Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1891-08-17

and the maps in geography. The
teacher they claim is the best text
book We heard one teacher trying
to teach his pupils to spell words like
keep. They gave great deal of
trouble by saying keep and he
would correct them giving k-double e.
D. This reminded us of the rhyme,
Cup, up, Lucy, the SUMS in the sky, y
which by the same reasoning could be
made to read. ''Double up, Lucy, the
SUMS in the sky. [ found the child
rem very polite in all the schools we
visited and 1 was cordially well
coined by the teachers, when l car
lvr admission.
I've often been asked what country
of Europe [ should prefer to live in. |
reply that [ prefer not to live in any
! of them. To know that there is so
much Wretchedness SO near would
make one unhappy. The servile con-
dition of women in Europe is sicken-
ing. We find them engaged in every
employment, while the men stand
IDLY by, wearing the soldiers uniform
and marching, but doing little else.
Well may you, ladies, thank God that
you are Americans.
A. w. Edison, A. M. agent of Mass.
Board of Education, was introduced
Monday morning and addressed the
teachers twice daily Throughout the
week. He began the subject of school
management with discussion of the
advantages and disadvantages of the
occupation of teaching and the quail
fcations of the true teacher. Mr.. Ed
son said he wanted the teachers to
have good time; he pitied the man
or woman who did not have a good
time in life. Among the advantages
of this occupation are opportunities
for growth and Improvement and for
helping onward and upward those we
teach. One disadvantage is the un-
certainty of employment. And the
compensation is far below that of the
other professions. The time is COM
ing when the teacher must have a
Sp6C1dl IO1 IlCA WIN OfOCo
health and love for the work are
important qualification. 1t is all right
for the teacher to seek promotion and
higher wages, but be sure and keep in
the line of work for which you are
best fitted.
81 In regard to Methods the teachers
were urged to prepare very carefully
for their work, especially that of the
first day. A great deal depends upon
the first impression with pupils and
parents. What does the father ask
the boy when he comes home from the
first day of school,? Why, how do you
like the teacher? Does he ever ask
that question again? No, never. So,
know what you are going to do, and
do it. Do not take up the text books
by course, but by subjects and let us
skip some things entirely We had
much better leave out some things in
the geography and arithmetic and
teach something of elementary sci
ence. Make out and follow a pro
gramme to encourage systematic
habits on your part and that of the
children.
l shall think l have accomplished
my object in coming here if you learn
what is the object ofstudy. The child
should gain knowledge that he may
get more out of life; he wants to gain
a certain power over himself. Knowl-
edge is gained in only two ways, by di-
rect observation and by thought. The
teacher should not talk much, let the
child do the talking. 1t is not true
kindness to do for him what he can do
for himself.
Excellent outlines were given to aid
in teaching history The great aims
in teaching history are to create a
taste for good reading, to develop the
faculties, and to gain knowledge OF
certain poets. The characters of not
ed men should be very carefully studi-
ed and the good contrasted with the
bad The talk on school discipline
was very helpful. One maxim given
was: 'EBe swift to hear and see, but
slow to speak"
On Tuesday evening Mr.. Edison, who
has the constant supervision of seven
teen hundred teachers, gave a lecture
on the subject of FEducation." He
said: I suppose you know, friends, that
[ am Vermonter, not by birth, but
came into the state, when little boy
[ was educated in Vermont and have
taught in Vermont longer than in
Mass Really l am Vermonter and
one of you. My work in Mass. is to
visit the schools, to meet the superln-
tendents, the teachers and the people.
At the close ofmy visits Ialways cr1tl-
else and try to tell them where they
can do better work. We want to give
the children a better chance then we
have so that they may come before the
next generation with a better educa-
ton, better preparation for their life
work. 1t is we'll for the parents and
those who are interested in education
to hear occasionally from the teach
ers standpoint, an account of the
work they are trying to do. When
where the boys and girls, dearer than
than the apple of the eye, are educat-
ed, the parents do not seem to begin
to care for them as they do for almost
any other line of work. believe that
there is improvement in the schools,
that are better then they were twenty
or thirty years ago. Some, know,
will say that they are deteriorating.
The conditions are somewhat differ
ent. You were satisfied to remain in
school until you were ninteen or twen-
ty years of age. The children now
leave school and go into business at
an earlier age, too early, think. The
population is growing to be of a more
mixed character. Many of those who
come into the schools have no good
home training. From a financial stand
point and this is of course the lowest,
a good school is a blessing to any COM
munity. 1t will help to build up vii
lage. l believe that here in Barton