Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1897-08-12

Inc trouble with our schools, he says,
is that our ideals are not high enough.
| We should get the best out Of the chill
dren every time and be satisfied with moth
| ing less.
He asked the teachers how meny of
them could think three, then four, then
five and it was found that five or six is
about as far as anybody can really think
numbers separately. On what a narrow
foundation then Is built the vast fabric Of
our mathematical computations.
Such being the case it is easy to see the
importance that attaches to the teaching
of these elementary numbers.
In regard to what school training should
accomplish for the child, Miss Partridge
set the standard high. He should acquire
the power to do, the power to attend and
the power of self-control. By far the more
important question is how TO secure the
child's voluntary attention to the work
done by himself.
In order to learn this self government,
by which alone will he ever become edu
Gated, be must, TO a certain extent, be left
to himself during preparation time. Now
when the pupil takes his seat after recita-
tions what is to take the place of your
personal will in his control? Only one
thing and that is the subject itself. Then
the first requisite OF that subject is that it
be intensely interesting.
MIR. Bagnall's talk on American History
Iihhg LlbInlnB Was bil llG SIOhln VI luO
Union from 1860 to 1888.
In the afternoon period Mr.. Bagnall be-
gan with the teachers preparation for his
tory work. That preparation must be
thorough so far as a knowledge and class
ification of facts is concerned, and also
consists of good accumulation of illus
trations.
Use topics, teaching the pupils how to
look up answers to these, and thus teach
ing them also how to use books-an es-
sential part of good training.
Supt. Nash gave his second talk on
Arithmetic Friday morning. The ele-
ments of all things are simple, therefore
begin everything in number work in the
very first years. Lead on step at time.
IL pupil does not understand, do not ex-
plain but begin back and, step by step,
lead up to the subject again.
No schoolroom is properly furnished
without a set of weights and measures.
Remember the individual in your work
and do not make the same demands on all.
Mr.. Commits method of studying Civil
Government is very simple and practical.
Begin early, teaching the rudiments OF
this study, and do not hurry to the use OF
a text book. First study the government
OF the town. Proceed next to the county, |
then to the state and last of all the gov
eminent OF our country.
The study OF the constitution OF the
United States connects itself with all life
and with all history. And to study the |
rights of all tends to steady the character /
of the pupil and to settle in his mind .
rightly those great questions that have to
do with the relation OF the government to
those governed.
In her last talk on the control of the pu-
pills in their seats Miss Partridge gave some
practical suggestions as to how this may |
be done. She showed the secret to be in
giving clear directions 9s to general work,
and then in having on hand an abundance /
OF what she called "kntting work." for
spare moments when pupils finish work
before recitation time.
One practice, that of competition with
each other, she condemned utterly. The
only competition worthy OF holding up
before the pupils is with mis- past self.
Saturday morning Supt. Nash also fin
ished his work with the teachers here. He
gave general review of his treatment of
work from the beginning
through. Use simple numbers first until
principles are well established. Give much
more time and the best time to mental
Work hard at it every day,
but not more than fifteen minutes at
time, for it is close work.
Our new board OF instructors, with
which we started Monday morning, is
made up as follows: A. w. Edison, Agent
OF the State Board OF Education, Worces-
ter, Mass, School Management and Read
ing; Miss Angelina Pearsons, Drawing; 4
Prin. Edwin H. Whitehiil, Woodstock,
Miss Mary Phinney, Montpe.
lier, Music.
Mr.. Edison spoke first on the teacher
herself-his ideal teacher. He has seen
many good ones but never his ideal yet.
But he is still looking for her and when
be sees her he will recognize her by these
II, broad and liberal edu-
cation; 2, professional training; 3, good
4 a !
), originality; z, energy; s, strong viii; 3,
patience and perseverance; 10, tact; IL, /
willing spirit; u, moral character. These
ire some of his directions as to the means ,
% approach to this perfection: By Guilt
yating enthusiasm, by putting study and /
thought into the work, by studying the |
,hild by reading, by attending education ,
with prominent men and /
women in this work.
On the subject of language Mr.. White ,
lill spoke first OF the different kinds of
language besides the spoken-of nature, !
IT art, of gesture. We interpret all such I
anguage according to our training. Lam /
,uage is science; it is also an art. :
The teachers preparation for this work !
houId be the study of the child's mind :
md of language itself and should also I
consist in the actual doing of much that is
equired of tie child. %
M ISIS PeArSOnS ana MISS Inlnney began 5
heir work Monday afternoon. Both in 1
their subjects in general way, I
irving some practical Illustrations of their :
using the teachers as class. s
diss Phinney is to have a class of chill
ren with which she will work before the
chuol.
MIR. Edison spoke the first period Tues r
ay morning on Reading and the first OF
he afternoon on school management.
Reading, he said, is thinking. The ap-
of the thought and the feeling
4 the writer are both essential to good z
eading. This truth should be kept in s
1ind in all teaching OF reading.
In his outline of School Management he
ave some directions as to how teacher )
nay get a position and as to the best 4
Method of procedure on the first day OF a
lew school. A good deal depends in both a
ases on going to work in business-ike 4
ray. Both the school directors and the !
hildren can appreciate the difference be-
Ween the one way and the other, and us
ally act accordingly.
Miss Pearsons took up the subject OF
olor in the drawing class Tuesday, and
" charts and samples gave something OF
q idea how to teach standard colors and
heir hues, tints and shades. The after q
DON talk was on object drawing. d