Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-18
Educational Meeting at BrOOkileld.

The Orange County Educational Association
met at Brookfied Friday evening and Saturday,
September 80 and 30. The evening session was
held at the church with large attendance. Prin-
cipal A. w. Edison was in the chair Superin-
tendent Dartt was present. The exercises of the
evening were as given in the programme with the
addition Of singing by male quartette, led by
c. ii. Bigelow The meeting was opened with
prayer by Rev. W. M. Gay and after singing and
| a reading by Miss Helen D. Barght, Principal A.
w Edison took up the subject, Who shall teach? ?"
He treated the question in a manner worthy Of an
experienced teacher and close observer OF the
| methods and results Of teaching. He thinks the
| standard OF qualifications should be much higher
than 1t Is, that this office should not be filled 1t
| often Is by those who have no fitness at all for
the place, but is only makeshft for want of sue
| cess in other employments. He gave as some of
the qualifications he considered necessary, natu-
raj ability, under which he included patience,
cheerfuness, tact, etc.-a good education always
having in reserve very much more than one is re-
quired to teach. Special training, such as can be
obtained in normal Schools academies, etc. a
special interest in their work; good moral char
acter and health He was listened to with evil
dent appreciation. He was followed by Supern-
tendent Dartt, the subject Of whose address was,
The purpose Of the common school" He COM
menced by saying that common things are the
most valuable. As bar Of iron has greater
practical value than bar of gold, on account Of
its better adaptation to the common wants and
purposes of man-so with our common schools.
The early settlers of New England, who came
here for the sake Of enjoying liberty Of conscience
and liberty of thought builded better than they
knew when they instituted the common school.
This, the common heritage OF the common people,
Is the only sure foundation for the success and
pernanence Of our institutions, and as he also
showed, the education OF the common people is
essential for the development Of the material re-
sources OF any country The SOUTH which ignored
and spurned this idea 80 long, has at length come
to the necessity of 1t and are now asking us to
aid them in the work. The common school Is the
only place that is exempt from exclusiveness, and
the equality OF rights and privileges here should
be carefully guarded. He alluded TO the fact
that many Of our best and wisest statesmen had
come up from the humblest grades OF society, and
but for the common school could never have at
tanned to their high positions of trust and useful
ness. Many doubtless were surprised to hear
him say that Notwithstanding our excellent school
system, there are yet thousands In Vermont past
the age OF ten years who cannot read or write
their names; Superintendent Dart has only to
be heard to be appreciated. The morning session
OF Saturday was held at Union Hall, but 1t be-
came so crowded that 1t was found necessary to
adjourn to the church in the afternoon. First in
the order OF the exercises was paper by Miss A.
A. Clement of Wilamstown, upon first lessons
In numbers. She presented her methods OF teach
ing, and having had much experience In the
work, her suggestions were valuable. The ques-
ton How can the study of Arithmetic be made
more practical and consume less time than it now
occupies in public instruction ?" was opened by
Rev. Mr.. Gay of Brookfield. His idea was that
the arithmetics used in the district schools were
very much in them that was unintelligible and
useless TO an ordinary student; that they should
be abridged and the more practical parts come in
consecutive order and those rules and principles
which are difficult and but little used be put in
an appendix. Professor A l.. Hardy OF West
Randolph spoke OF having visited schools In
which young teachers were drilling their scholars
on some of these Objectionable rules because their
parents thought they must go through the arith-
metic. Following this discussion, Miss Frances
L. Graves, town superintendent, presented a pa
per upon the question, What can school officers
and parents do for the schools 2" She considered
the duties OF parents more particularly, especially
in visiting the school and SO encouraging the
scholars and teacher, etc. She was followed by
Superintendent z, H. Grow of East Randolph and
Mr.. j. H. Sprague OF Brookfed. The subject OF
"School government" was ably handled In the
afternoon by Superintendent IL. Il, Bass OF Brain
tree and Mr. Q. G. Goodrich OF Brookfeld, fol-
lowed by Superintendent Dartt and others Many
useful hints and suggestions were, given. Some
thought that the power OF sympathy for and in
terest in the scholars was sufficient; others
thought there were many times when the will
power must be manifested. The conclusion of
the matter seemed TO be that government must
be inherent in the teacher. Superintendent H. H. |
Martin OF Williamstown read paper on Rhe- |
torical exercises" lie advocated the writing OF
compositions and having declarations in common
schools as preparatory to the higher schools |
Rev. Mr.. Gay said that he was a hereto on the |
subject OF defamation. He thought but few |
were capable of teaching it,, and he also disap- |
proved of 1t for the very reason that most en- |
courage It, that is as means of inspiring the de- |
claimer with confidence. Confidence is not an |
essential qualification for an orator. Mr.. W. y. |
Rocheeau of Randolph spoke upon Science for |
common schools" He warmly advocated the in |
PRODUCTION OF Botany Physical Geography and |
Physiology into the common schools. They were |
studies In which scholars are readily instructed
They require no apparatus and are OF great prac-
tcal value. new board of officers was elected |
as follows; President, J. M. Comstock of Chelsea
secretary and treasurer w. F. Rocheleau of Ran |
dolph; executive committee, A. l.. Hardy OF |
West Randolph and William Carpenter OF Wash |
ington.