Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-16
American Institute Of instruction.

The meeting Of this body at Fabyan's
among the White Mountains last week was
the semi-centennal meeting Of this the old
est organization for The benefit Of the schools
and teachers in the United States. Vermont
has both general and special interest in
the organization-genera with the other
states, because Of the lead which this body
has taken, and the success she has achieved
in elevating the character OF our common
schools and perfecting the whole system Of
school instruction special because OF the
prominence of her sons in the institute and
its work accomplished-ou own Rev. Sam
uel r. Hall, Ii. d., late of Bloomington,
being pioneer in this work and most prom
inent II not the chief in the founding of the
institute, as he was in originating and estab-
fishing the normal school in this country.
This semi.centennial gathering was
most successful one--the members in at
tendance all of whom were or became mem
bers Of the institute by reason OF the re-
duction in the railroad fare that the insti-
tute secured, exceeded sixteen hundred. A
convenient hall had been built during the
year past by the Boston, Concord and Mon
treal railroad company for the accommoda-
ton Of this large number. The meeting
was also successful in the practical charac-
ter Of the papers presented and the addresses
made. These were not only by state, city
and town superintendents of schools and de-
voted and successful teachers from different
sections of the land, but by some of the
leading educators aud men who take the
first rank in departments Of science to which
| they are devoted 1t is almost invidious to
specify where so many are worthy Of men
ton. Yet we can hardly forbear to name
those so well known as Hon. John Eaton,
United States commissioner of education at
Washington, Hon. Henry Barnard and b.
| G. Northrop of Connecticut, Professor
Thatcher of Yale College, j. L. Lincoln
of Brown University, and Professor Young
of Princeton College, New Jersey.
Practical and prominent among the papers
and addresses, besides those that we noted
last week, were Mr.. Danas "Old and New Me-
thods of Teaching" DIR. Barnard's "Neg-
lected and Destitute Children" given on
Tuesday. We have marked on Wednesday
the addresses of Professor Lincoln on The
Present Aspects OF Classical Teachings and
Study" He held that the classical languages
no longer hold the exclusive place in educa
ton which once belonged to them that
modern languages and the natural sciences
have gained an almost equal prominence
and that the close relationship known tc
exist between all languages will not allow
us to separate them into the ancient ant
modern tongues. Professor Thatcher be
lieved that no substitute could be found
for Latin or Greek which could so wei
cultivate and discipline the mind. Professor
Louis Seden of ST. Louis said that thu
learning of our age dates back to the reviva
of the study of Latin and Greek at the tim
of the Reformation. The sciences are studied
by tracing back the developments of to.da.
to the former stages, and so it must be will
languages.
B. G. Northrop, secretary of the stat
board of education of Connecticut, spoke OIL
the high school question, maintaining tina
the establishment of high schools tends +
elevate all the lower grades, and never wher
it has been once fully tried has the higl
school been discontinued.
The address Wednesday evening was b
Professor Young late of Dartmouth College
but now OF Princeton, New Jersey, o
Eclipses of Sum-" with stereopticon illui
trations. The lecture opened with d.
scription of how eclipses are produced, illu
trated by blackboard figures, followed by
, description Of what is seen and discovere
! in total eclipses. A stereopticon illustri
: ton represented total eclipses as they al
q peared at different stages and in differer
g places, also the corona as sketched an
s photographed by different astronomers. Pr
, fessor Young has made the composition {
y the sun and the phenomena of eclipses
+ special study, and is as well acquainted wit
l. these subjects as any one among us, if nj
l. any savan in Europe. His address was I'll
}, great address of the day and of the sessio
# With such lecturer on such subject mo
e time should have been given to it. II
k lecture was listened to by large crow
who gave it the closest attention and a
G plause
We should be glad to follow the exercis
It Of Thursday and Friday, noting the discu
l. sion introduced by our State Superintende
Conant, How teaching may become a pr
'e fession.' Mr.. Conant spoke ably on tn
g subject, pointing out the requisites for 81
Is waiting teaching to the rank of the pi
:, y fessons
Up Among those that were made honora
n members of the institute were Matt Hea
Of governor of New Hampshire; Hon. w.
T. T. Harris of st. Louis, Missouri Hon. Jol
to Hancock of Dayton, Ohio; Hon. f.
White of Lafayette, Indiana; Tanets
r. Megata, Japanese Commissioner of Edu,
" ton, Boston.
he The committee on the Journal Of Educdt
ne eulogized the publication and claimed IL
IN it is the best educational publication in
ey world.
Id Among the resolutions passed we NJ
that relating to the National Bureau and Pr
lie lands, as follows:
'" Resolved, That we hereby express our high
Ist probation of the work OF the National Bureau
"a. Education, particularly in respect to the comp
hensve plan of its annual reports and the va
OF Of it, circulars of information We would
HI press also our qualification at the increased
'' Precipitation recently made by congress for
he work OF the bureau and our firm belief that
IN collection of educational statistics made by
49, bureau for the first time in the history of our
op eminent will from year To year prove OF incrt
,w ing value, and we hope that no refuent wave
=" economy or opposition will be Allowed to bri
as or interfere with the scope OF usefulness of
he great work.
no Resoiued, That we reiterate our views expires
1t last year that the net proceeds from the sal
M public lands Of the United States should
o' sacredly appropriated to educational purpo
ru- Resoired That the time has come when the
~ and growth of our common schools imperatiN
VI demand that organization and supervision wi
'ell can be obtained only by placing their inter
mo under the control of persons selected for Il
'o learning and experience In school affairs and
tor shall devote their whole time and talent to
no duties Of the office.
er /. A. Carlton of New Britain, Connects
law was continued president and Henry L. S