Connecticut western news., 1879-11-19
TeRcherS' Association Meeting at
 LnkeVille.
A SUMMARY OF THE ADDRESSES


 SUMMARY OF THE ADDRESSES
 The meeting of the Teachers Association, which was held at Lakeville last Saturday was largely attended and was one to be long remembered After little preliminary busi- ness had been transacted, MT. Adams of Can aan was introduced to the Association, and read paper of great worth and interest. He spoke at length upon the practical work of the schoolroom and gave many excellent hints concerning methods of teaching geography and spelling. In mentioning the requisites to perfect recitation, he placed first the inti- mate and thorough knowledge of the subject by the teacher and the special preparation for | each recitation The teacher should be able 1 to and at times should dispense with the text book so that the scholars could see that he did not rely upon. it for assistance but was ca- pablo of independent work. He should also be good judge of human nature, mind reader. The proper position of a scholar while reciting should be insisted upon There should be close. and continued attention not only of one scholar but of all, and in order to this the recitation should be enlivened with apt and timely explanations andi lustrations, which not only rendered more easy the act of acquiring but served also to inix more deeply the subject matter of. the lesson. The paper throughout was weighty with thoughts and suggestions which will prove of real service to the teachers in their everyday life and work.
 This was followed by the reading by Miss Winchell of selections from the report of the superintendent of the board of education of Quincy, Mass, after which MT. Hurlburt read paper prepared by request for a for mer meeting, criticising the teaching and government of many schools in his charge as visitor. The paper was made up mainly of a number of unnamed pen portraits in which the teachers could recog- nize themselves and in which their faulty methods of instruction were rep resented kindly but forcefuy. The most noticeable faults were: An inactivity of the teacher which is necessarily followed by inat- tenton of the scholars; lack of system and order which causes much of the work to be of no avail; want of individuality and ingenu- ity; and an unwillingness to profit by the ex- perience of others. MT. Hurlburt strongly censured those teachers who allowed any thing to prevent their attendance at the meet. ings of the association. After this paper had been read a recess of fifteen minutes was had l i+oo o11 AT, 4ol,o o1 .P G,1:. spoke earnestly of the teachers work, which had as it's object the right development and growth of the intellectual and moral faculties of the child. The teacher should not rest sat isfed with the passive acceptance of an idea by the scholar, but should see to it that. it be thoroughly understood and put to practical use. One great defect in the training of oul common schools was the neglect to teach the child to express it's ideas either original ol acquired in clear, concise and forcible man ner; and he would urge upon teachers care ful consideration of a subject of so great and so lasting importance.
 Rev. Mr. White of Lakeville followed, say ing that he would supplement the remarks o the previous speaker with this thought-Dd the teachers realize the responsibility of theil } position? If so, to them their vocation was more than profession; it was mission, a calling of God, just as truly as was the minis try, for the minister and the teacher had ever been and yet were the great agents of civili- zation. Regarding the vocation in this sacred
 light, he would suggest two essential qualif- tions for success-self-culture and self-fofGet. fitness. A large part of the responsibility oi the teacher lay in the possibility of inform. ing the child with such desire for true knowledge that it would shun the widespread, trashy literature of the day, which was so maleficent in it's effects.
 The exercises were closed by Dr. Knight of Lakevle, who told the circumstances lead ing to the inception by Froebel of the idea of the kindergarten system of education This system, he said, was of unequalled service and it's use and importance would soon be moro generally acknowledged He urged the great CT prominence of physical education in our schools considering that and mental educa- tion iuterdependent It has not been within l tilo HHilS OA llle pleScut EepOFC Go give mere than a slight idea of the exercises of the meeting, but this much may serve to make evident the facts that interest in education is increasing in Salisbury. MT. Hurlburt gave warning in his paper that the days of school Eeeping in this town was nearly ended, and that the time was fast approaching when school teachjng would be the order and the necessity. He hinted at radical changes to be proposed and if possible effected in both the plan and the method of instruction as pursued in the schools of the town. We wish him God-speed to his efforts, in which it is unnecessary to add he may confidently expect the full CO operation and support of all the teachers of the town and of the many others who have the cause of education close at | heart.
 Shortly after the close of the meeting SUD- per was served and this was accompanied and. followed by enjoyable social intercourse. The members of the association would take this opportunity to thank those ladies who kindly brought provisions for the occasion. It is purposed that the meeting of last Saturday shall be followed in the near future by others of like nature and of equal interest K
 CORRESPONDENTS.