Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-05-04
TME AERRAD.
ISLAND POND, MAY 4, 1888.
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
SECOND DAY.

with devotional exercises, led 10y
Mr.. Dart, with some very helpful
remarks on the question of what
teachers shall adopt for devotional
exercises in schools.
The subject of the morning, as
designated in the programme, was
that of arithmetic. Principal Jenne
illustrated his very practical meth
cd of instruction by class exercise
in the study of taxes. Mr.. Jenne
hogan by showing that the method
of making taxes as taught by our
text books, is not in accordance with
the laws of Vermont, since it gives
the poll tax as stated sum, instead
Of giving the poll list. During the
oral instruction that followed, sew
eral points were brought out, some
of which are very important, and !
think I may safely add, not very
generally understood, even among
our teachers. For instance: Mr.
JENNIE showed that the foundation
of every tax list in Vermont is
poll list of 5000, which is entered
to every male inhabitant over 81
years old, not specially exempt, To
the poll list is added valuation Of
taxable personal property, with all
moneys excepting such as will be
mentioned below and then the
real estate valuation is entered.
Money in sayings-bank to the
amount of $500 is not taxable. If,
however, the person has any liabil-
tiles, the amount of such indebted
ness should be liquidated by the
savings-bank account if possible,
and if this does not equal the debts,
the remaining liability must be sub
tracted from the property and poll
list, before real estate is added
Rel estate is not made liable for
Indebtedness by the law of taxation.
Several problems were worked and
explained by the class; the explain
ations showing a thorough under
standing of the subjects treated.
After this, DR.. Mowry, addressing
the company, said that the primary
object of arithmetic is not to be able
to solve "catch" questions, but to
cultivate power and discipline Of
the mind, and mental development,
giving several illustrations of how
the study of that science develops
the reasoning faculties and powers
of invention. That after teaching
this discipline to the pupil, practical
work should follow. On the sub
ject of elementary arithmetic Dr..
Mowry said: II is mistake not to
drill in the elements. The teacher
should find out just how far in mum
bers the child knows, and then, be.
ginning right at that point, go Oh
slowly, laying cone brick at time
with plenty of sticky" and closed
with a very interesting talk on pr
mary instruction.
The subject Of xt,books wa.
presented by Mr.. Z. NJ. Mansur, who
said that there ought to be some
way invented to reduce the usua
number of classes about half
Thought this could best be done b,
combining several of the differen
grades Of the same branch in ont
textbook. In regard to the Physi
Ologies in use at present in thi
state, Mr.. Mansur said they wer,
adopted after careful consideration
by the committee appointed for thi
work, that they deemed them TIL
best, all things considered, tina
could be obtained. That temper
ance textbooks are a good thing
and, if taught as they should be, h
believed good effect would 500
be seen. Referring to an expression
used by Mr.. Dart, Mr.. Mansu
said "In regard to teaching Amer
canism, the common schools are tn
best possible means to that end
For example: When the late civi
war broke out we had no army, n
regular trained militia of any nun
Der, yet in two years from the tim
when Lincoln first called for troops
we had one of the grandest armie
the world has ever seen. Now | be
lieve it largely due to the commo
schools of the northeast and west &
our country; and that to the con
mon schools we owe the success {
our army in putting down the rebe
lion and preserving our country Vi
der one flag. If the south had ha
the same system of schools as tn