Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-26

| about the structure and Ofhces OF the SKIN,
the lungs, and the digestive organs. The
more important laws of health and the adj
vantages of forming good habits could be
impressed upon children, if taught in an
intelligent and interesting manner.
Children should be taught that they
live in world replste with beauty, and
with evidences of the skill, wisdom, power
and benefcence of the Creator. The
teacher should understand enough Of Ma
tural History to be able to arouse in the
minds of her pupils desire to know more
Let her take, for instance, a flower from
the bouquet with which the loving hearts
of her little ones have decorated her rude
table, and let her call the attention of her
pupils, first to its beauty. then, by skill
full series of questions, let them describe
it's form and coloring. Show them how
beautifully the colors are blended, then
teach them the uee5 of the various parts
of the flower. VIXEN, by means of such
simple lessons or talks, their minds are
prepared for it, let their attention be call
ed to the whole vegetable world, with its
infinite variety of use and beauty.
In similar manner, the elements of
zoology might be learned, and the children
never dream that they were getting les
sons. And who shall say that the knowl-
edge gained in the half hour or less daily
spent in this way will be less profitable
to the pupils in after life than the arith-
metic and geography they might have ac-
quired in the same time?
The teacher should also possess, and
should seek to arouse in her pupils, an
appreciation of the beauties of nature.
Teach child to find pleasure in gazing
at the glorious sunset, with the rich and
varied coloring of earth and sky, that fol-
! low in its train as it fades away, and
ushers in the peerless queen of night, sail
ing in beauty ''thro' starlight and blue"
Teach him to look with delight upon the
living landscape, made up of hill and and
dale, stream and wood, and you give him
high, pure source of happiness which
4 will never fail. In all these lessons from
nature the pupil should be taught to look
beyond mere material forms, and to CON-
template the great Artifoer of all things
The teachers of our State are now re-
gu red by law to be competent TO give in
structiou in the history and constitution
of the United States, and especially in the
history and constitution of Vermont. 1t
is to be hoped that our town superintend-
ents will see that this law is carried out.
! A knowledge of current events, as OBJ
tanned from reliable newspapers, should
enter into the culture of our teachers.
They should know something of the prin-
ciples of our government, and be able to
impress on their pupils a sense of the wis
dom and justice of our laws; thereby fos-
tering a love of country, which every
American citizen should possess.
Finally, the teacher should possess an
abiding sense of her responsibility to God,
and an ever present desire to do all things
to His honor and glory. If this principle
aotuates her, every fitting opportunity
will be seized upon to awaken and Guilt
vate in her pupils high moral sense. A
spirit of love and kindness will aotuate
her in all her treatment of them. She
will stimulate the energies of her pupils
by holding up for their imitation the e+-
ample Of those who have sought to make
the most of the faculties God has given
them.
After short intermission, during
which the choir gratified the audience
with excellent music, Frank W. Page,
NJ. d, Of Brandon, was introduced and
addressed the assembly upon Physical
/ Culture"
ADDRESS or DIR PAGE.
The preservation of life and the means
for prolonging it to the greatest possible
limit has been an object of interest and
anxiety to mankind in all ages.
! Aud as conducive TO this end attention
to health becomes a matter of paramount
importance.
! II 10 nanaa=ary IN nrdo- tn tho main
tainauoe of the highesl degree OF health
that there should be an accurate knowl-
edge Of the laws of hygiene. There has
been great deficiency in this respect in
the past, and even now the subject does
not receive the attention which it's import
ance demands.
Man is possessed of three-fold nature
the physical, mental and moral, and these
all bear an important relation to each
other. One cannot be unduly exercised
or developed without detriment to the
others. Aud here had been the fault of
the systems of education which have been
practiced While great attention has
been paid to the culture of the mind, the
development of the physical system has
been almost entirely neglected. II weI
turn to the agea of the past, we fluid that
mankind attained to greater age than at
the present day. Among the Greeks and
Romans great attention was paid to ply
seal development, and to the requirement
of the greatest degree of bodily strength.
The most rigorous and austere Coursos of
training were practiced to the accomplish
III ent Of this end, and the result was a
degree of muscular strength and robust
vigor Of the physical system that is TN
| known at the present daV.
At the same time that attention was
given to private development, the public
health was carefully regarded and the
most thorough sanitary measures adopted
to conserve it. The jews, also, were re.
markablo for the attention given to the
preservation of the public health, and the
careful observance of sanitary rules. With
the birth of Christ, however, this was all
changed. The development Of the body
was held almost i'll contempt and the
most rigid notifications were enjoiued.
For centuries, a system of self-martyrdom
was practicod. The moral well-being of
mankind was held to be of such para
mount Importance, that the physical sys.
tenn was almost entirely neglected.
From this state of things there has been
gradual improvement. During the past
forty or fifty years, great advances have
been made in the degree of attention to
physical culture. Greater regard is paid
to the observance of the laws Of health,
and more general diffusion of knowledge
on the subject has been encouraged.
Among the lower classes much has been
done to improve their physical health by
wise sanitary regulations, and yet much
remains to be accomplished before their
condition will be an elysium. While
among the more favored classes, attention
is given to gymnastic exercises, there is
not that intelligent and discriminating
employment of this. efficient means for
physical culture that there should be.
The proper course is to preserve bal
anoe between the physical and mental
forces of the body. While the brain is
developed by study. the body should be