Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-26

lie, place the sceptre III every hanu we
must teach how royalty to WELD 1t. All
things are borne from the great sea of
public opinion, and the currents therein
are set in motion by the public schools.
Good thinking, working and behavior
constitute good citizenship and toward
such an end should the teaching
of the schools tend. mon schOldc
Sod UitdC" is the aim of the
work. An interested school is an in
teres ting school The public school is pre-
pairing the scholar for the duties which
await him outside of the school room, and
self-respect intelligence and activity con
tribute to the usefulness of the citizen far
more than simple knowledge of text books.
The public schools are not Z 1T, but a
loan for which strict account is to be rem
dered to the State. No other place on
earth is so likely to produce good habits
AS is the public school children of all
classes in society here meet on common
ground, and here the State places to be
polished the rich jewels for her diadem.
Principals w. H. Sargent of Newport
and A. II. Campbell of Johnson discussed
the same theme of civics the study OF
which should begin where every other in
struction begins-in the primary grade,
and American ideas must be implanted in
the breasts of American scholars. Let the
boys, and girls too, If practicable, attend
the school and town meetings, aud early
teach them respect for their town, State
and national government.
Prof. T. w. y. Worthen of Dartmouth
college spoke of mathematics Though
all things hold to that which is good" is
the motto of to-day, and particularly in
reference to education, mathematics held
a prominent place in what is called the
'old education and it always Will hold a
prominent place, Tor its character and
use is adapted to the development of every
grade of the human mind. Prof Worthen
spoke of the faults in the mathe NAUTICAL
instruction gwen in the secondary schools
and begged the teachers to teach arthme-
tic He was particularly glad TO meet the
Vermont teachers, for many OF the Dart
mont freshmen came from Vermont. His
excellent discourse abouuded in helpful
suggestions and was timely and in pres
sive.
President Brainerd of Middlebury col
lege and Superintendent Aurie :. May of
st. Johnsbury, spoke of country schools,
the town and district systems. and the ed
uCatlOna bill now pending in the State
Legislature. Theoretically, the town sys
tenn of schools is the ideal one; but in
practice obstacles are encountered which
seem mountable. So long rs we have
a republican form of government, we can
pie, through their representatives. say that
they desire it. In many towns where it
has been tried there has been much dissat-
lstaCton and much injustice to the small
er schools by eXempting the wealthier dis
tricts.
The special committee appointed in the
morning session by the president, reported
a. follows:
In view of the probable action which the
lawmakers of our State will this year
take on House bill No. 3, as
recommended by the commissioners
on education and introduced by
Mr.. Proctor, the Vermont State T. achers'
association, through its properly appoint
ed committee, desires to u ye expression to
Its feeling on the subject rs follows:
|. We consider the work of the com
mission, both in its Investigations of the
facts and its recommendations upon the
facts, to have been most carefully and
considera ely done and therefore entitled
to grave attention and study from every
source.
= We believe with the commissioner,
the department of State superintendent,
many high public officials, together with
the mass of our people, that NermOnt's
public instruction Is not what 1t should
be that radical measures Of reform are
pressing necessities and that our eXpectA-
ton and h pc of aid stand in the keeping
of the General Assembly sitting at the
capital of our State
We accept AS Il broad practical and
promising compromise OF educational
systems, the general recommendations of
the commission. We believe that State
superintennence through county super
visors with the powers and functions
provided by the act will tend to promote
hOmeogeneity in State education, to
lac ease the percentage of attendance of
our schools, our general average enroll
ment and to equall2e the burden of
taxation
I. We await with deep solicitude, a.
citizens and teachers, the action Of the
Legislature Don this measure We sin
cerely hope that peculiarly of structure
! may not defeat meas ure that represents
! the final work of the iteSt and ableSt in
| ve,tigation of the whole subject, but that
this recommend ton in behalf of State
ms ruGtlon may, i 1t is necessary, be
careful considered and easily modified,
and by exalted unanlmity OF action
b. made, under God, the means
OF raising our educational system Ia
Il higher, more useful and more
honorable position among the sister
hood of states. Sgued by Joseph A. De
BOer, George A. Brown, Auriel G.. May
committee.
AT o'clock, p m, Rev. c. NJ Lawson
ID d of St Johnsbury delivered lee
ture upon Books and the art OF reading
them
SATURDAYS SESSION.
At Q o'clock Saturday morning there
was held a business meeting at which the
following officers were elected Principa
W. II. Sanderson of Woodstock, presi
dent from each county one vice presi
, dent; PRINCIPAL l.. b FOlsam of Rutland
secretary: Principal A. II. Campbell %
Johnson, treasurer; j. A. DeBoer, Mont
p9ler; +. II. butcher, Brandon; w. f
f Ranger Lyndon, executive committee.
Prof f.. c. Mowry, of the Methods
, seminary at Montpelier, then discussed
classics in preparatory schools The adj
f vantages gained by study of the classic
2 are too gene rally admitted to need men
ton. The study of syntaX is of prime i'm
pOrtance in class work; 1t arouses interest
leads to accuracy of eXpression,i Is a system
= Of mental gymnastics, strengthens th
I memory and necessiates constant eXer
t else of the judgment. The subject wa
2 further discussed by Principals De BOer
\ Putney, and Folsom, and Dr. ReXford
representative of the Association of Pro
3 testant teachers in the Province of Que
Y bee spoke briefly.
; After most interesting convention, tn
E meeting adjourned, subject to the call O
/ the executive commit tee.
T.