Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-02-05
Vermont State Teachers Association.

Vermont State Teachers Association.
This organization held its twenty-third
annual meeting at Rutland, Jan. 80 and 81
Judah Dana, presiding. We are indebted
to the Free Press for the following notes CT
the matters discussed
Thursday afternoon President Dana gave
a very able address upon the Work of the
Teacher, and the Quatlicat ons Necessary
Therefor. The teacher should have a love
for his work, ability to control the school.
and in order to do this, the power OF SELF
control he should be able to inspire the
pupils with love of knowledge; he must
have an accurate and discriminating &C
quaintance with the subjects to be taught
and lastly, he should hnoself be a pupil in
the school of the Great L, acher Moral cul
ture should be allied with the intellectual.
A discussion on the Relation Of the Normal
| Schools to the State was opened by Prot.
Conant, Principal of the Randolph Normal
School, who is justly EMIT ed TO the title OF
- Father of the Vermont Normal Schools"
| having sustained one Tor sometime before it
received acknowed gment by State enact
ments. lie confined his remarks to a briet
statement of the present official relations OF
these schools TO the State, how far they have
been aided and the expectations for the
future So far, the State has only paid for
taltions actually gwen. 1t is anticipated
that, eventually, the State Will assume the
entire control and management OF the schools,
and deiray all the expenses thereof. Then
only will the IDEAL of a State school be
| realized
The discussion was continued by A. L.
II
lation of Normal Schools to the welfare of
the Commonwealth. They can only be de-
ended upon the ground that they cap furnish
better teachers than we now have. 10 secure
this they mus, be more amply endowed, where
now one hundred dollars are expended, a
| thousand should he.
Prof Brainard OF Middlebury College then
gave an able address on the Importance OF
greater Attention 10 the English Classics in
tlIgh Schools and Colleges.
Mr. Fuller spoke briefly upon the abridg-
ment OF the usual course OF study so as 10
permit greater attention t. literature.
Prof. PolleDs thought the time now given
to the iragmentary selections of our higher
re lders IN GIT be proftably devoted to some
complete author.
| A discussion on music in schools, was in-
troduced by the reading OF an essay by Prot.
| MeIzke, who showed that music has received
ITS highest development in religious song.
lie then showed how the art of music sh ould
be taught in schools. He would combine
theory with large practice. In roint oI
health the importance of vocal music is
worthy of consideration. The Germans
larely have consumption. They are educat-
ed III music. Its pracucabiity in our COM
mon schools is no longer an experiment, since
he success OF its Introduction into the b ston
schools lt should not be made a recreation,
hut study. " Its a beautiful tribute to
music as medium OF heart-wOrshIp, the
Pro essor closed amid hearty applause.
He then introduced his second class and
illustrated his method of instruction as
practised in the Rutland schools, drilling the
members in reading music at sight, in
writing for numbers, aud in singing. After
a brief recess, the class from the hi III school
favored the Association with some finely ex-
ecuted music.
Prof. j. s. Cilley then introduced dis
cussion on Compulsory Attendance at
>chool.' The speaker displayed much ear
nestness, taking high ground upon this sub
iect lie believed it the duty of the State
to require all the children to be educated.
Picturing the tendencies of truancy among
children, and trusting such children with
those children who attend school and their
almost certain tendency to become law-abld-
ing aud virtuous citizens, he closed with q
glowing tribute to the value of our schools
as n institution for the prevention of crime
and vice.
Prof. Louis Pollens continued the discus
sion in favor of compulsion. He showed the
workings of tits practice in Germany which
I no al
Europe to the compulsory discipline of the
school room, during the generations past
II we as Americans wish to perpetuate oul
national pr. sperity, we must require all oul
children to be educated. The tide OF truancy
is setting in and must be met. Heretofore
it has been the custom in New En- Gland tt
/ attend school, but it is falling into disuse
and requires the strong arm Of the law.
t Thursday evening DR.. Spaulding, who hal
attended twenty out Of the twenty thret
meetings OF this association, and Rev. R. E
, Williams spoke of the value of school
j1urnal.
Prof. Greene of R. |. spoke upon Ian
3 guage as Medium of Thought. Too little
4 attention is given to thought, too much tt
, expression. Children should be taught te
think. Expression or lang age will follow
at the beDest of thought Ibis may be
/ secured by conversation on the part OF the
i. teacher with the children, on the subject Of
( a previous recitation. As the children come
to use the pen, they should be taught to ex
press their thong hte on paper in an orderly
way. The mechanical examination should
at first be kept in the background. We
should aim to interest the pupils in the sub.
jects under consideration, without reference
to the expression. The latter should be kept
in view, but should not be made toe
prominent.
Friday discussion on 8 That are the
objects OF RecitatIons, and how best attain
ed?' was opened by A. R. Savage, of Mort 4.
field. The first object is Development; the
second the lmparting of Information. Too
many instructors reverse the order. Inlorma-
tlou Is desirable, but unless development be
secured, the information will soon be forgot
ten.
E. Conant would call attention to the
/ power the teacher has to direct the pupil.
One Object Ut the recitation is t., fud how
much the pupil LAS gotten out of the lesson