The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-10-05
State Teachers Convention.

State Teachers Convention.
The forty-thrd annual convention of the
Vermont State Teachers Association was
held in Montpelier on Thursday, Friday and
Saturday of last week. The attendance was
not as large as at the convention of last
year, but it is probable that there were be-
tween 200 and 250 teachers present at one
time or another. The convention began
Thursday evening with an informal recep-
ton in the parlors of the Bethany church
At eight O'clock Miss Marian E. Blake of
Boston, reader, and Miss Myra Ross, so-
prano, entertained the company. Professor
Blanpied of the Montpelier seminary, ac-
companied Miss Ross. Professor G.. II.
Perkins of the University of Vermont then
gave a very interesting lecture "The Grand
Canon of the Colorado"
Friday was the busy day of the conven-
tion. After devotional exercises at the
high school hall, conducted by Rev. l. p.
Booth, the president, f. III. Dewart, gave
an address on " Balance" Then came dis
cussions on " Language Studies and Tech
nical Grammar" " Compositions, Essays
and Orations," Literature" and "The
Teaching of Reading" Professor Jenne of
Enosburgh Falls led the discussion on the
first subject, and Professor w. A. Beebe of
Morrisvile that on the second. In the af-
ternoon The Relative Value of the County
Institutes and Summer Schools " was dis
cussed by Professor e. f. Conant of Ran
dolph Examiner J. II. Dunbar of White
River Junction, Examiner B. C. Day of
! Craftsbury and others. The remainder of
the afternoon was devoted to the general
subject of physical education. The first
topic was " The Necessity of Physical Gull
ture and the Means of Introducing 1t into
the Public Schools" Professor S. G.. Fer
rim of Manchester spoke on this The next
topic was " The Physical Training of La
dies" discussed by Miss Annie l.. Thomson
of Johnson. Miss Marian E. Blake of Bos-
ton spoke on Physical Training for Speak
ing and Reading" and Professor George
A. Williams of Saxtons River, on Military
Training" In the evening there was an-
other social hour at Bethany church, fol-
lowed by lecture on Personal Culture"
by Dr. c. Wesley Emerson, president OF
the Emerson College of Oratory of Boston.
The church was well filed, and the audi
ence was rewarded by hearing lecture of
rare interest and value. W. A. Briggs, or
ganst of the church, rendered choice music
during the evening.
Saturday morning was devoted princi-
pally to business. Professor F. H. Dewart,
for the committee on the Huntington fund
reported to the effect that the present use
of the income of the fund does not carry out
the spirit and intent OF the testator and as
serted that this would be done if the in
come were devoted to the direct improve
ment Of the schools along lines not reached
by taxation, as by establishing libraries.
The report was unanimously adopted. Ex-
aminer l. p. Booth reported for the COM
mittee on the organization and revision OF
the constitution. Suggestions of improve
ment were made by the convention, and
the committee will make further revision
and report at the next convention. Pro-
fessor E. +. Conant reported for the legis-
lative committee This committee made
five recommendations, which were adopted
by the association. The first was that
teachers be allowed, by statute, to attend
the state convention without loss of time.
The second was that the town system be
adopted. The third favored free text books
The fourth advised that the interest on the
United States deposit fund and the Hun
tington fund be used for the establishment
of public libraries. The fifth proposed that
the state superintendent and county exam
ers be allowed at their discretion, to sub
stitute summer schools Of two or three
weeks length for county institutes, and
that two or more counties be permitted to
unite in such schools. 1t was voted that
the schools ought generally to observe Oc-
tober 2l with patriotic exercises.
The following officers were then elected:
President, A. II. Campbell Vice presi-
dents-Addison county, Q. G. Davis Ben
nington, A. G. Ferrin; Caledonia, W. f.
Ranger Chittenden, j. Cilley; Essex,
j. II. Parsons; franklin L. w. Jenne; La
moille, w. A. Beebe; Orange n. j. White
hill Orleans, B. q. Day; Rutland, Elmer
f. Howard; Washington, o. d. Mathew
sun W ihuhah, VI "a w lllldIlSi WlnusOrI
Guy George; secretary, f. X. Graves;
treasurer, q. II. Morrill,; executive commit
tee, A. c. Ferrin, o. d. Mathewson. C, S.
Davis.
Professor A. G. Ferrin for a committee,
offered the following resolutions, which
were adopted: ResolUed, That the thanks
OF this association be extended to the peo-
pie of Montpelier, to the school board, and
to 5. j. Blanpied for their hearty cooper
alton; TO Bethany church for the use OF its
beautiful edfce, and to Professor Briggs
for the rare musical treat given to the as
sociation; also to the speakers who have
addressed the association; that the subject
OF physical cnl'ure should receive more at
tention in our public schools; that the inn
portance and neral excellence of the
meetings of the association call for greater
interest, loyalty and cooperation on the
part OF the teachers of Vermont; that the
secretary of the association be instructed to
make application to the legislature at its
next session for articles of incorporation for
this association"
The last exercise of the convention was a
lecture by DR.. Paul III. Hauus OF Harvard
College on THE Study of Education and
Teaching" II was most valuable paper.
The speaker dwelt particularly on the value
OF knowledge of psychology TO the teacher
and on the Importance OF understanding the
history OF the theory and practice of educa-
ton as well as the bearing of presant edu-
cational methods. It was. In short an APP
peal TO teachers to study their profession In
the true scientific manner. AT the close OF
his lecture DIR, Hanus explained the courses
in peidgOgio3 II HWv trd. The G 'sntion
adjourned few minutes before noon.