Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-07-07
Chittenden County Teachers Associa-
ton.

tenden County Ieacners AeeOjiahVu N'
its session Friday forenoon in this cry
There Was goodly number Of teachers IN a.
tendance.
The meeting was called to order By Prof. L.
Pollens, President of the Association, who
after devotional exercises, delivered a short ad-
dress
Miss E. s. Bowman Of this city then read an
essay on 90 The Awsking of thought in Pupils.
The essay is spoken of by all who heard it as ex-
cellent. We regret that We have no abstract Of
it. The residing was followed by discussion.
AFTERNOON.
The afternoon session opened with the singing
of America" when followed an admirable
address from Oscar Atwood, A. NJ, Of which we
give brief abstract
Mere intellectual discipline is inadequate to
the demands OF sosiety. There IS somethlng
more important in the character Of every man
than the amount Of knowledge he may possess
That culture which exercises formative innu-
ence upon the affections, the aims, the habits,
should occupy foremost attention. The SUBJECT
of moral training presents many great pracuc'i
difficulties We must consider the relation the
teacher holds 10 the other instrumentaltles en-
ployed for the moral and religious culture OF the
Young. We must not assign him duties which
do not belong to him. Physical, mora and H.
telleetusl culture, sre mutually dependent forces
for the elevation of mankind. All are control
led by a common law, the highest development
Of the man.
There should not be so much the formal re-
leous instruction as the calm, tsteidy example
Of the teacher, such an example as viii quietly
LEAD the pupil to seek the same source Of spirit
ual power, whose fruits they observe in his life.
All those habits of life which make up the msn,
the teacher must cultivate, and his influence Is
from Whist he is as a man.
The faithful conscientious teacher may, in 4
great many ways, do a most important moral
and religious work II his pupils love him he
will long remain in memory teaching power.
Mr. Atwood closed with an earnest appeal 10
the teachers present 10 enter into tut coucep-
ton Of their work, which though beset with dii-
fculties and trials yet has its precious hopes
and glad memories.
At the conclusion Of the address which was
listened to with close attention discussion fol-
lowed, the Rev J. H Worcester was the first
speaker.
The Rev. j. H. Worcester said there is a moral
influence in every well conducted school. The
tescher should consider the morsl well being OF
his pupils, and labor to promote IT, He should
take for his guide the Sermon on the Mount.
The philosophy Of moral culture in our schools
is neglected In teaching morality, if the teach
er's mind is intent upon the end. good common
sense will suggest the means. He effects his
scholars mostly in two ways, by his unconscious
influence and By his method Of discipline. In
his judicial capacity, decision Of right and
wrong between pupils, he should always express
bis adherence Of everything bad, and his admi-
ration and generation for everything good snd
pure He should convince the pupil that he
personally admires everything nigh, and just.
and hates everything bad. The realing lessons
give an excellent opportunity 70 incuicate moral
precepts and doctrines The teachers are too
apt to make intellectual development their en-
tire end, neglecting the moral improvement Of
the pupil. The naturally brilliant scholar gets
complmented, while the really studiQus, faithful
and deserving pupil is sighted The teacher
should show that be osteems right, snd good
conduct, above intellectual capacity. lie should
show that the naturally bright scholar is not to
be esteemed while the ole who is naturally dull
is criticized.
Professor Pollens thea made some sppropri-
sye remarks. eallrs.ng what Mr.. Worcester had
said, and calling for Professor Buckhsm.
Prof Buckham said it Was more economical
to keep the kettle boiling than 10 boil il spas
medically This is true OF the morality Of :
school Once raise the moral tone OF the school
ani;t is easy 20 keep il up. The case Of Dr.
Arnold's influence ST Rugby WAS iustancei. He
raised the moral standard Of his school higher
than that Of any other school in England, hav-
ing found it very low. Esci successive teacher
should raise the moral standard Of his school,
and 50 gres; moral perfection may be obtained.
