The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-28
Educational Meeting at Chelsea.

meeting In the Congregational church at Chel-
sea Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Of last
week.
TUESDAY EVENING
State Superintendent Dart addressed the
meeting upon Factors In Educational Work,
and as this address has already been reported
and published, only those ideas presented by
him that were left out In the report already
published, will be given here Mr. Dart said
ne did not expect 10 present new ideas. The
Importance Of the subject could hardly be esti-
mated. The old world was given to princes, the
new was saved for men. David said, "Shew
thyself man." Christ chose men, not princes,
Ior MS apostles. Those apostles were builders
OF foundations, and now we are builders of
foundations. In our homes, we must lay the
foundations Of noble and Intelligent lives Tor
our children. The culture Of the early home
forms the lfe Society Is factor, churches 4
factor; no man can place himself comp etely
outside the influence of the churches. Public
libraries are another factor and through them
much can be done. Next to the home IL. or
should be, the common school. This Is the school
OF the people Notice the small per cent Of
those attending the common schools that oct
into the high schools The primary schooi Ia
the only school Of the large majority and
should be made as nearly perfect az possible.
Industry Is great factor. He showed the cloae
relationship between great industries and great
people. Summing up-the men and women of
the future are the school children Of the pres
for useful and intelligent lives.
WEDNESDAY MORNING.
Superintendent J. A. Reyes Of Chelsea was
elected chairman and Principal J. H Bixby of
West Fairlee, secretary Of the association.
Rev. Oscar Beckwitb OF Vershire spoke upon
the subject Of Advanced Arithmetic He was
followed by Principal Bixby aud the Importance
Of the subject was shown. The fact that many
parents demand that IL be made a prominent
part Of their children's education was spoken
Of and each Of the speakers gave his methods
Of teaching arithmetic. Principal w K Ssr.
gent of Chelsea, would not have the pupils
commit the rules to memory for the rules
sake but would simply have them read the
rules so as to understand the operation, al
many OF the rules given in the text books are
faulty. He would have the instruction thor
oughly practical and would teach his pupils to
think. Miss Clement of Chelsea academy,
would introduce other examples and wonld have
the text books filled with examples. Principal
Wells of Thetford finds IL difficult to define
methods OF teaching that will apply to all
schools Elementary and intermediate arith-
metic Is OF more Importance than the advanced
Get the first and you can then get the last.
The elementary operations are poorly taught
Rules should not show merely ways Of per-
forming operations upon numbers; they should
show philosophical ways. The rules for the
extraction Of cube or square roots are peculiar
ly faulty. The why's are not given. Involve
evolve them. Superintendent Dart would
teach essentials first. Drill thoroughly. De-
mand accuracy Give the pupils real work to
do outside of books. School Management was
the text Of good address from Principal Sar-
gent Of Chelsea. The first thing to be done is for
the teacher to create a favorable impression by
being free and open with the pupils. Be svs-
tematic In the school room. Put pupils in the
place their attaintments, not their ages, enttle
them to. Separate the rogues. In government;
be patient and then determined. Danger does
not lie In too much obedience, but in too little.
Teachers must be In sympathy with their pu-
pills. Punish malicious acts more severely than
those OF carelessness. Superintendent Dartt
said, there is great lack Of discipline in the
schools of our state. Compelling a child to
obey is not winning the battle; cheerful obedi-
ence is the obedience wanted. Teachers have
the rights OF parents In matters Of school disci.
pline. Rev f. E. Herrick, Chelsea, asks. What
is to be done il the rod be excluded ? Ans
wer-The rod is not excluded. Rebellons
must be crushed. Miss. -asks, Has a
teacher the right to punish a pupil for offenses
committed outside Of school hours? Answer
Quotes decision Of court sustaining teacher
who punished pupil for an insult given at the
table OF Its parents) Teachers are not expected
to do police duty. Rev w. Cummings Of
STAFFORD opened discussion on What can
Parents Do for the School? II parents would
seriously consider the question, much might
be done. They should refrain from criticls-
ing the teacher before the pupils; should
see that the school house Ia In proper
condition, should provide works of reference.
Parents should understand that the work is q
cooperative work and that they should in
every way possible aid the teacher.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Rev. o. Beckwith continuing the discussion
OF the last subject Parents have too much of
the critical spirit and not enough OF the social
and sympathetic. Superintendent Dsrtt said,
sympathy is a wonderful factor. Encourage,
and, when you can, give good advice. Super
intendent Martin of Willamstown would have
better houses, better locations for the houses
and better appliances. Some lighthouses are
a source OF evil. Superintendent Reyes said,
The teachers work and success are dependent,
in great mea' ure, upon the work Of the pa
rents Grammar, How Made Practical? Principal
b. M. Weld of Thetford Study good authors,
noting construction of sentences. Sentence
building-the grammars do not teach it The
study commenced too early. Scouts the idea
that the use of good language is taught by
grammars. Children initiate and catch the ex-
pressions OF those who have the care of them
Note how quickly foreigners catch our forms
OF expression. They do not make use of En-
glish grammars. 1t is foolish to attempt to
teach a pupil at sixteen what it learned in
spite of you when but eight. Miss A. A.
Clement did not believe the grammars to be
practical, but cannot do without text books.
Rev. Mr. Cummings considered study neces-
sary to enable us to read English classics. It
enables one to criticise his own work Princi-
pal Bixby would use diagrams Ezra Walker
thought the easiest of speeches Is fault-find-
ing He finds himself away behind the times
Thinks the old parsing lessons awakened more
interest than the diagraming of sentences
would. Rev. o. Beckwith commences teaching
grammar with reading We are creatures Of
habits, and books must get US out OF bad hab-
its in use of words. Would have the study of
grammar commenced in early life so that the
child would learn good habits in use of words.
Rev. 4. L Herrick thinks time of learning
the machinery OF diagraming a waste of nerve
and strength. He challenges Reed & Kellogg
to, by their system Of diagraming, represent
some sentences. An address to teachers, writ
ten by Mrs. A. Curtis of Orange. was read
by Miss Jennie More. After this the question
box was opened, and a pleasant hour was
spent In consideration Of the questions.
WEDNESDAY, EVENING.
Dr. Corwin OF Chelsea read a short paper
upon physiology and was followed by DR.. Goss
OF the same place. Mrs E. G. Greene OF St.
Albans then spoke upon the subject of tenn
perance in schools. There is not time for re-
port of Mrs. Greene's very able address, It
was very able address. 1t was interesting and
beneficial She wants to make the children
too intelligent to ever use Intoxicating drinks
THURSDAY FORENOON.
Essay upon Morals and Manners in Common
Schools, by Superintendent Reyes of Chelsea
Teach ma nars nv beinp mannerlv Tho pind.