Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-02-03
VERMONT TEACHERS.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THEIR ASSoCIA-
TON AT BRANDON.
A Large Attendance and Successful Con
vention-luteresting aud Practical Adj
dresses by Leading Educators, Rep.
resenting all Departments.

| convention ut 1)rhuuOn Jan. ~, - anu -
which proved to be one of tue greatest
interest
The meeting was called to order a' ,
p. M, Thursday, by the president, S. "
Landon In the absence of the secretary
Oscar Atwood was appointed secretary
pro TEN, Prayer was offered by Rev
| Walter Rice, after which Rev. NJ. j. Til
! ley in the absence of Gov. Ormsbee, wei
coined the association in n very happy and
appropriate manner. He paid Il high tri
| butte to teachers of Vermont and reminded
then of the great Importance and respon-
sibllitles Of their work. The president re.
spOnded, thanking the speaker or his kind
and appreciHtive words and the people Of
Brandon for their very cordial reception
OF the members of the association. He
spoke in grateful terms of the pronounced
and favorable attitude of Gov Ormsbee
on all educational matters and discussed
briefly the influence of the association.
The paper of Miss Wells of Casteton
on English grammar was ny vote of the
meeting postponed until Friday, as some
who had not been able on account of the
storm to reach Brandon desired especially
to hear it.
A discussion of the "The True Work of
the Teacher" was participated in by Mr..
Harrison Hume aud Mr.. Sheldon of Bos-
ton, Rev. Mr.. Rice, Mr.. Landou and 9th
erS.
Prof. Granville wager of Middlebury.
who was to speak before the association
in the evening arrived at so late al hour
the audience was dismissed and the adj
dress postponed.
The association met Friday morning at
$50. Rev. a. ID. Barber of Williston read
an historical paper on the Higher Educa-
tiol of Women He gave great praise to
Mrs. Emma Willard, whom he calls the
pioneer of education for women. Next
followed the PAGER on English Gram
mar by Miss Wells of Castleton, who
spoke of the beauty of the English Ian
guage rs Il vehicle for conveying thought,
and of its almost universal use in civilized
countries She said that children should
early be taught that grammar in books
is grammar IN every day life. a discus
sion on the subject followed led by Mr..
COnant of Randolph, who gave brief
sketch Of his own experience in teaching
class from Johnson's "a Days Journey"
Messrs. Sheldon and Hume Of Boston took
part in the discussion.
Mrs. Dewey of Rutland read paper on
Morals and Manners in which she
gave at some length her views OF the
necessity of early beginning this very i'm
portant part Of education. She condemned
a, rigid system of marking rs leading to
cheating and deception, and also advocated
a discipline founded in love. Mr.. Leaven-
worth read a short paper on professional
Training of Teachers" He spoke OF the
of recognized need special training for
any other profession, and Of the fact that
teachers rarely make the same pre-
paratiOn because they seldom enter upon
the work with the idea of making it a
HE work. A short discussion followed.
The afternoon session was opened by
a paper on Books and Schools by Miss
object in cultivating taste for good
Lowry of Burlington. She said 'Our
reading is also to give Il means of enjoy
nent, to teach children to find out facts
for themselves to weigh the evidence be
fore accepting opinions, 10 Introduce them
to the best company and thus give high
and pure Ideals of manhood and woman
hood. The work of in eresting children
in good reading done in Burlington and
and other places named is very impor
tant. Books as an aid to class work
can not he overestimated Carelessness
in selecting the books suited to
the ability and taste of the children was
enjoined. The teacher must be a reader
and lover of books, and know the child
ren's tastes and surroundings, and be
willing to develop the good in every child.
Mr.. Leavenworth opened the discussion
and most heartily endorsed the paper.
Mr.. Conant followed with paper on the
need of more teachers associations in
Vermont. He favored more associa-
ton rather than more organized
association, among teachers, and told
very clearly how the teachers of u
county. town, village, or even of a
school could meet in Il semi private way
and discuss with profit topics pertaining
to their work. He included in his
recommendations Il suggestion for the adj
vancement of literary study among teach
erS.
Principal f. H, butcher of Brandon
read a very suggestive aud practical pa
per on american Study for American
Schools" He argued tor more extended
study of American history, for place in
our courses of study for something of pO-
litiCal economy, and for some acquaint-
ance on the part OF the student with the
great national questions of the day.
From six to eight in the evening Cover
nor and Mrs Ornlsbee at their home re
celved i'll most delightful manner the
members of the association, who were in
troduced by Principal +. II. butcher and
the president. This, was one of the pleasant
est events in the histry OF the association
and stronghold the already prevailing
opinion that the governor is deeply inter
ested in the work of the teachers. At 5 p,
III. q large audience gathered TO listen to
an address by Prot Granville Wager of
Middiebu"y COLLEGE on the Missing Link
IN EiucltiOu' TO which 10 mere abstract
can do justice.
The speaker proved that instead Of one
there were often many missing links, or
parts of links, in education. Among the
things often wanting were the proper
%, schools and teachers, favor
able legislation. superintend-uce efficient
and well paid, government thurou-hness, |
the natural methods in study and lu5trUc- |
ton, the method Of teaching by maNims
a. well as bylllustrltiOus, Blu the missing
link, is Prot. AaEer COZ Crivrd il, or that
which he deemed most largely or generally
missing, was the educational spirit. This
was something To be looked for both in
and out of school, among the mass of the
people. 1t could only be begotter by q
better conception Of what education means
aud such conception must be pro-
duced by the lew through strong effort.
Saturday morning at S:30 was held the
business meeting, at which the resolutions
reported by the committee were adopted,
and the following officers elected Presi-
dent, Principal h, a. Bleho.. NJ ,peler;
secretary, Principal l.. b. Folsom, Rut-
land; treasurer, Supe iAtendent II. q.
Wheeler, Burlington; executive commit
tee, Principals w H. Sahderson, Wood
stock }. A. De Boer, Montpelier, and h,
II butcher, Brandon, and a ce-presIdent
from each county.
Following the business meeting was q