Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-08-24
AFTERNOON.

held in this State have been shown by expe
rience to be of high practical Importance to
the teachers who attend them, and to the
communities in which they have been held
and this Association earnestly recommends
to all the teachers in the State to attend
them whenever it is in their power to do so.
Listened to lecture by Prof. S.W Board
man of Middlebury College.on the Dignity
and Importance of the Teachers Work.
OF the addresses delivered before the Asso-
citation, there is neither space nor ability but
for very meager abstract.
Prof. Boardman, in his introduction, re-
marked upon Common Schools as being
among the Institutions which standing in an
important relation to society, have claim
upon Christian philanthropy. There will
be change for the better in respect to the
attention which they receive when the pub
lie mind is interested.
He announced his subject as the DIVINITY
and Importance Of the Teachers 'cOrk IN Com
mon Schools
F7rst-That these are both seen from the
very nature Of mind with which Of course the
teacher deals. There was noticed first the
power of acquisition which the mind possess
es. 1t is constantly taking impressions, and
the teacher must guide it in the use Of knowl-
edge it thus acquires.
Another faculty of the mind is the memory,
the amazement OF the philosopher. Impress
sions once made are retained and in all future
conditions there will come up the instruc-
tions of the teacher Then there is the power
of Intuition, where belongs Conscience. The
feelings, too, are subjected to the shaping
influences of the teacher. The lciH also, IS
subject to his control The speaker here
dwelt at length with great viyidness Of de-
scription upon the distinguishing nature Of
the free lriH as an object of creation. By this
man is not merely creature but child of
God
He then mentioned the minds perception
of moral character, and forcibly remarked
that the fact Of the fallen nature Of man is
too little recognized. Then the highest
power Of mind is its prQgreSSre Development
| t0rerer
Secondly-The dignity and importance of
| the teachers work are seen from the peculiar
relation Of teacher and pupil 1t is in the
plan Of God, in the constitution Of society,
| that the highest development Of mind cannot
| be obtained without a teacher. In this re-
! spect the school is the connecting link be-
tween the family and the State, partaking Of
! the nature Of both. The instinct of the
! young mind recognizes this principle. The
| child Graves the instruction and guidance of
a superior,-regards the very person of a
teacher with peculiar reverence which years
| do not disp0sSess. The teacher in fulfilling
! by the instrumentality of his vocation the
| plan of God, with solemn sense of the re-
sponsibility must be "apt to teach; must
| love his work must appreciate his work.
The rewards Of the faithful teacher are
found in leaving upon an immortal spirit his
| own impressions for good in the useful after
lives Of bis pupils; in the sweet sense OF duty
discharged, and the appreciation Of God.
Ihvd'y-The dignity and Importance of
| the teachers work are seen in its results. 1t
| trains the mind Of the lchole community. Men
Of high position in all departments receive
! hfe impressions in the district school. He
then noticed the significant and encouraging
fact of the attention which the subject is now
receiving from leading minds in our State,
intimated the high expectations which we
might hope would be realized in Vermont as
the seat Of literary culture in centuries to
come and concluded with an exhortation to
the teachers and people of Vermont to give
to the schools of Vermont the strength OF the
| Bible and the strength Of prayer.
The following resolution, after discussion
by Mes>rs. Burbank Adams, Hall and circuit,
was adopted
Rcsolred That when qualifications are
equal and equal services are rendered, male
and female teachers should receive equal
compensation.
Mr. Leavenworth, from the Committee on
School journal, made a verbal report in
relation to that periodical, in substance as
follows
The Journal was started in April, 1859,
with p pages and an edition Of 800 copies
In January, 1850, it was increased to 30
pages and 1000. The circulation is increas-
ing, numbering from | POO to l 800 paying
subscribers, giving an income sufficient to
pay expenses without allowing any compen-
sati0n to the committee for their supervision.
They find it a heavy tax upon their time, in
connection with other duties, and expressed
a desire to be released from it,
The following resolution was then adopted
Rs01ed. That this Association re-aiirm
the sentiment expressed last year by the com
mittee appointed To report on the Vermont
School Journal - That Messrs. LeayenwOrth
and Spauldlng be requested to continue the
publication OF the journal according to their
judgment Of what the best interests Of educa-
ton in the State require. and on their own
responsibility
EVENING.
Rev. j. E. Rankin, of st, Adams, gave
very interesting lecture on the - Claims Of
the Bible to a place in our schools. -
Mr. Rankin commenced his address by
saying that it is a matter of interest what
shall he the religious character Of the future
inhabitants Of our State. To accomplish an
object so desirable as the preservation of the
spirit Of our Pilgrim Fathers, there is no
nstrumentality 50 potent as the Bible. Some
christian men are timId concerning the posi-
ton Of the Bible in Common Schools His
subject was announced as the Literary, More
al and Religious claims Of the Bible to plac-
IN our Common Schools
f1rst-As regards its literary claims, it
has positive merits. As was said Of Christ,
81 Never man spake like this man, so may
it be said Of the Bible in a literary point of
view, " Never book was like this book. = lie
brought illustrations Of its literature in the
departments Of History and Poetry, Of high |
order, and abstract reasoning. It's excellen- |
cies in this department were eloquently ex-
hIbited. None Of the masters in literature |
who have found their material in the Script |
ures have been able to reproduce the original. /
Shall we not for this consideration put the |
Bible into the hand of our children, who are |
now forming their literary tastes?
Sec0nd'Y-ln considering the moral claims
of the Bible, he explained his use OF the term
moral as distinguished from religious, max
ing it expressive of mere human relations
He then remarked that every school is a
world by itself. Schoolboy morals are pecu-
liar. Now what corrective of the bad is
there like the word Of God? Something is
needed more potent than human instruction.
The question what kind ofmen are our chill
dren to be is determined to a great extent in
our schools. Saying nothing about a future
life, there is no book that sets forth such an
excellent system of morals among men as the
Bible Infdels have instructed their children
from it to this end.
He applied these principles to the subject of
the foreign element of our population. How
IAN we make these persons good citizens bet.
-er than by kindly insisting upon the same
moral culture which we give our children?
ThirdlY-Special stress is to be laid upon
he religious claims of the Bible In this
book only has God revealed to man his pur-
poses and his lar. Every creature has