Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-07-15
THE SUMMER SCHOOL.

he sixth annual session of the
lnty Summer School was opened
Beavers hall on Monday last, the
endance not being as large as here
pre-. The fact that there are schools
nned for both Caledonia and La
lille counties tends to diminish the
endance here, but the smaller num-
will be advantageous to the class
School was opened by singing,
scripture reading and prayer by
". W.E.Douglass, then a few words
welcome were given. Judge L. III.
|ompson, president, addressed the
hool at some length, giving some
ry pertinent suggestions and
bughts on education and the meth
of teaching. He favored thor
gh knowledge of rudimentary
inches. He objected to literary
amming. The object of study is not
much to stuff the mind with facts
to enable it to discriminate and to
able to make use of those things
Rich shall be useful in the affairs of
Il. He asked his hearers to do their
Fn thinking and to beware of the
bbies of other people. This led him
remark on certain hobbies which
hchers and book publishers had had
the last few years; spoke of the
ADJ that had done away with the
b methods of spelling and substitute
the dictation method, by which, as
hs shown, it was impossible to do
[y satisfactory work. He believed
uch more could be done by the old
e-the- line method. In speaking of
aiding, he thought the present schools
ere turning out a class of very poor
aders. Too little ime is being de-
Dted to the matter; teachers have
ot themselves been taught to read,
Id the modern text books contain no
lies for reading. Reading is one of
le most important things; it is the
ey which unlocks all knowledge. Mr..
thompson spoke of the fact that some
ooks had appeared which made the
,quirement of knowledge SO easy
lat very little knowledge has been
lined. He reminded teachers that
le law provides that the pupil shall
: instructed in manners and morals.
ne Importance of this sort of teach
g is considered very great. He clos
with a few words of encouragement
} the teacher.
4 committee on nominations was ap-
ointed and the regular work of the
,rm was begun. State Snperintend
ut Stone was present to have the
eneral control of affairs, while Prin-
pal Andrews of Derby Academy is
charge. Mr.. Day, long a teacher
the county but now superintendent
schools in Northampton, Mass. with
mother teacher from Massachusetts,,
ere present at the opening.
The first subject taken up was
School Management" by Mr.Fletch-
: of the Mass. Board of Education,
-ho said at the late hour of the hot
fternoon he would make no extend
address. The school, he said, was
OF created for the officers or the
sachers, but for the scholars. This
lould be remembered and the
nought should be for them. School
can be improved a great
cal by constantly interviewing them.
heir attention will be turned to the
,hool per force. Teachers should
nd out the condition of the school
-hich they are to teach, and should
ecome in sense political power in
ne district, in order to have an inf1u-
nee which shall be helpful in the
1ings of the school. She should be
rompt in her attendance, exact in
er department, thoroughly self-pos-
esseds and we'll equipped for her
-ork. She will do we'll to remember
ol. Parker's statement, that "the
chool room is not cemetery, but a
The next subject was Language, +"
reated by Miss Bertha Holbrook of
ne Arlington Height, Mass, High
chool. The lateness of the hour
more than the presentation
( an outline of the work she intend
d to do. She gave suggestions as to
lass work, spoke of the benefit of
reating an interest and enthusiasm
j the pupil.