Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-26
Second Annual Session OF the ot.ef
creek valley Teachers Assoc'a-
FoRENOON Session.

mence1 at New Haven yesterday "'S
fair attendance of teachers and others in
terested in promoting the cause OF eduoa-
tion The exerois S commenced at hair
past ten, at the Congregational ohurcn'
,ich had been kindly thrown open u
accommodate the deliberations OF the
Association, which, together with the
e,enerous Inequalities extendedto those In
attendance, evinced the cordial interest
4 which the citizens of New Haven take in
the proceedings.
The meeting was called to order by
INDIA Oliver Smith of New Haven, who,
in few appropriate rem lrks, cordially
welcomed the members of the Association
to the inequalities of the town, and ex-
pressed his interest in the cause which
they represented.
After prayer by Rev. Lewis a. Austin
Of Manchester, the President, Henry
Clark, Egg, stated briefly the objects for
which the Association had convened, and
the pleasure which it Afforded to meet In.
its second annual session under suon'
favorable circumstances and with such
hospitable surroundings. He returned
thanks for the oourtesies which had been
extended, and the interest manifested by
the citizens of New Haven in the present
session of the Association.
Upon call from the President the Sec
rotary of the Association, Rev. Aa@ia A,
Austin of Manchester, read the report OF
the first session. which wa held Last year
At Manchester.
It WAS then announced that change
yould be made in the ordrr II exercises
which had been published, by which the
sddre4s of the President would be deferred
ill the afternoon session, and the discuss
,ion on branches taught in o"c mm'n
schools be substitutod in H. IIt''
THE DISCUSSION.
BY request of the presid M, Mr.. Judah
Dana, principal of the Rutland Graded
School, opened the discus~oa in very
interesting manner He offered brief
apology for appearing before the assooi-
alton without more preparation, stating
chat the arduous duties irv'lnPrd upon
him had made it impossibl- 10 4 in the
necessary time for such purpose But
a. he had devoted his life to the cansa Of
education, he was always ready - respond
70 any call which might have for its OBJ
leot the promotion of the noble profe"sion
Of teaching. He spoke Of the advance
which had been made in tho methods Of
instruction pursued in our schools Al the
present time az compared with the d"ys
when he was a pupil. At that time no
Normal Schools or Teachers Associations
were known, while the textbooks were OF
the most imperfect char lcter. Hc de-
soribed in very interesting and enter
tanning manner the difficulties which he
encountered in endeavorin@ II master
d" Adams old Arithmetic" difficulties
which he was only able to overcome after
firm resolve to allow nothing to pass
without thoroughly understanding. At
ono time. BE- bad plmcst despaired OF ac-
auiring a knowledge of the science OF
nnmnrf.. .ui up to the time Of his fret
efforts % teaching he had made but little
adVarc"mrn' This difficulty WAS in
grow Jegrr" owing 90 the imperfect text
book :, u-r nd the defective method OF
imptrtjn.r obstruction. he had lived TO
49,. Normal Schools and Teachers Asaoci-
..,l,o. tud increa~ed facilities for ginning
1u ,Al". ind get, to-day, many OF the
sohnt- .f Vermont are falling behind.
The r,ss:o .or this is that discipline If
imperfect. The beat educated teacher
ohio cannot preserve discipline is not as
,,,sU stta3 f,r the occupation ~ the one
,rho r.,, maintain order. but whoss adu-
cation may not be As perfect 1t il neces-
.sry to keep the scholars applied to their
studies. or 40 progress o,n be made.
Mr. Dana then presented with much
4,rncstu. - and fo!c. his vi.ws upon the
impnrt4rre of the study of geometry in
OR r..,u NOR schools He pointed out the
rromjueut psrt which this science plays
in uosrly Ill the pursuits u lite, and
maintained chat the common school was
tha place whore it's rudiments should be
sought II some simple textbook could
,,or he procured. the principles OF the sol
auoe could be taught ~ figures and dia-
grsm' upon the black board. he main
,ine3 that portion of the time now de-
voted to the study OF geography could be
with more profit allotted to some simple
mode of teaching geometry. He spoke of
the importance Of having this subject dis
or 4sed aud considered by the teachers Of
Ver11ont, aud expressed the great force
with which the suhj"ot had been brought
home to ht" mind from his experience IN
teaching. he would not set the o'her
'tuiies aside oy any means Grammar
. av5 pe0graphV are important, out ne