The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-02-15
Meeting Of Pomona Grange.

Vermont Central Pomona Grange Patrons
OF Husbandry held its first quarterly meet
ing at Berlin last week Wednesday. Owing
to the bad condition of the roads the at
tendance was not as large as it otherwise
would have been. In the absence of the
master of Pomona Grange Secretary III. p.
Abbott called the meeting to order and APP
pointed Postmaster William Brown as
master All the other offices were filled
pro tempore. Seven of the nine oranges re-
sponded to roll-call.
Mr.. Alpha Messer, master of the state
grange, occupied most of the time of the
forenoon session in the delivery of his adj
dress. He said it was not numbers, but the
motives of members that accomplished the
objects of the Grange. Through organiza-
ton we become strong; no organization is
of more benefit to the farmer than that of the
Grange. He thought the order and the work
tits accomplishing was never more fully
recognized than at the present time Many
oranges had been wrecked upon the imam
cial rock, and he would not recommend that
feature unless there could be unity of &C
ton in the scheme and affairs could be man
aged intelligently. His address, which was
followed by music by the choir, was list
ened to with closest attention by all present.
The grange was then closed in form to meet
in open session in the afternoon.
After nearly one and one-half hours spent
in satisfying the wants of the inner man the
meeting was called to order by H. A Flint,
opening with music by the choir The
topic for discussion was "Our Common
Schools-How can They be Improved?"
Secretary Abbott opened the argument.
He thought that in many cases the children
were taken too early from the district and
placed in the higher schools, which had
tendency to limit the membership of the
district schools to the younger pupils; that
no teacher would take the interest in such
school that he would did the older scholars
dor 10 i'm W nn
reason why the district schools had to put
up with an inferior grade of teachers. L.
Hopkins thought that parents and teachers
did not become sufficiently acquainted with
each other. Mr.. Crandall thought the com
mon schools had not deprecated in point of
efficiency; that at the present time they
ranked as high as formerly. He thought
that teachers generally were sufficiently
qualified as teachers. George Perry (whose
remarks were spicy said parents did not
take sufficient interest in the schools; they
should visit them oftener. S. Williams said
that in his district they had invested in
many young teacher; it needs something
besides book education to make success
full teacher. George Bassett thought the
scholar of to-day regarded the common
school as a stepping-stone, and was looking
to some other school as a keystone, to
higher education; he believed in higher
degree of education and favored the town
system. II. G, Hayward said we had
not made the advancement we ought to
under the present management; we do
not take the interest in our schools that
we should Parents should visit the
schools more. He did not think much of
the town system Dea. Perrin, superntend-
ent of the schools in Berlin, thought that
parents ought to take more interest IN the
schools and not leave it all to the teachers
and scholars. He was in favor of the town
system of schools. III. b. Howard thought
that one reason why the normal schools IA
vored the town system was that they would
be enabled to put more of their graduates
into the schools as teachers. He thought
that many who had taught in graded schools
were better qualified as teachers than
graduates from the normal schools. The
master of the state grange was then called
upon for his views. He said the question
was of vital Importance to the people of
this state at the present time. He thought
the trouble was a lack of system. He was
never married to the town system, but
had favored it until he could get something
better. There is a time coming when the
district system must go down. He cited
thought her schools were leading us at the
present time. Many teachers were not
fitted with the qualifications they needed
they wanted inspiration for their work;
they should consult with each other and ac-
quaint themselves with the work more
thoroughly. In order to make improve
ments we must get out of the old ruts and
make new tracks. Rev. John j. Hall was
the next speaker He said the schools of
Scotland were not to be compared with
those of Vermont. He favored long terms
and would visit the schools often III the
schools are visited by those interested the