The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-11-20

necessary that boys and girls go out Of
school good accountants, able to add long
| 1t is also essential that they have thor
ough drill on the Vermont annual interest
rule. Something more than mental drill
should be gained by its study. Pupils
should be taught the application of the
principles to business purposes
One of the special features OF the Insti
tute was the exemplificatiOn of class work
in Geography by Miss Marion Mcleod. II
was certainly pleasure to hear the correct
and we'll wOrded answers of the little ones
| who manifested more than usual interest
| in the subject, and the thorough and syS-
tematic manner in which the lesson wa
handled well serves as an illustration OF
what can be done by a live teacher
Thursday afternoon was mostly devoted
to the subject OF language, and how 1t
should be taught. Prin. Edward COnant OF
Randolph opened with a very practical
talk. illustrating the Normal School method
of handling sentence. Although it is
necessary to know the construction OF each
word in a sentent e, this is but means for
an end. and that end, correct understand
ing of the thought expressed. The parts
should be studied with reference to the
whole.
= Prin. f. E. French admirably treated
GLOW to teach English Literature" and
illustrated his method of grouping, by
means of a blackboard exercise, the writer's
of a certain school or period together: To
become thoroughly acquainted with an
author it is necessary to study carefully
many of his writings, how they have been
affected by productions of others, their his
tOrical value, his life, and the time in which
he wrote. Literature should be taught in
all schools and in the homes, for it is the
royal road, if there be such, to the cultiva-
ton of good tastes in reading.
Ey-Gnv EarnhOm frpatqd in a very able
and practical manner the subject, "USe OF
Language" emphasizing the necessity of
careful instruction in spelling, prOnuncla-
ton and use of words. Correctness in this
line will give person social standing not
otherwise attainable. 1t is matter taken
into consideration by business men when
hiring their ASSISTANTS; and is a necessary
qualification in securing good situation.
Thursday evening Prof. e. Ii. Perkins OF
the University of Vermont at Burlington,
gave lecture on '.The Study of Natural
History He was enthusiastic in his re-
marks and space will not permit even an
outline of the many good things he said
We do not need books to begin this study.
1t is not what someone has said that we
want to know, but what we can find out
for ourselves. Nature is herself, great
book, Gods handiwOrk, to be approached
reverently, to be loved, to be studied care
fully, that we may read her rightly. The
SluuN OI Ildtult uOco HOt lCuu W notCllo
ism, except it be ones natural tendancy.
Friday morning, after the devotional ex-
ercises, Prof. COnant showed how the
teacher is connected in her work with the
school district, the town, the state and the
United States. He defined the term gov
eminent and gave an explanation of the
Huntington Fund.
Another pleasant feature was the ques-
ton box. and the manner in which the
questions were answered by the teachers
was both entertaining and instructive
The Rev. j. A. SeitZ of West Concord
spoke on Zone Thing at Time" There
is no sense in borrowing book and keep
ing it year for the purpose of reading.
A book should be taken up and completed
i'm reasonable time. 1t is wrong to keep
pupils year after year on the same subjects,
going over the same ground again and
again. Too much time is often spent with
out advancing the classes. The bright ones
are refined in to allow the dull ones to keep
along This may be a fault of the school
system and not of the teacher, but it Ger
tainly is fault, and one that applies with
particular force to those schools where the
teacher is changed nearly every term.
Examiner Walbridge of Essex County
presented the necessities of teaching "Cur-
rent Events" 1t is of as much importance