Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-06-26
AFTERNOON SESSION.
President Cilley in the char.


In the absence of Mr. johnson, the
discussion on the E'Proper use of text
books in schools" was opened by D. c.
Mead, Principal of the NTiddlebury Grad
ed School Mr. Mead said facts and
principles should be committed to mem
Dry, but to blindly follow the book with
out thought Is injurious / would take
the best textbook could find, and give
the pupil some topic and let him digest
it. Then let the scholar present the sub
iect in the best manner he can. Some
teachers use the textbook as a thing to
be criticised, and held up to ridicule.
Such use is to be deplored for it results
in harm to the pupil.
A. +. Leavenworth, Principal of the
New Haven Academy, said | think
that in our common schools too much
dependence is placed upon the text
book. l would have a textbook out
line the topic, and the teacher fill in all
that is necessary. But the teacher must
be above the textbook, and be able to
direct a recitation unaided. would have
principles committed, and the subject
thoroughly digested by the pupil. l be-
lieve in topical instruction.
J. o. Driscoll said would condemn
the whole list Of textbooks for they are
badly arranged. They should be but the
skeleton and teachers should supply the
muscle.
Rev. Franklin Tuxbury said: think
we should strive to arouse the curiosity
of the pupil. Question the topic INTO
him and then question it out of him.
Teach him to use his reason and thus de-
velop his strength. If the teacher I'M
derstands the subject he can clearly pre-
sent it to the pupil.
Mr. Sherman, of Fort Plain, n. Y,
said: I came here to learn and not to
teach, but viii give an item of my ex-
perience. In one school which / taught,
had forty-two (42) different textbooks.
certainly could not use them, and was
forced to adopt the topical plan. am
decidedly in favor of the topical system
of teaching
At this point Prof. q. j. Sanborn, of
Bernardston, Mass, delivered an ad
dress which was well received.
The next subject for discussion was
g The Mutual Duties of Parents and
Teachers towards their Scholars. -
Judah Dana, Principal of the Rutland
Graded schools said:
BY looking at our school registers one
would suppose that parents had no in
terests in the school-room. The teacher
is treated as no other employee, for he
is placed in the school-room without the
supervision of the employer. l believe
it is the parents business to visit the
teacher, whenever any difficulty may
occur, for the teacher may be entirely
ignorant So also it is the teachers bus
mess to visit the parents. Parents and
teachers must work together
He was followed by D. G. Mead, of
Middlebury, who said:
The parent should be the first to es-
tablish mutual relations with the teacher,
But let the teacher go to the parents of
the erring boy, and all difficulty will be
removed. He illustrated the subject
with several examples from personal ex-
perience.
He was followed by the President with
a few earnest words, also illustrating the
subject with personal experience.
j. Dana, A. j. Sanborn, Rev. F. Tux
bury and ]. S. Cilley, followed, relating
many.personal experiences, which formed
a very interesting feature of the Afternoon
exercises.
Adjourned until 730 p. m.