St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-11-29
TEACHERS CONVENTION.
Most Successful in Every Way.


Methodist church began with devotional
exercises led by Rev. Mr., lyric after
which the election OF officers and appoint
ment cfcommittees was attended to.
Prn. F, A. Bagnall spoke on school
libraries, pointing out the desirable quail
fcations for such institutions, and the
difficulties in securing just what is the
best. He referred to a printed list of
suitable books costing $25, which meets
many requirements. Other lists were
spoken of as better for more extensive
and classified libraries. The need of good
books was impressed, and the means
must be provided to get them. Vermont
is making great strides in this way, and
the state laws should be extended until
appropriations are made to start school
libraries But it will not be until the
teachers are thoroughly in earnest. A
poor mans university, the school library,
should be in every town, and there is no
town so poor that the money cannot be
coined to meet the need.
The influence of good and wholesome
literature on the child is great. The
teacher must be able to wisely direct the
reading of books,
Determine to have school library,
and take for your inspiration the words
of the late Prot Welsh:
Remember that man exists for culture.
not for what he can do, but for what can
be done in him. Seek, therefore, the sug-
gestion Of noble methods for the conduct
Of life; seek light upon the problems of
being-whence we are what we are,
whittier we tend. Seek just insights into
manners and characters, ideas and PIG
lures that raise men out Of the world of
barter and money; seek truth for truths
sake; beauty for the joys ofits charms;
goodness for the love of its divinity. So
shall you find that the sovereign books
are truly
A real world both pure and good,
Round which with tendrils strong as flesh
and blooi
Our passions and our happiness may grow"
A discussion followed, commenced by
Supt. Stone, He said that town libra
ries should contain the books most suit
able for the boys and girls, and thus
combine the town and school libraries.
Prof. Putney was then asked to make
some remarks and he referred to the fortu-
nate position of this town in having the
Athenaum open to the students, so that
the Academy had never tried to have a
library. He endorsed Supt. Stones ideas,
and thought the school and town
authorities should cooperate and pro-
vide a library open to the townspeople
and the schools.
Principal Kelly said the stimulus to
reading must come from within; that to
teach children to read and not teach
them what to read is crime. Children
should read to themselves silently in the
class and there ought also to be reading
at home. Several practical Illustrations
were cited to show what is being done
for children by well selected books
B. Frank Harris favored the audience
with a selection on the organ during a
short intermissiou.
What to Teach in Geography was the
subject of Chas. F. King of Boston. He
began by paying a tribute to the state OF
Vermont, and then dipped into his sub
ject by showing how necessary it is to
leave out things, as well as to include
Others. Omit tedious definitions. Geog-
raphy is grand and beautiful study. 4
good teacher can fill the children with
enthusiasm for it. He contrasted two
cases which came under his own observa-
ton, showing how modern methods are
better than the old fashioned exact,
mathematical, de6nitional method.
Another mistake is to lay too much force
on the making of maps. He showed
number of beautifully made maps drawn
in Boston which he said was how not
to make them. He suggested that the
printer should do the work for the chill
dren. Outline maps were shown and
advocated as useful and proper What
shall be done in thissubiect OF geography
was then taken up, Begin with nature,
field work Observation should 20 be-
fore other study. (lere the speaker read
selections from report on such work
Begin with some definite object out doors
near the school house and spend some
time studying it,
Working in this way the children get
to like the study Begin near at hand
and then broaden the view. Take the
country round about. He told how he
takes his school out, so pupils at a time,
to study thccountry Vermont is a great
geography state. The teachers here can
do much with little trouble. Take the
children out in school hours, not on Sat
urday, Teach the children to go out for
themselves and note what they see
(Here set of papers and maps prepared
by such class were shown) Every line
on these maps means something to the
child A name has been given to all this