Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-01-27

citation shall be borne by voluntary con-
tributions from members, and any other
Interested person.
Article VI. The meeting of this Asso-
citation shall be held semi-annually.
Article VII...The officers of this Assoc
citation shall be chosen annually, though
incumbents shall continue in office till
successors are appointed, and the annual
meeting shall be held in December.
Article VIII. The proceedings of this
body, in convention assembled, shall be
governed by Jefferson's Manual of Parlia-
mentary Practice.
Article TX. Amendments to this Con-
stitution may be made at any regular
meeting of the Association, on vote OF
two-thirds of the members present.
The committee on nominations presen-
ted the following list of officers for the
ensuing year who were duly elected:
President,
Henry Clark, Rutland.
Presidents,
Judah Dana, Rutland
Ellen Field, Brandon.
Mrs E. G., Leavenworth, New Haven.
hecordlng secretary,
Lewis A. Austin, Manchester.
Assistant Secretary,
Mary l.. Sherman, Manchester.
Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer,
J. s. Cilley, Brandon.
On motion of Mr.. Cilley, the President
appointed Messrs. Kile, Williams and
Dana committee to report resolutions.
Miss Ellen Field, of the Brandon
Graded school, then read an essay. This
was thoughtful and carefully prepared
paper on the natural development of the
mind, and the teachers Office in respect to
such development. To fulfill the design
of the Creator should be our first aim, as
it was as evidently designed in the
infant mind by the Creator that it should
receive proper development as the germ
is developed in the natural world by the
growth of the plant and the tree. The
capacity and pleasure in the performance
of the duty isindicated in the design. The
hindrances in the teachers profession
may become helps. A review was given
of the disadvantages they labored under
in regard to self-improvement, and their
position tends to foster too high an
opinion of their requirements. The ad-
vantages-the nature of the work and
the opportunities afforded of influencing
the mind, made the work one of response
bility and influence.
A. E. Leavenwerth, Principal of the
New Haven Academy, delivered spirited
and suggestive address on THE True
Aim of the Teacher"
The aims of teachers as class were
presented. The unworthy aim of many
was simply to get living and place
themselves in position of responsibility.
Another class aim to teach faithfully
what was in the books, but are satisfied
with too small attainments, keeping just
in advance of their scholars by study and
the use of keys, ct Cet6ra. This was too
low an aim. The hope for this class was
that their honesty may lead them through
failure to find success. A third and worse
class teach for present effect-aiming to
secure brilliancy for their pupils in reci-
tation and at examinati to secure rep
utation and for the qualification of parents.
A fourth class make discipline their
hobby as if ''order was not only Heavens
first law but its 0nty law" A picture of
such school was drawn from life, which
was characterized az a school governed to
death. Authority should be preserved
but not ostentatiously The power should
be behind the throne.
The aim of the true teacher should be
to train his pupils for the servine Of God
and their country; to prepare them for
this life and that to come. Our State in
it's constitution makes this aim part of
the work of common schools. The same
is true of the statutes of the general
government. This aim was set forth
by w shington in his farewell address to
his countrymen. The teacher should aim
to train and develop students i'll their
three-fold natures mental, moral and
physical The speaker especially com
mended to teachers the moral culture of
pupils A complete organization Of d
school is essential to its success and cour-
tesy is necessary i'll all its relations. The
teacher should seek TO acquire all posi-
BILE knowledge that may be brought to
bear in his general aim. This is but an
imperfect abstract of Mr.. LIS suggestive
and valuable paper
After short recess The Association
WAS entertained with very graphic and
pleasant reading of Miss Iugeiow's poem,
"The High Tide on the Coast OF Lincoln
SHIRE" by Miss Mary l.. Sherman, Pre-
ceptress Of Burr and Burton Seminary.I
The Association then proceeded to the
discussion 'The district school s5 stem"
In the absence Of DIR. c. L. Case OF Bran
don, VINO was to have presented the sub
ject, the discussion was opened by Rev
Franklin W Olmstead of Dorset.
He said the district system should be
done away with and control of all the
schools of a town placed in the hands of
the town. One of the disadvantages
Lhc present. sum WIS t4Iat AZ
engendered local feeling and prejudice in
q district which even stands in the way
of the best dicipline and government of
school. A prudential committee chosen
by the town would not be subjected to
such influences. Districts often vote not
to have school or to have the least pos
sible amount, and many children are thus
of needed instruction Town
corporations would not thus vote. The
breaking up of the district system would
more equally divide the public money
and more equally distribute the advan-
tages of schools. 1t would secure bel ter
teachers, by preventing much favortism
in employing teachers and local influence
to secure certificates for incompetent ones
We need competent authority to say
who shall and who shall not teach our