Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-01-03
The Teachers In Council.

The Vermont teachers association held
its thirty.thrd annual meeting in this viii
lace last week. The event marked new
departure in the history of the association
Its meetings have been held for many years
in August, time when teachers and people
are enjoying their VACATIONS and
when physical causes do not conduce TO
mental or bodily vigor The affairs oil the
association, such as the selection OF place
of meeting, the arrangement oil the pro-
gramme, the publication Of notice oil meet
ing, have not always been managed with
efficiency and good Judgment The result
has been languid interest, small attend
anoe and correspondingly unsatisfactory re-
suits. These defects in the management OF
the association were the subject Of remark
and criticism at the meeting last summer,
and a decided sentiment in favor OF a |
change, if the society would have any in |
Huence upon educational matters in the |
state, was manifest especially among the
Younger and more aggressive members.
The late meeting of the association was the
outcome of this impotence with the past.
and of resolution to make an effort to
bring the association into the field OF
effective work for the improvement of the
schools and for the formation Of an en-
lightened public sentiment upon educational
questions. Although circumstances seemed
to fix the date for holding the meeting in
the heart of the holidays, the response to
the call of the executive committee was gen
eral and hearty, and the large assembly room
was well filled with what was indisputably
an educational gathering An excellent
programme had been prepared, the subjects
were of a practical character, the leading
addresses were brief and to the point, and
the general discussions, when time admit
ted of debate, were spirited and instructive.
The fault with previous programmes had
been too great number of subjects for the
time allowed and as in many cases the
regular addresses were lengthy, the time for
the sautary sitting of ideas in general dis
cusson was either fatally abridged or en-
tirely consumed. Although the executive
committee had materially shortened the list
of topics, experience proved that the num-
Der should be still further cut down or the
period during which the association con-
tinues in session heightened by at least one
day. 1t is to be hoped that the latter al
tentative will be tried at the next meeting.
Circumstances would seem to warrant the
experiment and justify the belief that it
would result in larger attendance, more
general and lvelier interest, and in fuller
and more satisfactory consideration of vital
measures of school management aud educa-
tional policy. Messrs. Hardy, Bracket and
Hit, who have had the preparations for the
meeting directly in charge, have worked
with most commendable energy and zeal,
and have displayed discretion and good
judgment in their plans and arrangements.
To their efforts it is but fair to ascribe a
large measure of the very gratifying success
of the late meeting.
As to results, the practical benefit of the
meeting will vary with the varying capacity
of teachers to listen attentively, to gather
up and to apply judiciously the hints, the
suggestions and precepts which were thrown
off in all directions along the entire line of
proceedings. If any teacher came to the
meeting expecting to discover some patent
way by which teaching is made easy, that
individual doubtless went away disappoint-
ed. The lesson inculcated in every address
was that real teaching is work-hard pains
taking, responsible work, and that faithful
and truly successful work in the schools is
the price of great deal of thought, study
and research, work not to be lightly under
taken or to be pursued with lsckadaisioal
ind ference to everything except wages and
the " low descending sun which marks the
hour for the daily close of school. The per-
son who failed to profit by something that
was said or done on this occasion is hardly
Schools" as illustrated by Prof. Osbun, was
alone richly worth all the time and expense
of attending the meeting. Prof. Halls in
structive and philosophical lecture contained
the "open sesame" to child's mind, and
strongly impressed upon all the heavy re-
sponsibility they are under who are teaching
the youth of this nation. It was wise
thing on the part of the managers to get
these men before the association, and they
will do well to repeat their experiment and
bring into the state at succeeding meetings
prominent educational workers from other
states
Great as was the improvement in all re-
spects, there is still room for advancement
Out of two thousand five hundred teachers
in the state, an association of this kind
should be able to call together in convent n
remaining five-sixths afford an ample scope
for the energy and enterprise of those dis
posed to educational missionary work. I'm
derpaid teachers from distant sections of the
state may plead justi6able cause for alb
sence, but some of the schools in this i'm
mediate vicinity were unrepresented. Town
superintendent who neglected to urge and
advise teachers to come, or teachers favor
ANY plbudlcui WIN FOluupdiiiJ olaycu away
wronged themselves, and what is worse,
wronged their scholars. If committeeman
have the best good of their schools at heart,
they will not only not place any obstacles
in the way of the teachers attending, but
will insist that they do attend aud derive
and practically apply all the benefits that
can be derived by open-eyed and open-eared
attention. The foundation for very sue
cessful meeting next fall has been laid.
The managers will do well to profit by pres
emit valuable experience, and begin now the
organization OF higher and more far-reach'
ing success in the future. The association
may then become what it should be, the
leading and shaping educational power in
the state.
THE National Car Company of st. AL
bans second time refuses to pay its town
and village taxes and on Saturday last the
town, by its attorney, Stephen L. Royce, and
the village, by its attorneys, Wilson 6
Hall, served upon the company petitions
addressed to the supreme court of Vermont
praying for peremptory writ of manda
mus, commanding it to pay the taxes forth
with. The petitions are made returnablt