Rev. G. 5. chase, Of Colchester. said enc
object Of moral training Is to lead The pupil 20
believe there IS prcspec; Of success. Duty and
right should not be presented 81 a task, but as
something desirable and lot becsuse they are
to benefit ones self, but because Ct their inherent
worth AMI beauty as, otherwise, il would en-
courage selhshness. We should not teach right
as an abstraction, but righ- doing and its re-
wards
Prof Torrey said the secret Of pers1asI success
in the ministry, j. personal character, not elu-
cationsl accomplishments. and it is So with the
tescber. The reverence for right which he feels
will be hat which the pupil feels. We should
teach them thst right sni duty is not only the
lsw Of God, given f1r Us to follow, but 70 Is he
law which lie follows and 0beys.
The discussion Of ''Ihe Art q Questioning
was opened by Rev. Slr. Chase He said the
true des Of eiucati5n is developing the mind.
The most successful teachers are those who en-
deavor not only to impart instruction hut to
draw OFT the pupil. Questioning holds the a.
tention Of the pupil, which it s more difficult TO
do when imparting instruction merely. Il is
also suggestive in 10 Wsy can so much be sug-
ges,ei as by questioning. 1t couvinces a
sch0lsr Of his ignorance, leads him 10 = know
ledge Of his errors snd aWskens within him q
spirit Of inquiry. The questions must be given
with reference 10 the condition Of the pupils
mind He (the teacherl must understand the
subject thoroughly. CUES Joining produces q
sympathy between teacher and scholar, Vhich
merely impariiug instruction does no..
Mr.. Chase continued his remarks. which were
very instructive, TO t1lae length.
Prof Polisns called upon Prot Backham to
speak Of the.Socratic method Of questioning.
Prof Buokham said Socrates knew, first, last
where he Vss going to land bis MAJ, and then
took him straight there, no matter what manner
Of man he WAS, or what his opinions were. He
will be smszei TO find himself where Socrates
hiss put him. doa't know Row he got there, but
there he is, and there be must stay. The fault
with ordinary questoners is that they are lei
aside by the pupil Socrates never allowed HIM
self to be- The first virtue Of the art Of ques-
tioning is, not 70 allow the pupi to take us
away from cur point. Questons should not be
leading ones.
Mr. Meade Of SEsnton vas called for bu; had
nothing to ssy.
Rev. J. Il. Worcester ssii the teacher fails be-
csuse be does not sympathize with his pupils.
lie must discover the precise s-aie OF the pupils
mind on the subject, and then sdsut his ques-
tons to the pupils mind. He should also adapt
his questions to all the different pupils who come
under his tuition. Mr.. Worcester spoke for some
time in very hsppy msnnsr,
Mr. C. J. Alger said there was large field in
which leading questions are slloEei. We wish
sometimes to lead the scholar up TO the ques-
ton when we have done SO, leading questions
cease to be allowable
Mr.. Lelyenworth said. in effect, that the yeH
Of questioning as taken by a lawyer was not sp-
plcable to this case. Lawyers had TO question
unwilling, lying, prevsricating witnesses. The
teacher, on the contrary, has = willing, eager
witness to reply to his questions one anxious
for the truth. Mr.. Leavenworth said the more
he taught the less he asked questions. lie did
not believe in questioning until sitter the scholars
had recited sll they knew, then question them,
that they may be made to give the reasons for
their statements. The old method Of questioning
is great waste Of time. It is not true that the
young teacher is the most successful Il il we're
so, then his first school should be his last
After Mr.. Leavenworth, who spoke strongly
and earnestly, had concluded, Prof. Pollens read
the following list Of committees
Committee on Business H. s. Peck, l. L.
Lawrence, Miss Louise DeEuison.
Committee en- Place OF Meeting-Prof Buck
han, Or. Taggart, Miss Eanice Thompson.
Committee on Resolutions-G. A. Barrett. A.
R. Dow, a. NJ. Taggart. Mics Mary Brownson.
Mrs. Leavenworth.
Meeting adjourned until - pm, to meet At
the College street church.
EVENING.