Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1895-01-31
Orange County Teachers Institute.

Orange County Teachers Institute.
The teachers institute opened Tuesday
morning with fair attendance OF the in
structors in Orange county, and there
were also present a few from windsor
county, including the teachers OF the
Bethel graded school. At the morning
session, devotional exercises were con-
Quoted by County Examiner F. E. Prich'
ard of Newbury, who delivered helpful
address on the subject of "Charactei
Building" A few informal remarks were
then made by Mr.. e. l.. Bass, Prof. N. j
Whitehill and Mr.. A. w. Edison, state
agent of the Massachusetts, Board OF Edu'
cation. Miss Martha Ross, being unable
to be present on account OF her work In
the st. Johnsbury Academy, her paper on
drawing" was necessarily omitted
"Arithmetic" was the topic discussed by
Mr.. Edison, who brought forward origi-
nal and practical ideas for the teaching ol
that important study. BY means Of
wooden figures, he showed how easily 9
pupil could be made to understand the
principles of measurements, and how BY
lifting a pound of shot, child could
learn by experience the meaning OF Q
pound. State Superintendent NJ. s
Stone OF Montpelier gave an interesting
talk on the different methods OF
teaching "Reading,n and showed most
clearly that the most approved method
was theThought, or Com animation, method
which insures fuency, naturaIness and
agreeableness OF tone. The session closed
with question box, the answers to the
many questions being aptly given by Sn-
perintendent Stone and MIR. Edison. In
the afternoon, the schoolroom was crowd
ed with teachers and those interested in
educational matters. The addresses were
Of a helpful and suggestive nature, and
were all the more valuable that the ideas
to be Cleaned from them were those oil
practical and successful educators. "Lan-
guage," the first topic on the program,
was presented by Mr.. Edison, WHO out
lined practical methods for teachers ia
follow in this branch of their work. He
emphasized the necessity of oral exercis-
es and thought that pupils should be ear
ly taught to use pen instead OF pencil,
He urged his hearers to teach some one
thing definitely Tell the children what
they are 10 do, how they are to do 1t and
why they are to do it. He also gave lit
tie dissertation on the use OF the word debt
instead Of trespass in the Lords Prayer,
and made it seem by the ground he took
that his methods of ecclesiastical instruc-
ton might possibly be called in question.
"School Government" had been assigned
to Superintendent Stone, who divided it in
to legislative, judicial and executive de-
partments. Good government depends
upon the teacher, who should be possessed
of large amount of common sense, good
moral character and executive ability.
The guide and instructor OF youth will al
so find it handy to be "wise as serpent
and harmless as dove,nto have the steady
gaze of meditative lion and an Impress
i've foreinger. The primary object OF
good government is to ensure discipline,
and one way to attain that end is to keep
the scholars busy or they will be apt to
keep their governor busy. The last topic
to be discussed was "Topical Teaching"
by Mr.. Edison, who pointed out the diff
ference between school keeping and school
and defined the latter as pre-
senting the thing to be known so that
the children may come to know it by their
own thinking. GAN profitable study is
mental disputation," and the highest
teaching is that which stimulates thought
on the part OF the pupil. He gave practi-
cal suggestions for the teaching of geogra-
ply and history by topics, and urged the
leachers, in review exercises, to show the
relation OF the subjects to each other. A
question box closed the session. Vocal
selections enlivened both the morning
ind afternoon exercises, the solo by
Harry Hubbard being especially fine. AT
,he mass meeting OF citizens in the even
ny, Dubois & Gays hall was well filled
with people who listened intently to the
of the speakers. Music was fur
lished by quartette, composed OF A. G.
Bailey, Mrs. Charles Tewksbury, Miss
Harriet Smith and A. H. Beedle. County
Examiner Prichard presided, and the first
speaker to be introduced was Senator II.
W. Bailey OF Newbury, who thought that
he teachers in their ability to teach far
the people in their ability to be
aught. The great thing now needed to
ADVANCE the public schools is not better
eachers but better cooperation on the
part OF the community with the teachers.
lie told of the struggles shat attended the
passage OF the text book law and urged
he people to unite in their school work as
n every other line of business. Follow
ng Mr.. Bailey came Mr.. Edison, who spoke
If the vast improvement in the Randolph
chools during the past sixteen years, and
)aid aigraceful compliment to Prof. White
ill, in which he voiced the sentiments OF
he assembly as was evinced by the hearty
applause, and none showed greater salts
action at the well. deserved words of COM
nendation than the professors past and
present pupils. The next legislature, Mr..
1dson thought. would not even consider
he district system SO we'll would the town
ystem by that time have met the require
nents OF the school question. He con-
rasted the old methods of teaching with
he new to the advantage of the latter.
he difficulty in securing good teachers |
e attributed to the fact that SO many oc- |
upations are now open to women, offer |
ng them easier employment and better
Rlaries than school directors are willing
. pay. The result is obvious. The wages
I teachers, and especially primary teach.
RS, must be increased. Professional train
lg should be insisted upon, and the pro-
element in teaching should be
xalted. His remarks were excellent and
lade plain to the citizens their part la
ne general prosperity OF the schools.
uperintendent Stone closed the meeting.
1owing himself to be in hearty sympathy
18th the speakers preceding him, and the
rye audience dispersed, feeling more
ian ever inspired to make Randolph re.
arkable for her progressive and we'll
lstained schools. Messrs. prichard, Ed
IN, Bailey and Stone drove that night to
helsea and yesterday held an institute in
'ashington.