The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-01-24
TEACHERS, INSTITUTE.

your readers, in Addison County, who
were not attendants on the Teachers In
stitute, lately held in this place, would
like to hear therefrom. | will endeavor TO
give you a short sketch Of the proceedings.
The Institute was opened on the evening
Of 18th lust, by well directed lecture
from Sec. Adams, to those interested in
the cause of education. He cndeavored
to rouse the people from the lethargy into
which they had fallen, that they might
grasp with more energy the work that
lay before them He showed that good
schools depended not upon the teachers
nor committees nor superintendent, but
upon the people themselves The In,ti-
tute was opened Friday morning 10y "a
few remarks from Mr.. Adams upon the
importance OF opening every public school
by some devotional exercise; especially by
reading short portion of scripture if not
by prayer lie said that this WAS gener-
ally done by female teachers, but that
there was a sort of timidily or shrinking
back from this, on the part of male teach
ers. lie ,hen read "a short portion of
scripture and was followed 10y a prayer
from Rev Mr.. Baker. Mr.. Adams then
spoke for half an hour showing the aim
and motive of the Institute and the good
it had accomplished. After short recess
he addressed then principally upon the
subject Of Arithmetic. lie considered
Arithmetic rs science, and spoke of the
different methods of teaching it, telling
the true method He said scholar,
should be shown by things near and faml
lar, the importance Of mathematics as
the calculation of eclip>es and the return
Of comets He said that the leading
purpose should be to teach scholars that
selt-reliance and Independent thought was
the power of man; and finally that if we
would forward the Republican institutions
of our country, we should apply the full
force Of the maxims Of ST. Paul, "lrove
all things, hold fast that which is gooi"
In the afternoon he continued the subject
of Arithmetic, taking up addition and
subtraction and showing the bes. manner
of explaining them. He said that the
most important object to be attained in
teaching was that the children be taught
to think for themselves, and the next was
that rapidity Of th"ught be learned. AZ
ter a short recess, Mr.. Adams took up
the subject of Grammar, dwelling pariic.
ularly on the classification of words. He
was followed by Rev. Mr. Baker who
made Il few interesting remarks, and Mr.
Smith, WHO spoke OF the importance OF
sustaining AN interest in schools Rev.
Mr. HulbLrt then being called upon, said
that he would like the opportunity to
extend a shearty welcome, in the name
Of the people Of New Haven. to all those
who were attending the Institute.
In the evening the exercises were begun
by the audience singing Il hymn. The
theme of Mr.. Adams discourse was Ge-
ography. He said that young beginners
should he taught orally, and that iu-tra-
tons should be taken from the country in
the vicinity of the schoo.-huuse. He said
that the subject should be presented to
the scholars 81 that they will be interested
He showed how to explain CLEARLY that
an.equable distribution of light and heat
was necessary to the maintenance of ami
NAL and vegetable life Alter recess
the audience sang "A hymn; when Mr..
Adams continued the subject, explaining
the changes Of seasons and showing the
wisdom OF the Creator in the division and
distribution of land and water ON the
earlhS surface. He then explained the
currents of AR and water. After which
the exercises Of the evening were closed
Saturday morning the Institute was
opened by reading IA chapter in the Bible,
prayer by the Rev. Mr. Hubert and the
singing of hymn by the audience. Mr..
Adams then continued Arithmetic, taking
up multiplication and division He dwelt
particularly on the importance Of clear
and logical definitions. After recess he
continued Grammar, showing the best
manner Of conducting recitations
He said the Lreason that scholars
were obliged to study Grammar was be-
cause they did not hear it at home that it
was just as easy to learn 10 talk correctly
as it was incorrectly, and for this reason
alone, if for no other, parents should try
to use correct and grammatical language
He spoke of few Of the most common
mistakes in our language, and then
closed for the forenoon. His lecture
in the afternoon was to be on School
Discipline, but unfortunately it was
not possible for me to attend, but
the probability is that it was equally in
teresting as his preceding dscourses. -
And here let me say that the people of
Vermont have reason to congratulate
themselves upon having in their midst
such self-sacrifcing, efficient, noble man
to engage in this great work, one of the
noblest though most neglected in our
country, that of promoting the interests OF
Common Schools And again let me say
as one who enjoyed it, that thanks are to
be returned to the people of New Haven
for their unbounded hospitality and their
cordial welcome TO strangers Calling
blessings upon the head Of our noble Sec
rotary, and invoking prosperity for the
sons of New Haven, close. c.
NEW HAvEs, VT, Jan 22, 1866.
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Wool Growers AND SHEEP BREED
Frs OF ADDISON CoUNTY-lt has beer