Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-01-03
state Teachers Association.

called to order by the president, Prin. A
E. Leavenworth of Castleton, and Prin
w. II Sanderson, Woodstock, was elected
secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev ID
E Miller. SUIT H. +. Hill of Montpelier
gave very fitting address of welcome in
behalf of citizens, to which the president
responded.
Tho discussion OF the evening was
opened by Supt. I. 2 Booth of Mortified
in reply to the question, "D) the school,
of the state snow the result ofsupervlsionP
Rev Henry Foster of C,venil,h followed
showing the importance OF the superin
tendents holding educational meetings tt
inform the people upon the workings OF
other schuols.
Rev j. d. Emerson, superintendent OF
Underhill, thought the town supernten
dent was too often q grammar school
teacher gone to seed, but paid a glowing
tribue to the conscientious, earnest, com
petent superintendent. But cautioned him
to consider himself the insp ,ctor and
neither the proprietor of the school nor
merely agent of tho people. Discussion.
Hon H. o. Wheeler, superintendent of
Burlington schools, gave finely prerared
paper, showing the effect of good school
supervision. The paper was thoughtful
and suggestive.
The discussion was closed by Supt. j. j..
r. Randall of Rutland, who gave some
very interesting figures from the report of
Supt. Dlrtt, showing the large per cent of
Vermont scholars out of school. The
official returns show 90 $50 persons in the
state of school age. The average number
OF days attendance was 1876 while the
actual attendance WIS but 8l.5. From
his we'll prepared tables he showed that
there is need of strenuous efforts to secure Il
better actual attendance.
FRIDAY, A. n.
Hon. Henry Priest, principalof Goddard
seminary. opened the discussion of the
present system of Vermont common
schools. He dwelt at length and eloquently
upon the fact, 1st, that the system as it
exists. is entirely inadequate and not
adapted to the needs of the state. ID, that
here is no element of permanence in it.
Sd, that there is no definite responsibility
in it. 4th. that it is lamentably insufficient.
5h, that there is practically no public
interest in the work.
Prof Charles Dole, of Lewis college,
Mortified, urged the adoption Of the town
system as proposed by the Howard bill.
J D. Emerson inveighed against the
system, rather preferring the present
system, but insisting upon the necessity of
arousing personal AMI public enthusiasm;
not that the town system WAS wrong bn
that it would not produce the results
prophesel He was followed and seconde
by c. c Cove, principal Beemsn academy,
New Haven, who claimed the system was
not so important as the teacher. G. w
X nnedy of Waterbury, asked what the
Massachusetts town system is. |. p. Booth.
Mortified, insisted upon a higher ideal
ON the part of the teacher.
Slpt. A Pierce, Johnson, replied to
p :ipal G I'VE in tavor OF system BY all
meats, and the best one possible, since
be better the system the better the probt'
BILE results. He mule IN el 'quent appeaI
b ;tler ply NJ Pos t,l.DIu' II IN
a strong argumnn, in favor of the town
s,stem being tried under favorable cir
curnslances, with the spirit of canLldis
t sung its merits. He aso replied to Mr.
X 'nnedy's inquiry as to the Ma sachuSrt's
,ys cln. A ID Barber, lltor ChroAtcye.
pr esen,cd the posi- ion Of the .pers OF ine
state as in favor OF the system.
A. this point it was found the audience
c,ntuneI l23 teachers fro IL out Of NJ ,nt-
pelier and vicinity. j d Beemau, Pres
Vermont Methodist seminary, Montpelier
pIesen ed the relation of schools for high
pr educl tion to the common schools and
showed the importance Of thorough work
In the latter.
NJ. II. Buckham, LII D.. Burlington n.
poke of the relation of industrial eauca
lion TO our schools. He wished to avoid
he word practical, as applied to educa'
ton, and substituted for it technical.
The fines of the town system discus
sion were again stirred up by some peril
nent words OF G. A. Bunker, principal
Peacham academy, who was roundly |
chesrel and followed by Rev. Mr. Barber.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON
Miss E. F. Sweet of Montpelier school,
presented class of Is primary pupils,
and illustrated some valuable methods Of
teaching reading. The audience was even
larger than in the f,renooa, and ut times
it was difficult to hear the little folks.
Prin. l.. V. Haskell of Win lsor, read
a fine piper on supplementary reading.
This was followed by grammar school
reading, illustrated by class FROM
Mortified, under the charge of Miss S. c
Chase, who showed the various voices TO
be used, together with such olocutionary
exercises as can be profitably given to
this grale.
Harson Hume of Boston, who claimed
to be the pioneer of supplementary read
ing, spoke in favor of it and paid a glow
ing tribute TO Vermont men. At this
point Rev. l.. G.. Ware of Burlington,
read an elaborate paper on the library as
IN aid to the reading class. This paper
was one of the best of the meeting. F.F.
Whittier, principal Darby academy, insist
ed upon the use Of plpers and the many
.hings at the hand of every teacher. Elk,
State Supt. Conant, then spoke of the
cultivation of taste in the reading class.
After some remarks by Rev. Henry Foster
If Cavendish, and by Prin c II. Gotdlh
wait of St. Alhans, the meeting adjourned
FRIDAY EVENING.