Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-08-13
State Teachers Association.

Inc wenty-ninth annual session OF the YER
mont State Teachers Association opened at Wood
stock on the evening Of the 9th instant and con-
tnued through the 9Th and eth. Hon. James
Barrett made the address OF welcome, enlarglng
upon the dignity and Importance Of the teachers
profession, and giving the keyno TO the meeting
President Hubert made a brief response, and
took the chair In the absence OF the president Of
tho association. Prayer was then offered by Rev.
Mr.. Frost OF the Methodist church.
The address Of the evening was by President
Hubert whose theme was, Wisdom is Better
than Strength" lie maintained that the calling
Of the teacher was to show the superiority Of spr
itual wisdom over material power--that he dealt
with the unseen and the immortal. He laid
hands upon that harp, the human spirit, to awaken
those tones those living tones, that stay forever
in the strings. II you prosecute your service
with due solemnity, you do II forecasting the
| future OF your pupils
The second days session opened with rby
Rev. Mr.. Hicks Of the Congregational church.
| The attendance was large and the interest in
creased. One hundred and fourteen teachers,
past and present. were In attendance. Charles
Il, Putney Of St. Johnsbury opened the discussion
upon The Methods Of Elementary Classical In
struction." lie would give pupils the best teach
ers ut the outset They can better afford second
and third rate instruction further on. Especially
he would have them begin at once to put English
into Latin. He would have the pupil taught to
| put his thoughts into Latin to think in Latin, II
that is the language in hand. Principal Green Of
| Dread Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts,, said
there Is no such thing rs an English boy thinking
in Latin or any other foreign language. Our
thoughts fly as lightning-in mother tongue,
and we cannot help ourselves.
Latin and Greek Grammars, how to be Used
in Secondary and Collegiate Instruction." was
taken up by Judge Barrett He regards the present
methods Ms faulty, in that too much prominence
is given to grammars, which are made the sub
iect of incessant drill and memorizaton through
a long course extending over years, and re-
suting in the confusion and disgust of the
students. Judge Barrett presented much the
same views that he has before given in our col
ums His criticism of modern Latin grammars
were severe. Professor Goodrich Of the Univers-
ity OF Vermont agreed with Judge Barrett in the
main, yet thought there was much good in gram
mars, as repositories OF facts and principles for
the students use He thought DR. Freeman, the
historian, was justified in the remark that during
the last fifty years there had been as great an ad-
vance in philology in science, and that II this
be true, a properly arranged grammar of to-day.
rightly used, ought to be and was a better aid in
the study of a language than the unscientifc
manuals Of half century ago
A paper on Rural Schools and their Relation
to High Schools and Academies" was read by
Principal c. c. Boynton of Townsend He held
that the rural schools of the state are far below
reasonable standard and are not improving.
They do not contain within themselves an ee-
ment of advancement, and help must come from
high schools and academies The higher must
raise the lower. He thinks the higher schools
fail to realize the relations they sustain to the
rural schools
In the afternoon J. S. Spaulding, LII. D., OF
Barre gave review Of the history Of the associa
ton, the causes which led to its formation and
the progress Of the reformatory educational meas
ures in the state. The discussion OF the morning
was briefly resumed, Rev Mr.. Austin of Meriden
New Hampshire, Judge Barrett and President
Hubert taking part
Hon Edward Conant, state superintendent OF
education, spoke at length upon the general in
terests OF education in the state, what had beer
obtained OF legislation and what he hoped teach
ers would unite to seek in the future He would
adopt the town system, not by force but by edu
eating public sentiment up to it, enlarge the
field OF the normal school, and change the system
Of licensing, so that it shall be professional and
more prominent among the improvements il
school He reported an increase in the humble
and regularity Of attendance in the schools. Tn,
evening was surrendered to Professor Marshall o
Fitchburg, who gave his illustrated lecture upoi
the Yellowstone National Park
ths