Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-21
wrNpHAm COUNTY TEACHERS
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,hy.t.-,. Instructi,e Paper, Able Al
srr..es nud Probable Dt-e"Ssio"-
Mark the Occasion.

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thusisu,, Instructive Pnper~' abe "a
srr..rs nnd Probable Dt-o"s-ionS
MARK the Occasion
The Windham county teachers INSTITUTE
opened i'm the High school room yesterday
morning at half-past nine with good AZ
tendance. which, however, was largely
augmented by those whom the belated
trains brought from both directions.
The morning session was opened 10y scrip
ture reading aud prayer by kev. l.: w.
pay. who also made brief remarks, allud
ing ~ the fact Of this being the hrst lnst
tute held here since the death Of Mr. bing
ham. quoting some Of the utterahces
Of the master who is gone, and urging en-
tbusiasm a. the great secret NJ success in
the work.
The first address was that Of state Su-
perintendent r. +. Palmer, which was up.
on general educational topics, broad ana
comprehensive in its reach, and when
touched upon many Of the needs aud iaults
! Of the present systems ways OF dong
things. advisable plans to follow tull OF
instruction and Of food for profitable
thought The harmonious development OF
all the faculties Of the pupils was especially
urged upon the teachers Mr.. Palmer
address was listened n with great interest
and appreciation by those who had come
prepared 10 receive much from one whose
! position gives him such opportunities for
observation. and by general consent the
| time allotted him on the program was eX-
| tended considerably
He was followed by Supervisor &. J..
| Hall. who presented some excellent ideas
on the teaching Of that study which is so
often dry and undressing Reference
was made 10 the old methods Of 'parsing,
] followed later by the sentence method, tins
/ in turn being followed by diagramlng
which however became 50 complex as
| finally to run away with grammar aud be
come a study in itself. But out of all these
| have come the present study Of language, as
wecall it, and grammar. Two things are 70
be attained in the study of grammar first
the art Of writing aud speaking properly
| second, acquaintance with the beauties OF
the Anglo Saxon tongue, which Is fast be
coming the language Of the world. As 10
when the teaching Of language should begin
Mr. Hall considered that the first day the
child came 10 school was none tOo early
not by text book, but by oral instruction,
in the use Of proper expressions aud words,
gradually rising, step 10y step, through the
use Of capital letters, common marks Of
punctuation. different forms Of words. the
derivation and composition of words till
the study Of language is almost impercept
bly, merged into the study Of technical
grammar. Many valuable suggestions were
given with view to making this important
study at the same time an attractive and
interesting one, and many simple yet prac
teal rules given.
Principal II +. Sawyer Of Mt Hermou
was the next speaker, his subject being
School discipline a school is made up
Of individuals each Of whom has rights
and 1t Is also to be thought of as a unit
discipline must he with reference ~ both
the individual and the whole After emu
merating some Of the possible aims Of dis
cipline, the true object was declared to he
character building, the incubation Of ply
steal mental aud moral courage, purity,
chlvalry, hatred Of meanness, reverence.
and all that goes to make up a noble char
acter. A dlsciplinarian should keep this (
object always in view, and should let pu
pills understand that rules are not made u
restrain their personal liberty but 10 pro.
tect their rights Punishments should in
their f1rm he adapted 10 the offences for
which they are administered. The impor-
lance Of government shoud he shown aud
the pupils given TO understand that disci-
pline must be maintained Two other i'm
l"A stAlAN tAAllE7 IA ll tine hlUin
lstratlon Of government and the setting of
an example Of obedience to rule by the
teacher At the close of the address peril
nent questions were put to Mr. SAWYER.
which were satisfactorily answered after
hich the morning session closed. Miss
Bur"ells paper being put over TIL after
noon.
Miss Emma Houghton, who was tu have
presented paper on drawing was pre-
vented by illness from being present. and
the first hour Of the afternoon session was
occupied 10y Miss A j. Burwell Of West
minister, who gave many practical sugges-
tons as 10 Some things 10 do" 4 good |
word was spoken for the modern methods. 4
which give rather than take time system
IN the work, the use of text books. the e.
sentlals in school discipline, moral standing |
OF the school, were among the important
things taken up and considered, and it was .
shown that the mind alone Of Il child can .
not he cultivated, but mind, heart aud will |
must all he thought Of and worked for.
Following this was the paper ON geogra.
ply prepared by Miss NJ A. Wood, which |
was read by Principal McIachn. Miss .
Wool attached but little value H. details.
hut greatly favored the topic method in .
teaching this study, holding that by tins
method u hrmer grasp Of the subject was
assured, and the mind Of the pupil more
fully developed Upon one Of the boards .
had been placed diagram or outline OF the .
order in which geographical ideas should
be presented, as position, form, size sur
face, drainage, climate, etc-these not to
he taught as separate facts, but as relative .
facts, showing how surface affects drain
age, which in turn affects climate, aud so
on. Nothing should be taught from the
text which can be learned from the map.
and pupils should be trained 70 read MAPS
as they would the words of the book. The
use OF various helps was suggested
AT the close of the reading of the paper
Miss Royce, with a class OF Young uuuils
from our schools, gave practical illustra-
ton OF some of the points considered by
Miss Wood, as map reading, study of diff
ierent sections by comparison, etc, making
a very interesting exercise. The work of
making relief maps in sand was also shown.
II might not be out OF place Just here to
reter 10 the large display of map work
IN room No. !, including pen and ink. pen
ell, crayon and blackboard work relief
maps, maps embroidered upon silk. show
ing care and skill and eliciting much praise
Principal q. A. Williams of Nermont
academy was introduced next. Mr.. Shaw
whose name appeared on the program. not
having succeeded in getting through from
West Brattleboro. Mr.. Williams smoke ON
Methods in history A knowledge. of the
history OF the nations and people who have
preceded US was considered by the speaker
TO be necessary for proper understanding
OF our own times and surroundings The
object Of the study Of history was first
talked of at some length, and it was urged
That tins branch, as well as others. should
be made practical. Mere facts are not 70
be taught, but the chain of relation is IN ha
found; why this event happened as a re-
suit OF all these preceding events. IL tn
1 Ts d framing OF the reason and judgment
the topical method was pronounced the
best Tor all schools and all grades. and il
lustrations Of its use were given MANY
rather than few text books were favored
by the speaker in the teaching of history
The address was helpful and interestinc,
Al ITS close a chorus of II boys under a.
rectlon OF Miss Wyman gave a song which
was well received, and a brief recess was
taken. was
Hon. II. ii Wheelers address ON the
Early history of Vermont" which was
presented next, was of very entertaining
ana instructive character, treating nf III
establishment of the boundaries of this and
other states near by, the first settlers the
Indian inhabitants, the boundary disnutss
ahd lhelr settlement, aud many excesding
~ interesting facts in regard to the early
history OF our own town, Dummerston AMI
Futney Upon motion of Supervisor Cillev
OF Chlttenden county vote of thanh ,y.,
rendered Judge Wheeler for the vnIusIJ.,
address presented
At this mint pri,,,;,...I -