The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26
Educational Meeting at Tunbridge.

Hon. Justus Dart, state superintendent of
educaton held an educational meeting in Tun-
bridge last week, commencing Thursday eve
ming and closing Saturday noon. There was a
large attendance, and the sessions were very
interesting
THURSDAY EVENING.
State Superintendent Dart addressed the
meeting upon Common schools" Tracing,
first, some of the causes leading I'M to free
schools and to churches, and then speaking of
the Importance of the subject, the SPEAKER
called attention to the fact that the term
common means simply that they are free to
all, as are all our great blessings. 1t is the
common things that are most valuable The
Importance of the common school is acknowl-
edged. Why the lack of interest manifested
by the great mass of our people? The whole
United States has come to know what the
founders OF New England knew when they
builded their foundations Education il the
great question of the day 1t is a national
question. The balance Of power is now held
by those that cannot read the ballots they cast
What shall we do? Our characters are formed
| and we shall soon pass away. We must pre-
pare coming generations to take our RESPONSE
biities. The great purpose of education is to
form men-to form men and women morally,
physically and mentally. Home training comes
first. Pupils properly trained at home give no
trouble at school, We need good houses; then
| good teachers, to whom we should give our
too much of a hurry. We spend much time
grumbling about fifty cents, avg then throw it
away. The only way to secure the best schools
is to share the burden equally and give equal
privileges. Principal A. W. Edison, of Ran
dolph normal school, followed. He said that
farmers take care to get good hired help They
make sharp trades, but get good man II they
can. They 60 into the field with him, work
with him, and watch him, to see that he does
good work IL is the same with the girl you
! hire to work in your houses. II you have a
nice colt to train, you select good man to
train him, and you will yourself see that the
colt is carefully trained. How is it when a
teacher is hired? Do you look around and hire
the best you can get? Do you not look for a
| cheap one? When the teacher is hired, do you
see that she does hervwork well? MOI You
hardly show her the way there. You do not
| watch her to see that she trains your chill
dren as she should. Why do you watch the
| hired man to see that he does not waste,
| does not break the tools he uses? Is il
plows, shoves, or hoes that you trust to the
teachers care? Mo- 1t is your children, for
whom you would give your life Why, then
| do you not watch the teacher, work with her.
ana see that she does her duty? If you visit
the school, the teacher will not sit in the chair.
You will keep her stirred up. Both teacher
and children will be put upon their good be-
havior. Go in and try it, Look after your
| hired help. The reason some children do not
like to go to school is that their parents and the
| teacher are not pulling together. A perfect
| teacher should be wise az Solomon, patient as
| Job, strong as Samson. Patience and cheerful
ness are requisites; firm convictions, strong
| will, tact, and originality are also requisites
A teacher should possess a good education,
good health, and special training.
FRIDAY MORNING.
| Superintendent Durkee of Tunbridge opened
the discussion on The relation of the parents
to the schools" There has been want of
| friendship between teacher and parent II
| children report bad state of affairs at school,
| go and see for yourself. Sustain the teacher
encourage the teacher and encourage the chill
| dren to study He would adopt the town sys-
tenn of schools and get rid Of the annual Jaw
had in most districts. Superintendent Cum
mings Of STAFFORD said that parents should
furnish the material for the schools. 1t is not
marble, but minds, to be shaped by the
artist 1t is matter Of consequence where
and how school-houses are built. Good light
and good ventilation, proper seats maps, and
globes are needed. On little things often hang
| great things. The cheapest may be the dear
est. Get good teachers, and then take care of
| them. Parents should see how the work ia
done An orderly household sends orderly
children to the schoo-room. Nothing can take
the place of the kindly interest that parents
| can take in the school. "How can the present
system of schools be improved?" was the next
topic discussed, o. p Cilley thought that If
| 1t were not for the pockets we would have
more graded schools He spoke of the good
work known to have been done by the graded
schools in the state. Why not have one here?
| The reason more towns do not adopt the town
system is because they wont. With some the
reluctance springs from the pocket. 1t helps
! the pocket in this town. One district pays
| five cents on the dollar and another one hum
bred and twenty-five cents. Some Of those op-
posed to the town system say that those living
in remote parts of the town would be COM
PEELED TO send their children long distance to
old schools would not be thrown up. The
town system is the best way in which to get
equal taxation for the support OF our schools
A large amount OF money is now going out Of
town that might be kept here Il +. Howe re-
/, lated the story of man who had an expert
ence somewhere, We have an experience