Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-07-07

were Ia attendance
FIRST DAY.
Prayer VAS offered by Rev. J. b. Wickham,
b. D., a veteran teacher Of nesrly tao score
years.
After brief remarks by \. L. Leavenwor;h, Of
New Haven, Rev. J. D. Wickham, Of Mauches-
ter, and the President, the association adjourned
until the afternoon.
The lady teachers throughout the valley were
unusually well represented and the reception TO
the association by the citizens Of Ws!lingford
was most cordial. The session wss quite en-
thusiastic and profitable
At the afternoon session the President, deliv-
cred the Introductory address. Subject, I'm
thusissm in Teaching
Immediately after the address followed a die
cussion in reference to 'English Grammar snt
Reading" which wes opened by Judah Dana Of
Rutland, and was participated in by Messrs-
Cilley Of Brandon, Leavenworth Of New Haven,
and Sanborn of AIiiilebury.
\ J. Sanb0rn Principal OF MiidlehuTy Gradc1
Schools, then delivered an able AID instructive
address on 'the public school and the public
school teacher, their Effects upon society and
nations, occupying some fifty minutes in the
delivery, and Illustrating his subjects with facts,
statistics and authorities.
A large audience assembled at the Consregs-
tionsl church in the evening, where, after music
by select choir, a powerful, instructive and
appropriate address was delivered by Rev. DR..
Kitcheil, President Of Middlebury College, IN
reference TO the duties Of teachers.
c. A. Castle, Of Burlington, wss then intro
duced and held the audience in close attention
for twenty live minutes by chsste ami clearly
expressed poem, addressed to parents, oa schools
and school teachers, and their duties to them.
10 4 n "a hD lav
devoted their lives to the tsacher's profession.
But the poem should have been heard to be fully
appreciated. Ii is to be hoped that Mr. Castle
will conEent to its publication.
At its conclusion, Rev J. D. Wickham, D. D.,
moved a vote of thanks with generous tribute
to the worth and taste of the poem.
SECOND DAY.
Saturday was a grand field day, and devoted
to discussions and general addresses. A discus
cusson upon the relative merits Of the town
and district systems WAS continued with spirit
for three hours. Among those who took part IN
it were DR.. c. L. Case and J. s. Cilley. of
Brandon, C. D. Childs Of Wsllingford, Capt A.
E. Leavenworth Of New Haven, G. A. Bstcheer
of Manchester, Josish Dams of Rutland, and
Rev. Mr.. Fsrrar of Wsllingford.
The President, Mr. Clark, said he had been
surprised at the ignorance and misapprehension
the subject, as ii had been published not only in
the annual laws but in all the newspapers of the
State lie then briefly explained the law as
passed by the legislature in 1870, and the powers
granted under it.
Capt. Leayenworth believed in the law. Il /
was one of the best laws ever passed by the leg
islature of Vermont, and in his opinion would /
be adopted and approved by the people of Yer
mont when they understand it and see its ad- |
vsntage-Vermont has better schools than New I
York or Massachusetts,. The principal of the |
Boston Public School is Vermonter, and 80 at 1
st. Louis and San Francisco. Vermont now has /
the best and most liberal system of education of /
any State in the Union, and under it VIC can I
have any kind Of school the people may want. /
After reviewing the arguments Of those op- /
posed to the graded system, he said that if under
the graded school system all children were CON-
PEELED to 60 to the village to attend school, he |
should be opposed to it. Such is not the case
Under the law, if town chooses to adopt the
the system, directors are chosen by the town at
the annual town meeting to when the whole
care Of the schools in the town are committed,
and schools can be locsted by them in any
and all parts Of the town. After fully ex-
planning the law, and correcting the mis-
apprehension that seemed to exist in refer
ence to it he said, that the smallness of
schools was an argument against the district
system, and instanced towns in which number
CT districts had only five scholars. lie thought
that the great argument in favor of the graded
system was that we would have better teachers,
better instruction, advanced scholars and that it
would cost less