Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-04-27
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.


On Wednesday the 18th inst, at
9.3u a. m, quite a large company Of
our citizens, and teachers from this
and adjoining towns assembled in
the NJ. E. Church to witness the
opening of the Teachers Institute.
The occasion had all the charms of
novelty to many of those in attend
auce, ii being the first Institute held
in Essex County in nearly s years.
The opening exercises, consisting
Of Scripture reading and prayer,
were led by Dr.. VIM. a. Mowry Of
Boston, after which Miss Grace Hun
tington was appointed Secretary.
The first address of the session,
given by State Supt. Dartt, was a
very able and interesting one, the
subject being collective Points"
The speaker gave short sketch of
the introduction Of public schools in
America, over $50 years ago, and Of
their subsequent progress up to the
present time, showing that our coun-
try ranks among the first in the ex-
cellency Of its educational system.
He also spoke of the early establish
ment Of public schools in Vermont,
where they were first introduced by
some Of the pioneer inhabitants in
1865. In contrast to our present
method of sustaining our public
schools Mr.. Dartt mentioned the
fact that in the infancy Of the sys-
tenn all expenses Of the schools We're
required to be met by those who
Lad students in them; he then de-
Scribed the steps by which our pres
ent method was gradually adopted,
stating that the reason why the
State so emphatically insisted upon
keeping up the school system was
that the children might be educated
for good citizenship, and fitted to be
members of our Republican Gov
eminent. Then followed an expo
stion of certain objective points
which the teacher shonld always
have in mind. First, it was shown
that knowledge and virtue should
he developed in the formation Of
character, and that good character
ought to be developed in view of
the probable future citizenship of
the child; that teachers are not,
however, wholly responsible for a
chiId's education, which should have
its foundation laid at home. In
speaking of the age at which chill
dren should enter the school-room.
Mr.. Dartt said &c am often asked
what consider to be the proper
age for sending children to school
That depends on circumstances. II
they have good homes, where the
foundation of their education is laid
by their parents, not before eight OF
nine years old; but if they have nc
homes, or poor homes, their educa
ton, until they enter school, mus
he picked up in the streets. In Ties,
cases it is better to put them a
school at three or four tlan to suffe
them to acquire street education,
for in such instances the public
schools are then required to do tn,
whole work"
Aoother Objective Point is tn
formation of principle, and to thi
all effort on the part of the teache
should tend. All these children
will be men and women if they live
therefore moral training is absolute
ly necessary. Discipline is ais
needed to educate them for obedien
and law abiding citizens, and to in
culCate lessons of true patriotism
Right discipline was shown to b
the foundation of successful teach
ing, and teachers were urged to dis
cipline themselves first that the chi
dren might proftabIy be their dix
cipJes, following their example, an
taught by 1t. Management an
control of the school mast be Sc
cured. Discipline must come int
every successful life, and if begu
in the school, so much the bette
Another point, said Mr. Dartt, Close
ly allied to the foregoing is set fort
in sentence from speech b
Chauncey M. Depew, "Teach Anne
canism." In the Southern State
ha nD,1 npt, hon1r, 49,, ~, Il