Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-29
Teachers Institutes.

| Ms'srs Editors To those Of your readers who
have not attended one Of these annual county
gatherings Of teachers, as conducted by Nj Con-
ant our State superintendent Of Education. a
few words may notbe out OF place both for needed
information, and for the awakening ofduc interest
in this important provision To promote the Ell
cheney of our schools.
This is the more necessary, because the name
is liable to mislead those who know nothing of
the Institute. 1t is by no means exclusively for
teachers. The two evening sessions are occupied
with the considering Of topics belonging especially
to the voters and tax payers, the parents and
guardians of the children who attend the schools
At the Windsor county Institute, held at Nor
wch, on the 10Th, 2lst aud 22d Of September. the
opening address was, first u clear, terse aud Wig
orons setting forth Of the foundation trnth. so
often forgotten, that our school system is matter
of common concern To the citizens. Illustrations
were found in very interesting incidents from the
early history Of Vermont, particularly in the town
records of Bennington and Chester, which were
valuably suggestive
The second part Of the address was forcible
application OF tho truth, in kind yet very plain
enunciaton Of some OF our duties TO the schools.
especially the duty to provide good scbool-houses
and good teachers.
Now the practical nature and other Characters
ties Of the address and Of that OF the second even
ing, (Which, in this case was by Mr.. Hiram Or
cut on 1.-The relation and obligations of parents
to the common school, , made them important
and thoroughly interesting to us who are the pa
irons of the common school; perhaps even more
so to us than to the teachers who are only our
servants so far regards their official relation To
the state. And it is by the earnest needing of
these suggestions, which are the result Of careful
and thoughtful preparation ON the part Of one
whose experience as Vermont teacher, and
whose effective service as an educator, and long
continued observation Of the working Of our grow
ing system of education, give to his words great
weight-it is by the earnest needing of these sug-
gestions that We shall secure better public ser
wants for this educational work, and better schools
and therefore, better future citizens
but the day sessions Of the Institute are also Of
great general interest, These are to be sure
chiefly for the answering Of questions touching
the matter and methods Of instruction and the
details OF schoo-keeping Hut the clear ANALYSIS 1
of the different branches Of study aud the adj
mirable hints and directions for teachers. cannot
fail to interest their employers the patrons Of the
school
Then the closing lecture Of the Institute upon |
the organizing of the school, gives, among other |
things needfu, instruction to the prudential com.
mittee, recalling aud interpreting the provisions
OF the statute about the duties Of that very re.
sponsbe officer 1t is obviously important that
every citizen should understand these things. that
he may know whether these duties ale prouerlv
done; Most Of all should every voter he thor
o9Shly posted that he may be ready for duties to
which he Ia liable at any time 10 be called
we believe that the work of these Institutes rs
now conducted, must tell most fayorably upon the
educational Interests of the state; and how much
do these involved law"
Mr. Conant was ably assisted by Capialn Iea,.
enworth, OF the State Normal School at Randolnh
BY Mr Perkins, OF the Windsor High school. ani
by MI Morrill, OF the Classical and English school
~ WV "'NH VS.,