisites of a good style, as well as the essential elements of all tolerable composition, correct grammar orthography, and punctuation, have been regarded as subjects of criticism. Nor is illegible penmanship to be considered as any special recommendation of a literary production. Taking all these circumstances into view, the Committee are highly gratified with the excellence of a considerable number of the Essays. In their opinion, these contributions, for the most part, reflect honor upon the authors, and demonstrate the good judgment of the Association in stimulating teachers to write. Indeed the preparation of these Essays must have been highly beneficial, even to the most unsuccessful of the writers. It is gratifying, therefore, that so many have been offered this year, and it is hoped that even a greater number will be annually pre sented in future. Your Committee found little difficulty in agreeing that three of the contributions offered by ladies, have claims superior to those of the others; but to make a selection from those three occasioned no inconsiderable embarrassment. They endeavored however, to come to an honest and correct decision, and have assigned the prize to Essay No. 12, by Miss Margaret Bliss, of Springfield. The Essays contributed by gentlemen, are all of a highly creditable character, and it is a matter of regret that there was not a greater number presented. Let not teachers of our sex fail, in future, to do their full share of work in this department of usefulness. The Essay marked D, by Mr. M. P. Case, of Newburyport, is considered as entitled to the prize. As many of the Essays contain excellent matter for publication, it is suggested, that, unless they should be called for by the authors, they be left at the disposal of the Board of Editors of the Massachusetts Teacher. All which is respectfully submitted. Committee THOMAS SHERWIN, CHAS. J. CAPEN, JONA. TENNEY, Prize Essays. on New Bedford, Nov. 23, 1852. Mr. Stearns, of Boston, requested leave in behalf of the Lawrence Association of boys, to present to the Massachusetts Teachers' Association, for gratuitous distribution, some copies of a lecture on the use of tobacco. The request was granted with applause, and a vote of thanks, on motion of Mr. Peirce, of Waltham, was presented in response. On motion of Mr. Bates, a Committee of five was appointed to take into consideration the claims of gentlemen, who, in past years, had made pecuniary sacrifices in aid of the "Massachusetts Teacher," and report at the next meeting; and Messrs. Reed of Roxbury, Bates, Sherwin, and Thayer of Boston, and King of Lynn, were appointed. Nathan Bishop, Esq., Superintendent of Schools in Boston, was elected an honorary member of the Association. On motion of Mr. Peirce, a Committee of five was appointed to report at the next meeting on revising the Constitution, and to propose amendments for that object, and also a set of special rules; and Messrs. Peirce of Waltham, Vail of Salem, and Bates, Thayer, and Stearns of Boston, were appointed. Messrs. Philbrick and Thayer of Boston, Smith of Cambridge, Blake of Tisbury, and Metcalf of Worcester, were appointed a committee to organize a Board of Editors for the "Massachusetts Teacher," for 1853. Mr. M. P. Case, by invitation, then read his Prize Essay, and the Association adjourned to quarter of 2 o'clock. AFTERNOON SESSION. Dr. Stone submitted a proposition from the Managers of Madame Alboni's Concert, to be held in New Bedford in the evening, offering certain facilities for the same. Thanks for the compliment were expressed, and the proposition was laid on the table. Mr. Hammond, from the Auditing Committee, reported in their behalf on the Finances. Mr. Tenney of Pittsfield submitted the following resolution, which was referred to the Committee on the Constitution : Resolved, That Art. II of the Constitution of this Associa tion, defining the conditions of Membership, shall be so co strued as to include any person who, having acknowledged an practised teaching as the great avocation of his life for, at leas five consecutive years,-has retired only in consequence of ag infirmity, or like necessity, and has entered upon no business except one having direct connection with the advancement of th cause of popular education in the Teacher's special charge. The subject of Phonetics was taken from the table on motio of Dr. Stone of Boston, and the meeting was addressed thereo by Messrs. Smolley, Stone, Thayer, Hammond, Cobb, Philbric and Vail. The subject was then laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Pennell, the Essay of Miss Bliss, of Spring field, was read by Mr. Sherwin, Chairman of the Committee of Prize Essays. After which, Mr. J. G, Hoyt, of Exeter, [N. H.,] delivered a lecture on "The Indications of Progress in Popular Education,' and the Association adjourned to meet at half-past 6 o'clock. The President read letters from Dr. Lord, of Columbus, Ohio and Mr. Tice, of St. Louis, giving information in regard to the progress of education in the West. Voted, That a copy of the "Transactions" be sent to each of those gentlemen, with the thanks of the Association. Voted, That the Board of Editors be instructed to continue the publication of the "Transactions," if it be considered expe dient. The two Reports on Phonetics were referred to the Board of Editors for 1853. The Board of Directors were instructed to petition the next Legislature for further pecuniary aid, and for an act of incorpo ration; also to provide a seal for the Association, and furnish certificates of membership; also, if they shall deem it expedient, to offer, during the ensuing year, prizes for Essays, and make all arrangements for the same. The Committee appointed to publish the proceedings and Lectures of the Association, were instructed to report to the Board of Directors. It was Voted, That a copy of the "Transactions" be presented to each of the gentlemen whose lectures were therein contained, and also that one be presented to the State Library. Voted, That the next meeting of the Association commence at 2 o'clock P. M., on the Monday next preceding the annual Thanksgiving, with the view of prolonging the time of the session. دالية The following gentlemen were chosen as officers for the ensuing year: William H. Wells, of Newburyport, President. Benjamin Greenleaf, of Bradford; Rufus Putnam, of Salem; Elbridge Smith, of Cambridge, Corresponding Secretary. Charles Northend, of Salem; Daniel Mansfield, of Cambridge; J. P. Cowles, of Ipswich; Calvin S. Pennell, of Lawrence; John Batchelder, of Lynn; Ebenezer Hervey, of New Bedford; Levi Reed, of Roxbury; George Allen, Jr., of Boston; James M. Lassell, of Cambridge; J. D. Philbrick, of Boston; A. M. Gay, of Charlestown; John Kneeland, of Dorchester, Counsellors. The subject of Phonetics was then taken from the table, and the discussion was continued by Messrs Sherwin, of Boston, and Rowe, of Westfield, and concluded by passing the Resolution of fered by the Committee. Professor Felton, of Harvard University, then delivered a Lecture upon "The English Language as a Branch of Study in our Common Schools." Mr Gardner, of Nantucket, after a grateful acknowledgment for the appropriate and beautiful tribute paid by the lecturer to the memory of Webster, spoke eloquently upon the feelings and impulses which the death of the great statesman had excited. Mr. Stearns, of Boston, followed with appropriate remarks on the same subject. The whole subject of printing the lectures was referred, after some discussion, to the Board of Directors. Mr. Pennell, of Lawrence, offered the following Resolution of thanks, which was adopted: Resolved, That the thanks of this Association be presented to those gentlemen and ladies who have acted as a Committee of Reception, for their prompt and assiduous attentions; to the citizens of New Bedford for their very generous hospitalities to female teachers and others, whom they have welcomed to their homes; to the City Authorities, for the use of the City Hall; to those editors of newspapers, who have gratuitously advertised our meetings; to the superintendents of the several railroads, |