Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-12

EDUCATIONAL MATTERS-THE LATE PROF. DIM
hOCK-THE FIELD-DEAN CONTEST BEN
BUTLER'S POSITION.
BosroS, April 5, 1873,

that 1t requires more talent to teach success
fully primary school than in any colleg
His idea is that when person has arrive
r at maturity he can, in n large degree, diret
D his own education. Similar views are entel
R talned among educators here in relation /
the comparative demands for able teacher
IN colleges and in secondary or fitting school:
As they are sometimes called. 1t was nc
many months ago that an eminent sehola
and teacher, devoted to his profession as sub
master in secondary schools, declined cal
to professorship in one of the best know
colleges in America, where a salary wa
offered him one thousand dollars larger thai
that which he was then receiving, averrin!
that he refused the proposition because h,
considered the great need of the present da,
In our systems Of higher education to b,
teachers in the secondary schools who cOult
teach the pupil at the outset how to study.
Studying to the best advantage he considered
as much an art, to be taught to and learned by
the student, as the most approved stroke
which must first be learned by the successful
oarsman. This view seems to be general
for in each of the half-iozen noted secondary
schools in New England. men are employed
who have held honorable positions as teachers
in New England colleges, and in one of these
schools there are four such teachers number
ed IN the faculty.
An eminent Ieacher-a teacher not bv
training merely but by birth-who had
peculiar tact in teaching boys, is called to
public notice in the person of DR.. William
Reynolds Dimock, who died Of rheumatic
fever, last Friday, at the carly aye of II
years. At the time of his decease he was
master OF the Adams Academy, located at
Quincy, few miles out of Boston, towards
the Cape, where he has devoted himself in
cessantly, since the beginning Of the school,
SIX years ago, whose foundations were
planned by the aged Charles Francis Adams
and his father, President John Quincy Adams,
and President John Adams, his grandfather.
After graduating from Williams College
in 1870, like most young men in similar
situation, ne found himself without COM
pass. The practice of the law and the
ministry seemed to suit his tastes equally
well, but, finally, having taught for some
time in the city schools, he driited into the
Harvard Law School; he began practice in
Boston and contemplated with considerable
favor political life, but gladly gave up his
project when he was offered situation
under the hcnOred and fondly remembered
DR.. Gardner, as sub-master in the Boston
Latin School. In lSGS he was chosen pre-
fessor of Greek in Williams College, which
position he honored till he was called to
Quincy in 1872. When be had determined
to make teaching his profession, like Dr.
Arnold of English fame and his cwn reyered
master, DR.. Gardner, he devoted his whole
soul to the work. Unlike Dr. Gardner,
he could see that it was not necessary for
the pupil at the ouset to commit to memory
two hundred pages Of Latin grammar, coarse
and fine print, before venturing into the
actual language. But, doubtless, if that
prcccptor were now to take his former
place in the class room, he would agree |
that the natural way to learn language is
to begin with the language At any rate,
such was the stand Professor Dimmock |
took in company with the advanced guard |
Oi educators. lie was alive to the develop |
ments and the signs Of the times and, hav-
ing discovered the most approved methods of !
did not allow them to remain un-
used. His success he attributed to the fact
that he acknowledged the infinite variety
Of temperaments which exist among Toys,
and attempted to meet the wants Of indi-
viduals rather than of the class as class.
The Adams Academy is conducted in imita-
ton Of the famous English schools of Eton,
Harrow and Rugby and ex-Professor VIII
liam Everett, who, believe, claims the
bonor of being the first American graduated
from al English university, will probably
bill the vacant place Temporarily.
Benjamin Dean is at home, Strengthening
,ut his business affairs. which got sadly
mixed while he was making his protracted
visit to Washington. lie feels much tickled
,ver his success, bat tries not to show his
Intellectual poverty and childishuess by
though he does say he never
'aw the beat of how those Washingt1, news
paper ielers did fOller up His case Wal
bridge A. Field, the elected Representative,
; an unaSSuming man, hut he has a decided
y higher order of ability than Dean. The
public is thoroughly acquainted with the
proceedings at Washington. The facts
which each candidate alleged to prove that
ie was the elected Representative, are not
understood. The Third COngres-
ional District Of Massachusetts, comprises
1art Of Boston. In November, 1876, Dean
iad 9,3OS votes, according to the confused
iourly count of the ward officers, and Field
/, ,30l. Field doubted the count. and, As he
lad right to do by the Massachusetts stat
ties, petitioned for an Allcrmanic count.
The result of this count was 9.3aO votes for
field, and 9,3l5 for Dean. At the time.
Dean and his friends accepted the higher
cunt As final but after Field had occupied
hat he might steal a seat in Congress by ap-
,ealing t1 the Democratic majority in the
Iouse. As is well known, the contest was
he closest recorded for many gears. the vote
landing l23 to l2l in Deans favor
II is a significant fact that nine Democrat
c members from the South and three from
he extreme South, rose aboye party pre- =.
ndiccs and voted iOr the lawfully elected
andidate, rather than increase their party
majority by fraud. And it disgraceful fact I,
bat turn-coat Jones, OF Alabama, who voted
Jr Field at first because he thought he was
lcc,ed BY the laws of Massachusetts, after +,
yard voted for Dean, because, as Mr. Pick
Gick would say, he thought it was safest
to shout with the lOndest." But the
eepest disgrace comes right home to one of
ur own Republican delcg ,tion. General B. !
:. Butler embraced this opportunity to vent |. .
is spleen on one for whom lie had person !
dislike and thereby reversed the lust
ecsion which his own vote might have a
,cured lie is acting to crafty his person J
dislike of Senator lloar and other mem
ers of the Massachusetts, delegation in a
milar manner Of coarse such divorce :
'om both party and principle fires the mind
the Massachusetts and Essex voters and is ;
OF to be tolerated. Happily his twc-yearS !.
,rm is drawing to a close. ! said his =
purse was induced by personal hatred of !.
lr. Field lie had also other "fi-h to fry" i
lis boorish egotism and radical course ?
pom numerous public measures has aicnated q
ANY Of his Republican supporters from him. "
e is well acquainted with this fact and u
ays his cards accordingly. lie is bound L
, become governor of Massachusetts -"
Ext Fall, or return to his scat in II
ongress. lie could not hope for Republi- II II
IN votes enough for either olFce 50 he u
lrOtly prepared a halt which he thinks NJ
i'll he attractive to some Republicans and a
any Democrats. If he could make both III
rites believe that he was the avOwed al
,ampion of their distinctive principles, he al
light entertain hopes of success, for in that
reiootcd head of the old war-hOrSc there is
power which no one can despise. Bat W