Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-08-10
THE ORLEANS COUNTY, SUMMER
SCHOOL HELD TBARTON
LANDING.

School opened it's second annual ses-
sion on the afternoon of Aug. 5. The
president of the organization, Judge
Austin, presiding. The hall was well
filed with teachers and visitors. The
session was opened by singing, after
which devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by Rev. Mr.. Hulburt. Miss
Kate Owen Of Glover was chosen asst
i treasurer, in place of Miss Richmond,
who was absent Jundge Austin said
he was glad to be able so quickly to
reverse the farewell of last summer
and to welcome so goodly a number
/ of teachers to Barton Landing again.
/ He then introduced the Hon. E. F.
/ Pal mer, state superintendent of edu-
cation. He said: think it is an hon
or to the county that so many of the
teachers are interested enough in their
work to come here. | am satisfied that
this is the best way of holding insti-
tutes Throughout the state. Last year
the state contributed 5000 toward the
expenses of the school, two institut
es being held in connection with it,
this year only one institute is held,
the state contributing S120. The
scriptures ask, 'FWhO can understand
his errors?'' and give no direct answer.
Any one can detect at once what we
call sins, but there are different kinds of
sins or errors, which we must learn to
distinguish by results. Iknow of only
two ways of guarding against these
errors, one is by ascertaining certain
true principles and holding fast to
them, and the other is by studying the
experience of others. 1t is dangerous
to rely simply upon our Judgment.
We are under the strictest moral OBJ
legations in our work of teaching to
bring all the light we can get to bear
upon it. Suppose I should add up
column of figures and make mistake;
that is one kind of error; if [ should
make a mistake in finding the inter
est on a certain sum, thereby causing
poor man to pay hundred dollars
more than he ought, that is an entire
ly different kind of error. Suppose
the doctor or apothecary makes a
mistake in compounding a prescrip-
ton, there is still another kind of er
rOr.
Mr. Emersons in his essay on history
makes a remark like this: A correct
reading of history removes the effect
of too great nearness to ourselves.
You know we may stand so near a
mirror that we cannot see ourselves
in it, and the effect is the same if we
are too far away from it. Now, teach
ers, it is well for us to stand back
sometimes and survey our work as
whole, not by parts. 1t is very impor-
tant that we come together and COM
pare notes, which has the same effect
that Emerson says the correct read
ing of history has inremoving the too
great nearness to ourselves. We can
sometimes learn the results of our
errors by the experience of others.
DR.. Franklin says that Experience
is a dear school, but fools will attend
no other" would reverse that, there
is so much proverb, making it read,
"He who depends upon methods and
attends only his own school has a fool
for a teacher" The mind is so weak,
our lives so short, that it is absolutely
necessary that we should seize upon
certain great truths and hold them.
You have no measures by which to
test this method and that method;
but you can become familiar with
certain great principles and by these
you must learn to Judge. [ undertake
to say that over and above a mere
knowledge of mere methods, or even
a knowledge of the branches to be
taught, that you should have a clear
and distinct idea of what education is.
There should be no mistake in your
mind. Now, what is education? 1t
has taken the world good while to
find out that it is the harmonious de-
velOpment of all the powers of the
mind, and they have not all found it
out yet.
There is another thing to which L
wish to call your attention, and that
is the distribution of work and play.
Senator Edmunds, few weeks ago,
said before the scholars in Burlington
that there was just as much fun in
work as in play, if it was only proper
ly distributed. Senator Edmunds is
one of the most ingenious men in
America, and he knew enough to stop
just there. He did not go on and tell
them how it should be distributed.
and it is very difficult thing to do.
[ hope some of these experienced
teachers will go farther if they dare
to. Every human being has pleasure
in victory, and [ believe that every
boy and girl, if they could be led to
feel that they were gaining victories,
they would be filed with joy. Bear
in mind that you are not simply to i'm
part knowledge, but to inspire the pu-
pill with the love of knowledge. I be-
lieve it is agreed that the highest re-
suit of education is moral power, will
power. 1t is habit that constitutes
character. The child ought to inspire
more awe and more reverence that
the starry heavens. The child, with
desires and contrary desires sweeping
through his soul, each struggling for
the victory, is the work of the teach
er to help with all her power in max
ing the right victorious.
A program for the work of the week
was given out. B. @. Day of Crafts
bury then took charge of the work
Mr.. Stone, Miss Putnam and Miss
Boyd all of whom were important fac
tors in the success of the school last
year, were warmly welcomed by the
teachers. Miss Boyd of Chelsea, Mass,
gives, in essays, at the beginning of
each exercise the principles of the
sentence or thought method of teach
ing reading. These principles are fully
illustrated in teaching class of chill
dren who come before the school each
day.
Miss Putnam of the Randolph Nor
NAL school piVeS exercises on matb-