The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-01-14

COnant of the Randolph Normal School on |
How to Increase Our knowledge of |
Mind" We are constantly thinking, said |
he. We can never look into our minds and |
find no thought there. Our moods are not |
always apparent and we must make hunt |
to determine If sorrow, joy, or anger pre- |
dominates. The movements of the mind,
when a choice is made, are many and
varied, and if one tries he can easily sepa-
rate these into their elements so as 10 study
each in succession. We may study our
minds by comparison of our powers and
abilities with our present conditions. No
tiCe the different subjects for which we
have taste at different periods of life
The knowing that an object is, does not
necesstate a knowledge of definition for
that object. We may know that space is,
and yet not be able to define the same.
BY comparing our minds with others we
learn much of our own. The speaker then
recommended several books on psychology
for teachers reading.
Principal II. o. Aiken of Mortified pre-
scented very interesting paper on How to
Make Teaching Profession" He answered
the question 10y saying: BY fulfilling its
requisites and qualifications to the best pos
sible degree, and by continually striving to
progress or improve in those qualifications"
Assuming that "A well diSCi plined mind is the
first essential, Mr.. Aiken quoted the three
qualifications pointed out by DIR. Fitch in his
lecture on teaching-natural aptitude, study
of principles and methods, and the lessons
of experience In the United States the
last of the three has been in many cases the
first one entered upon. Some have sue
ceeded well, others have not but all would
appreciate the truth of the remarks made at
an English teachers meeting: We have
been making experiments all our lives; we
have learned much, it is true, but we have
| learned 1t at the expense of our pupils"
| Those who have failed to make teaching a
success have in many cases failed because
| they did not consider the first qualification,
| natural fitness Mr.. Aiken enumerated
some of the qualities included in the term
" fitness" Yet many who are naturally
| fitted for teaching fail because they pay no
attention to the second qualification, the
study of teaching itself =" Our tendency,
should say, so far as | know myself and
some others, is to let the daily duty of prepar-
alton for instruction and the performance of
our work occupy all our time and energy,
| and, our minds feeding too little upon the
aim and purpose of our work, upon the
| greatness of its principles, the improvement
of its methods, fall only too easily into the
grooves of perfunctory tendencies. We fail
to inspire because we have failed to be in
spired." Mr.. Aiken mentioned some of the
means at hand for studying methods of
teaching. One of these is the summer
school, Another is the great number of
books and periodicals now devoted to the
subject, and third is teachers institutes
He laid special stress on the study of teach
ing as the means to success.
After this paper Mr.. Aiken sang Chi
nese selection, and to an encore sang " Good
Night but not Good bye" Professor AK
tell of the Montpelier Seminary gave a short
talk on Some Thoughts on Reading for
| Children" Some one has said: " Tell me
what child reads outside of school and
will tell you the kind of man or woman
they will make" Notice the advancement
in the style of children's literature. the
great number, nice bindings and beautiful
IL IL. Il.
tales, let them have them. 1t will not hurt
them a Bit and they will soon outgrow thai
taste. First, we should ask, What shall
the child read? Then, How can we obtain
the books? In the selection of reading
books too much attention has been paid tC
the grading of the words instead of suitin:
| the style of literature to the taste of the
: childs age.
, After little recess Superintendent Tay
lor of Caledonia county spoke upon tn,
) subject of spelling. The necessity of goo,
= spelling is made apparent when we motto
| the mistakes made in letters of application
and recommendation. The time spent Of
spelling is greater than that devoted TO an
other study, and the results are poorer
5 The trouble is that the method is not good
Nothing is done to impress new words upol
the mind of the pupil.
( Principal Landon of Burlington spok
next upon the subject of civil government
In speaking of the importance of this stud
= he made this remark: " If we hang boys o
E twenty for breaking up the government, W
| must teach boys of fifteen what government
4 | is" Reference was made to one count
where this study was not taken outside tn
E academies and high schools. The lack G
e wisdom in this is apparent All e civi
government of the town and district ca
{ and should be learned Let pupils attep
4 town and district meetings. Allow then
to visit the town clerks office and learn tn
l duties of this office Encourage pupils t
q inform themselves on current events
, Teach in this country that officers are no
4 the government but the servants of tn
p government and representatives of til
minds of the people. A teacher must b
l considerably above his class to be able to
q the work successfully.
Supervisor Booth made few closing re
e marks on the subject of " Wasted Time il
( School-room," in which he urged teacher
to be prompt in getting to their schools AM
e to be busy at something all the time, thu
n setting good example to their pupils. Mr.
Booth made feeling remarks in reference .
e his very pleasant relations with the teach
ers of the county He urged all to be faitl
full to their work. and he believed the stat
c would appreciate their services.
I The institute ended its session exactly q
noon, having a few minutes previous
= adopted resolutions of thanks to all VIII
: had contributed to its success.
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