Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-10-30
state Teachers, Associat,on.

and 18th. The opening remarks by MEM |
berS Of the Association and citizens were
very interesting. J. Warren Thyng, of
Salem, Mass, gave some very valuable
instruction on drawing. He thinks that
il ought to be introduced and taught in
our common schools. The eye and hand
ought to be trained while young, before
the body and mind have come to maturity.
He exhibited some very fine specimens of
drawing, upon the blackboard, for COM
mon schools.
1t seemed to be the mind of all present
that drawing of some kind in the hand of
live teachers would be very interesting to
our little ones at school.
Lecture in evening by Hon. J. D. Phil
brick, of Boston. Subject: How to
make our Common Schools Practical" 1t
was very evident that he was master of
his subject. He said, We want our text
books uniform. They contain too much
matter, much more than is needed; teach
ers must be qualified to reject that which
is useless; too much ground is gone over
in a term and therefore the work is not
thorough enough. Some scholars will
study arithmetic every term from eight to
sixteen and then not know the multiplied
ton table; we want smaller text books
and more practical teachers. 1t cannot
be expected that all of this change is to
come about in day, month or year,
| but by constant study and much hard
thought. We want more and better
| training schools for our teachers; the
country seems to be flooded with p Dor
and inexperienced teachers. Why is it?
In part because the people are rot williag
to pay man or q woman salary enough
to encourage them to qualify themselves
for their calling. Teaching is secondary
to no profession in the world.
But the parents are not all to blame.
Teachers are to blame for not being quail
flied before presenting themselves as
teachers. Consider your calling sacred
and then prepare yourselves for the work,
and some one will hire you that will be
willing to reward you.
Be constant, be upright, be in earnest,
be alive to your work and be true to your
God and he will repay you tcn-fold.
After the lecture many Of our own
teachers spoke as a INIT with the lecturer.
Friday forenoon Prof. II. o. Ladd, OF
Plymouth, read short essay on "Radi-
calism in Teaching" Mr.. Ladd's remarks
were short and to the point He said,
/" Radicalism gives the teacher tact and
power. A reform in teaching must come
feel yourself if you would have your pu-
pills feel; have personality; arouse and
inspire your scholars to action. Things
in the future will be known by principles
and not by facts. Generalize for your pu-
pills; simplify forms of knowledge; use
sound methods of teaching; don't fear to
have new crop of methods if they are
good and better than the old ones; every
ono has his or her own method and that
is as it ought to be. Grammar should bt
taught at home by parents by correct use
of words and phrases; the whole eharac
ter, mind and body are to be educated
Parents send children to school, not mere
ly mind or body Endeavor to lift VI
the whole child and thus you will do {
great work,
Followed by 3. T. Dame, of Manches
ter, on reading: Have your class in al
upright positions good breathing very es
scntal; good reading is only obtained BY
practice and training. Read often before
your classes and study whatever you read
In fact be practical in all you do and say
This was followed by discussion "Whq
; studies should be pursued in our Common
Schools, and to what extent should tn,
State educator" The discussion wa:
opened by Rev. Henry Powers, of Man
chester. He holds that an entire new
system ought to come into existence
Only think of five thousand children who
cannot read or write in this great anC
prosperous nation! Schools were frs
instituted for religious effect, so peopl,
could write and read the Bible more un
derstandingly. The State only educates
at the present day, for self difference anC
not for finished education. Some seen
to think that any one can teach the little
children, but it requires the best teachers
that can be found to teach primary
schools. In this department solid instruc
ton should be given, for it is the founda
= ton on which tho structure Of the whole
man is to be built. Religion ought not tc
be Taught in our common schools only as
far as morality is concerned; see that you
scholars are honest on the play grounC
! and in class exercises; have them be up
right, honorable and manly in all things
Mr.. Powers was followed by J. G.. Edger-
ly, of Manchester, as to what ought to BIZ
taught in our common schools. Somt
say arithmetic, some say languages anC
others say drawing, while each think:
that his part Is enough. Teachers canno
, do all that Is demanded of them. Tht
rich ought to elevate the poor. Wher
f people are too poor to educate their chill
dren the State should clothe, board ant
educate them, so that they can be on al
equal basis with the children of rich par
ents. A child ought not to be laugh
that he can make a great man, but good
honest and upright citizen. l would re
commend for the State to educate schol
airs in reading, writing and arithmetic