Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-11

be pursued as sciences. STEADY progress
ought to be made in geography, physiology.
botany, and history, &c. At the age OF 10
pupils should become proficient IN orthog-
raphy and punctuation and the rules OF
letter writing should write easily and
legibly; should read we'll. be skilful IN
arithmetic, and be instructed in book-keep-
ing and the common forms and rules
of trade and business should use the
English language properly. The habit OF
constant reference to the dictionary should
be encouraged The pupil should under
stapd the division of nations, the different
forms of government should be perfectly
familiar with the principles and details oil
our own governments, national, state.
county and town ; should be instructed IN
American history should be taught the
laws of health, and the relations OF MIND
and body should be able to draw should
understand the principles of vocal music :;
should study the natural sciences In line,
should learn to be truthful, docile, and re-
spectful toward men, and revcrential to-
wards God.
Mr.. Durham elaborated the various de-
tails of this very comprehensive system at
much a greater length than we have space
TO indicate. In closing, be presented syn
opsis of studies. prepared in accordance
with these views, and which he said had
been tried with success.
Mr. Alger told story of lawyer OF
Burlington who was wont to give his name
freely as an endorser of other peoples
notes; but who, when the principal failed
and he was called on. used to say that he
IA O., hot "a, hut only tn
accommodate the other man. 1t was much
the same way that, several weeks ago. he
agreed to take part in this discussion. AS
he had listened to the formidable list OF
topics and studies that had been presented
as a suitable course for children OF from 10
to Is years, he had wondered whether the
teachers would be encouraged or discour-
aged By it. He thought we should teach
for power-to learn the scholar how to ac-
ouire, rather than to make him acquainted
with all subjects In the Intermediate
course he would give especial attention to
correct use and enunciatlon OF the language
and TO writing. There is no excuse TOR bad
writing. for in six weeks any one above the
age of 10 can acquire legible hand. ihe
study OF numbers should be carried 10 a
certain extent. Addition, subtraction,
multiplication. and division. should be thor
oughly learned. 50 as to be done rapidly
as well rs accurately. Spelling Is aot
rightly taken up, as general thing
IL is of more practical Importance TO spell
correctly in writing, than orally, and spell
ing exercises should be largely in writing
In geography general knowledge l. need
n l. 4.,1 On,
In Grammar School work all this Is to be
advanced In the school day an hour
should be assigned for miscellaneous werk
for familiar lectures, and general lltorma-
ton. 1t is impossible 10 teach everything
in five hours VI five days in the week, for
five years but what we Undertake 10 teach
let Us teach thoroughly.
BOOKS AND METHODS.
The hour having arrived for Notes and
Queries on Books and Methods, Mr. Pollens
remarked that he had tried one new book
during the past year. with moderate sue
cess: viz, Gilman's Outlines of English
Literature.
Mr.. Fuller, Of St Johnsbury, asked il
any of the teachers had tested Olney's Ge-
ometry.
Mr.. spaulding suggested that there wa-
rule on the Records. forbidding the dis
cussion of textbooks. Messrs Fuller,
Bunker and Pollens. were in favor of ignor-
ing the rule, so far as it applied to teachers
Mr.. Capen, Of Boston, said he was a
hook agent and also member Of this Asso-
citation. He could inform them that the
book agents cared not fg for adverse crit
cisms of their books What Is one man :
poison IS another : meat, and what one did
not like another would succeed with. He
moved that the rule forbidiIng discussion
Of textbook be expunged from the records
Mr.. Spaulding said that before the adop-
ton Of the rule, in So. the meeiings Of Tie
Association had been sometimes captured
by the book agents. and much time wasted
in acrimonious debate and wars of words
over text books. He thought the conven-
ton would be in hot water. if the rule wer'
rescinded.
On motion. the motion was laid upon th'
table
BUSINESS.
The committee on place Of next meeting
reported that they had selected Bennington
Their report was adopted.
President Buckham, from the committee
on resolutions, reported the following
which. on his motion. were laid on the
table
RESOLUTIONS.
Rssoired. That recommend to the fostering care
OF Congress the NAtsnal bureau % Educst.ol Ant
that we would regard is abolition, as threatened
a calamity 70 the cause Of education.
ResotcI. That in view Of the continued and iu
creasirg danger that the public domain ~ The
United States may be squaudered upon objects
which are Rot conducive 10 the general good OF the
nation, We emphatcaly reaihrm our action Of
urging Congress 30 devote the entire proceeds o.
the sale @. public lands TO the promotion % educa
ton.
Resoi,,4, That we urge upon the citizens o. Yer
mont the Importance of sending 10 the 5 tate Lee
lAture men who are competent 10 le-islate wisely
N matters % education.
Rss0iret, That committee 0' three he appointed
10 memorabilia our next Legislature IN favor %.
enacting law, similar 10 that formerly IN toree.
concern. ng uniformity N the introducilo and Use
ofteXt books FOR our public schools
officers OF the Centennial Exposition, in re
ference to collection Of school statistics,
models of school buildings and other con
tributions to the educational department of
the exposition As it appeared that these
communications were addressed. not 10 the
President of the Teachers Association, but
to tie Secretary Of the State Board of Eiu-
cation. and as the Association was not re
quested to take any official action on the
subject, after brief discussion the Ass0cIa-
ton adjourned without action
EVENING SESSION.
Friday evenings session was held at the
College Street Congregational Church,
large audience being in attendance. First
on the programme came paper by the Rev.
j. H. Worcester, Of this city, on The
Relation of Education to Pauperism and
Crime
DR.. woRcEsTER's ADDRESS.
In opening, DR.. Worcester said that be
should limit himself to the relations of edu
cation-the education given at the public
schools-to pauperism. Pauperism is
caused by the paupers themselves. have
recently seen the statement that many
English manufacturers pay of their en-
ployes Monday night. II they received
their wages Saturday night they would
get drunk Sunday, spend their money and
be unfit for work Monday. What an as
poet of human nature what lack of pru-
dence and forethoughti Such men must
always remain poor, though their poverty
is utterly needless. A few years since
much was said about reducing the hours OF
work. This step was taken. but in Eng
land ard probably in this country it did
not materially improve the condition of the
poor. the extra time being spent in dissl-
patton and the extra ay in drink.
How shall poverty be cured? First, leave
the cure to our own natural conscience
Parents dislike to work an injury to their
own children. and once convinced that they