Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
The Teachers In Council.

w, Wortnen OF NOrthheld. After music by
quartette Of male voices, Rev. W. S. Hazen dc
livered an address OF welcome. The occasion
was TO him both sad and pleasant sad because
OF the memories II called up Of the changes since
the meeting held in the same place ten years ago
Oflcers and speakers OF that time, many of them
personal friends, are dead or absent, the princi
pal Of the village school being among the former.
Now the teachers are strangers largely. The oc.
casion was pleasant because IL testified TO the i'm.
proving condition Of the schools. This Is shown
in methods Of teaching. Once knowledge was
pumped In; now 1t is drawn out. The dignity
and Importance Of the teachers work Is more re-
allied than formerly, because we know the needs
and dangers Of our country. Senator Hoar re-
Gently stated that there would be twenty new
states by 1890, and population OF 100 600 900 by
1900 To educate and Christanze these is the
work In hand. Mr.. Hazen said further that the
convention was welcomed heartily for what II
would bring, for the personal friends among its
members, for the influence upon the schools of
the town, and for its social power. II was well
coined 10 the church and by the church, the pas
tor, and the citizens generally, because Its mem
bers combine character deeds performed, posi-
ton won, and bright promises for the future.
President Cilley responded. He referred to the
enthusiastic meeting of twenty -four years ago,
and hoped that this would be like unto 1t, and
bring to the teachers OF Vermont and the people
Of Mortified an influence for all that Is lovely
and Of good report. Certainly the people OF
Mortified will do what they can to make our
stay pleasant, and they have our thanks for their
cordial welcome. After music by trio Of ladies
In tbat ~
Rev y. b. Cow Of Brattleboro, was necessarily
absent and his paper on The Province of the State
in Education would be read by his SON Educa-
ton, the writer said may be looked at as for self
development, for happiness, for society, for God,
and for various other ends 1t is for them all
There have been two methods in education, the
method Of authority and the method OF freedom
The method Of authority was exercised by the
medieval church and by despotic governments
Now the church should not control the schools ex-
cept by indirect influence, nor should the govern
ment except for purposes of its own viz, to pre-
pare men for citizenship. 1t should not maintain
profession schools, but furnish to all primary
training Ancient and modern languages, higher
art, science and mathematics should be excluded
and political economy, history, aud morality
schools for training teachers only and boards of
THURSDAY FORENOON
The mornings session opened with music and
prayer, after which Principal o. S johnson
OF Bakersfield read paper on the spiritual sig
nificance Of education. Man has been variousy
styled laughing, cooking, an antiquity-loving,
tool-using, and an educating animal. Looking
at him In the last sense gives a true idea of edu-
cation. This alone keeps up civilization. The
pupil should be taught the principles of society
and government and trade or profession Above
these the principles Of morality and Christianity
stand. These principles and the wisdom which
is attanabe by all and free to all are the essen
tials Of education. To fail of them is greatest
loss; to win them is to give the soul fit abode
Prof. Chas Dole of Lewis College, Mortified,
opened a discussion the question, :" How can
the standard Of education be raised p To this
end we must have better teachers. Neither teachers
nor superintendent seem to have any adequate
idea OF the work they have to perform. The gen.
era idea is to get the cheapest instead of the best
teachers Every teacher in the common school
should be able to teach all that the average COM
mon citizen should know. Teachers as rule
have not this knowledge, and claim that their pay
is so small they cannot afford properly to qualify
themselves. They can't afford not to fit them
selves. Mr.. Dole thought the present average
grade Of teachers get all they earn II they can
get more, they claim, at other work. they should
take it and leave the market open to teachers who
are qualified, and such should be paid fair COM
pensation. The communities must be aroused to
see the need of having better teachers The people
should take the matter up. Local teachers meet
ings should be held, and the public, the commit
tees and superintendent should attend them.
The boys and girls themselves should be inter-
ested and demand OF their parents better teachers
in the schools. We should not waste time lament
ing the condition Of our schools, but go to work.
hire better teachers, demand the full value Of
their services and force the poor teacher to drop
ont or educate himself up to the right standard
Rev. j. d. Emerson, Underhill, urged the neces-
sity for more rigid examinations by the superin-
tendents to sift out the poor from the good teach
ers. lie would bring out and keep in service the
old, the born teachers, and not suffer them to be
crowded out by these young boy and girl teachers
Teachers meetings should be held In towns where
they have never been held, get good speakers
otcoiOhs
Geo w. Kennedy of Waterbury placed the re-
sponsibty for the nefiiciency Of the schools upon
the town superintendent. Few have the courage
to refuse certificates. Teachers meetings every
week, attended by the superintendent for the pur-
pose of comparing notes would be beneficial.
Professor A. W. Edison of Randolph said 1t was
useless to speak to committees, to superntend-
ents or to the people, for they were not attending
this meeting, Superintendent don't do their
duty, because they will lose their heads II they
do. We must show the people that good schools
are better than poor; attend school meetings and
vote for good committees; town meetings and
vote for good superintendents, and labor to create
healthy public sentiment. 1t is the committees
pride to drive a sharp bargain with a teacher
He had heard them chucke over beating them
down a few cents week The people should
scorn such transaction and tell the committees
that it is mean thing.
Principal Weld OF Bradford spoke in favor OF
county examinations and women superintend-
ents, thinking the latter would be more secure in
the tenure of their office and would discharge
their duties more fearlessy and efficiently. Self
training in normal methods was advised-the best
normal training is open to the teacher while in
service
Rev. l. P. Booth OF Mortified laid the respon-
sibility for the success of school upon the
teacher himself. He has a slight idea OF what a
teacher should be, makes 1t only stepping stone
to something else and gets his certificate often
times through friendship. The teacher must first
be fit for his work, and then in his own heart in
the conscientious discharge OF his duty is the best
means Of raising the standard OF his qualif-
cations.
Principal b. F. Bingham said the teacher must
be the magnet which should attract his pupils like
iron filings towards him. He must make 1t busy
work for the parents lest the teacher usurp their
place in the affections OF the children.
President Cyrus Hamlin Of Middlebury College
delivered a most interesting address ON the Mo
hammedan system of education. 1t disclosed the
secret Of oriental immobility, and by comparison
with occidental systems his auditors saw with
new light the power from which the marvellous
progress and prosperity of western nations have
sprung.
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
Rev. ]. d. Emerson opened the afternoon exer-
cses as a drafted man to supply the place on
the programme filled by Mr.. Priest OF Barre, who
had married wife and could not come. Having
had recent experience in popping the question,
the substitute facetously said that his principal
should be the better qualified to speak on "the
interrogation point" the subject of his discourse
The address was originally prepared for a Sunday
school, but was exceedingly applicable to COM
mon school teachers need, and II they will lay its
sensible, and oftentimes humorous injunctions
seriously to heart, their success and usefulness in