Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-30

fix the fact taught.
Each sebject should be thorough,
taught before q new subject is intro
duced. Analysis of simple kline
should be emphasized in the drill
work. Routine analysis and parsing
formal and mechanical, should be sell
dom employed.
On Tuesday evening, Supt. I. F
Hall Of Arlington, Mass, gave very
interesting lecture on "Self Educa-
ton" Mr.. Hall has been connected
with schools many years and feels
that his long experience fits him in
some degree to speak on educational
matters. The following is only brief
outline:
All education is in a sense self ed
ucatiOn. Education is not entirely
the filling of the mind with knowl-
edge, nor is it gained by accretion.
The word education comes from the
Latin educo, meaning, lead out.
The more personal force we exer-
else in the world the more we accom-
plish. What is the energy back of q
closed fist? It is the will, IF lead out
energy it must be manifest in action.
Mental power is developed by the ex
ercise of mental faculties. Persist
ence is important. Energy must be
led out over and over again. 1t should
be led or directed in right lines under
right conditions. The steamer must
be steered in the right direction or it
founders on the rocks or the hidden
shoals.
There should be no drifting. Every
thing in true and rational education
should be consistent. The energy
within must be led out; the day Of
guidance under the eye of the school
master must soon pass away. We
must work for ourselves.
Develop training and self
teaching faculties in the child as
soon as possible. There is tendency
in schools not to educate our pupils to
self teaching and training. The
speaker referred to the condition of
the scholar after leaving school and
remarked that observation takes the
highest place in self education. OBJ
underlies all good educa-
tiol. The value of keen observation
was referred to and instances related
where the sharp observer won places
Of profit. Train the power of observ
alton in every direction. Told story
Of man who had never observed
that the moon rose in the day time
until one day he made the discovery
and was thrown into a state OF alarm
over an event of such strange signifi-
him.
There must be strenuous eXertion
If the faculties in order to discover
he beauties and mysteries in that
which surrounds Us. The poet, by d
sharp conception discovers beauties
md mysteries which other minds do
lot see. We try to see everything
instead Of something, or the things
We ought to see. In speaking, as in
eeing, one is liable to speak careless |
y. Told a story of a gentleman who
vas travelling towards Montpelier and
topped to inquire the way. A man
whom he accosted gave him full and
explicit directions in regard to the
DAD and the right and left turns that |
we're very confusing, but a boy of
whom he soon inquired, told him to
follow the telegraph wire" We |
hould observe important things.
Ie spoke of Wendell Phillips and his
'oWer of cultivating his observation
n single lines, so much SO as to be
allied "the man of one idea" Phil
ps declared that he had two ideas
negro and rum"
We gain education by the process
f thinking and comparing. He told
story of man who discovered by
0oking at several kinds of potatoes at
he market that one kind only was
rec from signs of rot, and made a
small fortune by the purchase of
II that sort he could buy. Men get
lch> by observing and comparing.
Vebster's remarkable power, as facts
howed after his death, resulted from
ne habits of close observation and
ard thinking during all the years of
is life. He waited his opportunity
nd used his accumulated powers at
he proper time. None know what
leir opportunities may be.
Much is gained by the use of books.
cad good books, but do not read too
luch. Train yourself by thinking
sading, studying and the calling out
the mental faculties. Read for two
lrposes- information and inspira-
on. Reading for inspiration will