The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-05
Vermont State Teachers Association

The meeting OF the NeriCont State
Teachers Association at Iontpelier,
called together larger mum of, teach
ers and friends of education Ea,| usual.
The meeting was held in the nj. 4. church
Dec. %, 80 and 80.
Thursday evening the association was
called to order by the Pres, Prin. A. E.
Leavenworth Of Castleton, and Prin. w.
II. SandersOn, Woodstock, was elected
sec'y. Prayer was offered by Rev. ID. f.
Miller. Supt. II. F. Hill of Montpelier,
gave very fitting address of welcome in
behalf of the citizens, to which the Pres.
responded.
The discussion of the evening was open
ed by Supt. |. Z. Booth of Northfield, on
the question, Do the schools of the state
show the result of supervision? Rev.
Henry Foster of Cavendish, Rev. j. d.
Emerson of Underhill. Hon. II. o. Wheeler
of Burlington, each spoke in reference to
the question, and the discussion was
closed by Supt. j. j. Il Randall of Rut-
land, who gave some very interesting
figures from the report of Supt. Dartt,
showing the large per cent. of Vermont
scholars out of school. The official re-
turns show 92, ,535 persons in the state of
school age. The average number OF
days attendance was l26, while the actu.
| "a aItVhet"uCC WAC clsos
FRIDAY, A. NJ.
Hon. Henry Priest, Prin. Goddard
Seminary. opened the discussion of the
present system OF Vermont common
schools. He dwelt at length and elo-
quently upon the fact. lst, that the sys.
tenn as 1t exists, is entirely inadequate
and not adapted to the needs of the state
2nd, that there is no element of perma.
nence in it. 3rd. that there Is no definite
responsibility in it. 18th, that it Is lamen-
tably insufficient. 9Th. that there is
practically no public interest in the
work.
Prof. Charles Dole. of Lewis College
Northfield, urged the adoption of the
town system as proposed by the Howard
bill. j. D. Emerson inveighed against
the system. rather prefering the present
system. He was followed and seconded
by e. C. Cove, Prin. Beeman Academy
New Haven, who claimed the system wai
not so important as the teacher. Supt
j. A. Pierce, johnson, replied to Prn
Cove in favor of system by all means
ter the system the better the probable re
, suits. He made an eloquent appeal fol
, better pay. Mr. Priest continued in
, strong argument in favor of the towI
, system being tried under favorable cir
I cumstances, with the spirit of candid,
testing its merits.
At this point it was found the audienc,
2 contained l23 teachers from out of Mont
pelier and vicinity. j. d. Beeman. Pres
, Methodist Seminary, Montpelier, pre-
; sented the relation of schools for highe
; education TO the common schools an,
/ showed the Importance of thorough
; work in the latter.
3 NJ. ii. Buckham, l.. l.. d., Burlington
= spoke Of the relation of industrial educa
l tion to our schools.
; The flames of the town system dis
> cussion were again stirred up by SOM
pertinent words bye. A. Bunker, Prin
4 Peacham academy, who was roundl,
cheered and followed by Rev. Mr.. Bar
ber.
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
Miss 4. f. Sweet of Montpelier school
: presented class of Is primary pupils
and illustrated some valuable methods o
teaching reading.
Prin. l.. V. Haskell of Windsor, read
|; fine paper on supplementary reading
This was followed by grammar schoo
reading, illustrated by class from