The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-05
lFor the Globe.
Teachers Institute mt Wallingford.

whatever tnerc was OF substance lhust ~
main.
1t is due to the Institute, to the people
who entertained the teachers attending, to
the many schools closed for one week, and |
to the Commonwealth in general, that the |
Institute receive u frank criticism, that we
look over accounts and ascertain the true
standing. In order to do this satisfactorily, |
we must refer personally to the instructors
and to the work accomplished by each.
Secretary French sent four teachers in adj
vance, who arrived Monday +. Nj. MIR. L.
b. Stctson of Lewiston, Maine Miss ii. lie
ID. Potter, of New York; and Miss ellison
of St. Adams. Mr.. Stctson seemed to be
the manager, and on Monday evening gave
n lecture for which it would be difficult to
find heading. Many good suggestions
were made upon one point or another.
IIc endeayorcd to show how time could
be saved from the usual curriculum in Conn
mon Schools for Drawing and miscclane-
Gus matter. He would confne the study
of spelling to about five hundred common
words and have others learned when used;
Arithmetic to the practical rules; would
have the facts of Geography generalizcd;
and Grammar taught by example; and
would teach thoroughly, not eXlaustivcly
1t cannot be doubted that these remarks
point in the right direction, but even here
he was too radical and theorcticnl He
made useless TRADE against textbooks in
general and those now in use. He seems
to hold the mistaken notion that pupils
should be taught to have no confidence in
what they muI rely upon for help and guild
nnce until every teacher is Il walking oracle;
then we can dispense with books.
During the day-scssions he gave some
profitable lessons on the Elements of Draw
ing, illustrated by exercises on the black
board, and another lecture on Industrial
Drawing in which he presented its claims
among artisans and mechanics.
Mr.. Stockwcll gave lessons on methods
of teaching Penmanship, consisting princl-
pally of the directions contained in the diff
fcrcnt numbers of the Spencerian Copy
Books and illustrated some things that the
directions cannot. Miss Potter assumed the
position of teacher of methods in Elocution,
and in the evening was the principal attrac-
ton for the citizens and people at large. If
it was the intention to have some one to
play the part of Comical Brown and thus
secure Il crowd it was success. We heard
from Franklin county that person was at
tached to the Institute who might prove a
dangerous rival to said Brown and expert
cnce has verified the rumor Miss Potter
can render some kinds of composition with
more than ordinary force, and is successful
in personation; all will enjoy, laugh and
applaud. She is a vivacous and agreeable
lady, with wonderful initiative faculties, and
can well entertain an audience but as Il
teacher Of practical reading with purity of
tone and natural simplicity, she is far from
model. 1t is safe to say that there was
little practical instruction in reading for
teachers of Common Schools. Her voice
is of good compass and strong, but lacks
richness and purity of tone. Wcwould not
fail to commend Il commemorate and common
sense talk on dress and the aim of life. Miss
Gibson gave lessons in music, and seemed
devoted to her work; quiet yet enthusiastic
she cvinced true feminine tact and apti-
tude for teaching methods that would be
successfully used with children.
Secretary French came Tuesday after
noon and in the evening gave an instructive
lecture on the different Educational Peri
dds and the methods evolved in each. lie
reviewed the present condition of Common
Schools in this State and suggested CONSOLE
dation; thus schools would be improved
and the expenses curtailed.
w ,dnesday and Thursday he was en-
ployed in the examination of teachers who
made application for State certificates
Three applicants were successful. The as
sistant examiners were mammal.
The cream of the session came on We'd
nesday evening, when Prof. lIighlcy o.
Middlebury, with ''levcl head" told us how
10 keep our heads level. 1t was rich feast
no less substantial in matter than attractive
in style; no epitomc could do it justice
Perhaps it was not made sufficiently prac
teal for the average teacher.
During the Institute a noticeable cflor
was made to swell the number of those at
tending for the sake of the number, AM
and everybody who could be registered as
teacher per see or er cbicto was added unit
the sum total was about ninety; but tn
number of teachers who attended lon
enough to derive whatever benefits wer
offered, would fall below fifty. Seventee
came from the Castleton Normal School o
Thursday, and returned to Rutland Frida
morning.
1t was evident to all that they came f
amusement and to add seventeen to the Ii
stitutc list. 1t may be easy to dec i've an
gain the public by such catering as WI
shown here; but after all we do not belle,
the people of Vermont will be long in
posed upon. As to the instruction given,
good teacher would not need to use many
the methods, and Il poor teacher could n,
with success.
We know that educational advantag,
cannot always be estimated in dollars NJ
cents, but when we consider the cost to Il
State of the exhibition at Wallingford, Al
tbs wages of the teachers, we think that II
instruction was not at all commcnsura
with the cost. The wages of the teache
may be estimated at over $500, and we mu
guess at the State expense as the public a
not informed on this point.
We have endeavored to make a eand
criticism and we believe the practical teac
crs Of Vermont will substantiatc the vie