Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-01-30
PEDAGOGUEs IN SESSION.


The Teachers Institute for Chittenden
County at Essex Junction.
The Teachers Institute held at Essex
Junction under the direction of Superinten
dent Palmer and Supervisor Gill ey was ono
of the most interesting gathering of its kind
ever held in this county, the interest and
enthusiasm of the teachers present being
shared by many outsiders. Wednesday
morning Supervisor Phelps of Grand Isle
county gave an interesting talk on ventia-
tation in school buildings, showing very
clearly the Importance of this neglected sub
ject. Supervisor Ciiley followed with a talk
founded ON his own personal experience,
that scholars find arithmetic hard ana dun
because they begin without sufficient pre-
paratory training in the meaning and use of
words TO be gained only by reading and
spelling Tits same ignorance of the mean
ing of words !teuds to make civil govern
ment, physiology, etc, dry and uninterest-
ing. Ito strongly advised the con
slant use Of pocket dictionaries
Ut the afternoon session Supervisor Hall of
Windhan county gave an address on the
metric system which perhaps was not re
ccived with the attention it dcserN ed because
of the mutual dislike 10 the system Of teach
ers and scholars in many OF our schools.
Mr. Hall presented as good reasons for
y
pared to ours, its universal use in all coun-
tries except three and its especial fitness for
scientific Uses and calculations. The speak
er was certain he could make any average
cass comprehend the subject thoroughly III
a week and showed partly how il should he
done. supervisor Haseitlne of Addison
county spoke on difficulties in the school,
arguing that many d'''iru.ties are imaginary
rather than real when real they
can generally uc . led 10y a little tact.
He gave 1t also Us his opinion that whisper
ing could not he entirely suppressed without
restraining animal impulses which in
child are both natural and audablc when
controlled. Supervisor Booth of W Washing
county caught the teachers mapping. As he
proceeded to sketch in bright cJlors in his
speech on wasted time the conduct Of a sup
posed ideal teacher, an occasional nod
of sell satisfaction could he detected
in the audience but note book ami self
esteem We're rapidly land aside as
the speaker proceeded to bring out the la
tent sarcasm concealed under his first
words
Supervisor Hall gave lecture on physi-
ology, which he maintains should be taught
as far as possible by object lessons and
very little text book at first He was iol-
lowed by Supervisor Redmond OF Lamoiile
county, IN an address on mental arithmetic.
He would make more Use of mental arith-
metIc because 1t fixes principles, saves time,
increases powers of rapid reasoning. and
secures attention. of which which last fact
/ his audience rave aruple proof
PRINCIPAL JENNIE of F no-burph Falls
/ smoke of his method of teaching history bv
| bringin, ND only imuortant fects and max
ing scholars find all the information they
could without tho teacher,. lie -adyi,ol
,roupint event, by yenr, and dxjnr them
| IN mind bv catch words. With him history
is ycry largely taurht bv mans MIR Jenue
also advanced some idea, on discipline
which to teachers in thi, county nre dncId-
ediv novel \ school he said ,Aould Govern
itself by the self respect that is in every
scholar. not by rule. and he citel his
schol which had been left to mon-
are itself for two DAVIS without n
teacher j, the room rs an .1annIe The
speaker said he frequently left the room for
half an hour or half a day with a perfect
/ confidence TINT the WORT; Uoull 90 ON as if
, ne were present.