Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-25
For the Journs
TEACHERS INSTITUTE AT NORTH
FIELD


held Teachers Institute at Academy Hall
last Friday and Saturday.
The attendance was quite large on both
days. Many Superintendents and Teachers
Of Washington County we're present. aud alst
a goodly number Of citizens. who manifested
an interest 10 the elevation and pros perity o
our common schools.
Most of the time Of Friday was occupied
by Mr. Adams in discussing the subject o
Arithmetic and Grammar pointing out tL,
defects in our present series Of text books
Z and showing Ao0 the different branches ia
our schools should be taught He thought
Greenleafs Arithmetic the best work now
extant, but yet he did not quite like the ar
rapgement OF it. Many Of the Rules were
faulty and had tendency to bewider and
] retard the progress Of the SCHOLAR instead OF
being what they should be,--a guide to show
him the way, and make his path Of duty plain
and agreeable as possible.
There were also defects in our Grammafs
the Rules were too complicated, etc, where
as he believed they should be made as simple
as possible. the moods and lenses more clear
ly defined and more simple and copious ex-
amples given under each part Of speech. In
this way the beginner in Grammar would the
more readily comprehend the principles and
usefulness Of the study, and the more easily
understand how to apply it in writing and
speaking.
The last hour OF the afternoon was open to
&" free discussion" and the time was all occu-
pied by Superintendents and Teachers.
At the close of the afternoon session, the
audience had the pleasure Of witnessing the
students Of the Mortified Institution 20
th -oush with their Gymnastic Exercises. un-
der the direction Of Miss Annette Washburn,
which wac very interesting indeed and elicit
ed many eucomiums from the lockers on.
Nj Adams lectuied In the evening on the
subject Of General Education. He portray ed
the condition Of our schools as they existed
five years ago and showed conclusivey that
within this brief period Vermont has done
much towards elevating her system of COM
mon schools. And yet, he was by no means
satisfied to stop here be believed there we're
many papable defects in our school system
to-day; he thought we should raise more
money, employ better te ,chers and pay them
higher wages have better school houses and
have them we'll supplied with Maps, Charts
and Globes, and in every way possible We
should strive to make the school house at
tractiye. and the school room comfortable and
pleasant, thereby melting within the student
warmer enthusiasm and a higher love ior
study. He argued very strongly in favor
Of grpded schools, and thought they should
be established wherever and whenever it was
expedient.
Saturday forenoon Mr.. Adams took up the
subject Of Geography, and treated i, in a man
ner that was truly grand and interesting
lie wished especially to impress upon all the
great Importance Of thoroughly understand
ing physical geography, and be believed this
to be one Of the most interesting and profita-
bic studies that could engage the mind Of
pupil or teacher.
In the afternoon he treated Of Writing and
Defamation, and of the Manner Of GoVerninq
Schools. He thought that the child should
be taught very early the Importance of speak
ing grammaticslly aud politely, everywhere
and At all times. As soon rs the scholer had
learned the different parts of speech, be
should be given words aud taught to form
them into sentences, to make sentences, de-
scribe objects, &c and he should he drilled
dliiy in written and oral exercises. The
student should also early be taught the nee
essity of learning TO speak in public. For at
this time, the voice is the more easily trained
aud developed, the pronunciation corrected,
the awkwardness of talking overcome, and
the habits OF ease and grace and composure
the more readily formed He would have
the teacher to consider that while he is in
the schuol, he is filling the place of a kind
parent. The teacher should always be pleas
ant and courteous, patient and fOrbeariug,-
yet Just and impartial at all times. He
should be prompt to begin, and also to dis
miss his school, and should teach his schol-
ars the importance of this habit His de-
pertinent, both in school and out of school,
should be that Of gentleman.
The hour for free discussion having ar
rived, Mr. Adams called out Rev. Eli Bal
lou Of Montpelier, who occupied the attention
Of the audience for about an hour. His re-
marks were a combination of the subject be-
fore the Institute; they were very interesting
and practical, and were listened to with deem
interest.
A the close Of the session Mr.. Ballou Of .
feIed the following resolutions, which were
unanimously adopted
Resolved, BY the superintendants and
teachers Of the schools in Washington Coun-
ty, that we do hereby express our heartfelt
thanks to MIR. j. S. Adams, .he Secretary of
the Board OF Education, for his able, inter-
esting and instructive lectures and exercises,
to which we have listened during this session
of the Teachers Institute.
RESOLVED, That we also hereby tender an
expression Of our thanks TO the liberal people \
of North6eld for the kind reception they
have given US, and their very grateful hospi-
tality which we have enjoyed during our at
tendance upon the Institute.
MIR. Adams lectured in the evening to a
large and appreciatiye audience. His subject
present condition of our Country.
He commenced by saying that be had lately
seen Governor Smith and that he Gov Smith
desired that he should devote one evening Of
each Institute to the discussion of those sub
Iecls which pertain to the interests of ou-
Country in her present trials. He spoke of
the prosperity of Vermont and Of all the New
England States. The farmer now finds a
ready market for his produce, and at higher
price than he ever realized before--the day
aborer can now sci his olOa price for his la
Dor. Our rugged hills are titled by the hus-
bandman, our valleys are tracked by the iron
rail, our rivers are dotted here and there by
Iarg0 factories, and our villages are busy
With the mechanic and tradesman And yet,
'o-day we are in the midst of a war the most
'auseless, unprovoked aud wicked that the
world has ever Witnessed. 1t is not because