Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-01-29
The Teachers Institute.

one interested in educational matters
The just and necessary action by the leg
islature last fall, restoring the appropria
ton to sustain these means of instruction
and agitation on a subject of such mag
nitude and importance as the right train
ing Of the young, was welcomed by nj
part of the State more heartily than b,
the County Of Orleans, indeed there ar,
many, and they some of our most prom
inent citizens, who would have beer
glad to have had that body go further
and increase the appropriation so that il
place of the short two days now granted
each county, once year, the Institute
could be made 10 extend full week
and SO afford the Secretary and others
whom he might employ, time for more
thorough and exhaustive treatment Of
the subjects Of studies usually taught in
common schools. But short as the SEES
sions Of the Institute are, no one who can
possibly attend can afford 10 lose the OPP
portunity. Such at least seems TO be the
general impression in this vicinity.
The annual session of the Institute for
our County began in this place last week
Tuesday, and continued two days. With
very commendable promptness, teachers
and others came in Tuesday, and before
noon the Congregational Church was
well filed. Not till afternoon however
did it become clearly evident that the In
siitute was to be the largest ever held in
the County. BY this lime large dele>
cation had come in from Holland and
other towns less remote.
Mr.. Adams took up first, the subject
of Arithmetic, which be discussed till
about eleven in the forenoon, and then
spoke Of Geography. He dwell. in bis
graphic and interesting style, upon the
Importance Of thoroughnesa and care in
the most elementary part Of Arithmetic.
showed the necessity Of such teaching, If
we would have the scholar succeed in
the latter part of his mathematical course.
He ridiculed 10 bis inimitable way the
too common practice of hurrying over
the fundamental rules Of this science, as
If ii were no science, but mere dry
collection Of dead definitions and pro-
cesses about as entertaining to the schol-
al as an abstract rule for building top
or written treatise on hop-scotch. This
is the common course, said he, and then
you wonder that the boy spends four or
five of the best years of bis life in the
study Of Arithmetic and yet gets only a
smaitering of what he ought to know
thoroughly in half the time.
In Geography Mr. Adams exhibited
the folly of imparling the husk of the
science without the kernel, -of teaching
dry statements without making them of
interest by showing the grand truths
embodied in them by means Of physical
Geography, and all knowledge attainsble
by the teacher, by which TO throw light
upon those facts, and to make them read
lily retained in system.
These Two topics were discussed alter
nately the most of both days. In the
afternoon of Tuesday the different scope
and sphere Of Arithmetic and Geogra
ply were very ably set forth. We are
sure that no one could have listered to
the distinctions so plainly drawn without
more definite ideas not only upon these
branches of education, but between all
studies which have acquisition for their
objects, and those whose chief benefit is
10 the discipline they give.
During the last hour of the afternoon
remarks we're made by Mr.. Sanborn of
South Hardwick, Rev. Mr. White of
Coventry, and others, upon the value of
the statistical information obtained from
the school registers, and the Importance
of their being correctly and cbeerfully
kept by teachers and district clerks, and
concerning the advantage of public ex-
aminalions OF teachers.
Lieut.. Austin of the Vermont eley.
entb, was called out by Mr.. Adams, and
though disclaiming all ambition in the
speech making line, nevertheless made
very effective little speech, which was
appreciated by the audience.
In the evening Mr.. Adams proposed
to speak upon the general topic of edu
cation. For more than two hours he
held crowded audience in the closest
attention. while with masters skin he
touched upon subjects of the highest i'm
portance, not to teachers and children
only, but to every citizen of republic
like ours. Space forbids anything more
than an allusiou TO some Of the themes