Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-10-16
TEACHERS IN WOODSTOCK.
Very Successful Meeting Of the State Associa-
tion Opens Thursday.

,. Very Successful Meeting Of the State Assocla
tion Opens Thursday.
The 4Sth annual meeting of thu
State Teachers Association opened
q in the Congregational church Thurs
Il day afternoon under most favorable
: auspices. The weather was per fec
and Woodstock's hundreds of visi-
$ tors, for whose reception ample ar
: rangements had been made by the
local committees, were able 10 see
the town with which they are all de-
lighted, at its best.
The annual meeting of the educa-
tors of the state is always notable
one. The aims of the Association
are for the Strengthening the educa-
tional system of the commonwealth
and to its intelligent efforts is due
the high standard attained in recent
years.
Nearly two hundred teachers
were present at the opening season.
at the Congregational church, Prin.
G. Fl. Morrill, of Bakersfield. presi-
dent of the Association, pre- siding,
and the utmost enthusiasm and in
terest was very evident. The
address of welcome was made by
Rev. +. Mcmillan and was happily
responded to b, Ctate SUPP MASON
S. Stone of Montpelier. The only
address of the season. was delivered
by Prin. Edward Ellery of Saxtons
River, whose subject was, ga Royal
Road to Learning" There was no
royal road to learning, he SAID; the
road should be of specified len 9Th
and he argued that four years of
preparation for college should be re
CURED. Intellectual training in less
time was impossible.
In the following discussion his
ideas We're combatted in a lively way,
the speakers being Supt. Jones and
Prin. Comstock of St. Johnsbury,
Prin. Dunbar of South Woodstock
and F. l.. Townsend of Barnard.
The evening session opened with
an organ solo by Mrs. S. B. Whit
ney of Boston. Master Winthrop
Ferguson choir boy from the
Church of the Advent, was to have
sung, but was prevented by illness.
The address by Prin. A. B. Craw-
ford of Bellows Falls, on ''rhe
Sense of Perspection in Education"
was an. exceedingly able and inte-
resting effort and was heard with the
closest attention. He said that we
need to recast our definition of edu-
cation. 1t is learning to do we'll
what we do not like to do. The
world is looking for results. Teacher
and parent should look ahead-at
the boy beyond, not here. Accuracy
and attention are required for the
attainment and success in life. The
power of habit is pillar of fire.
The habit of intellectual laziness
would unfit a boy for the most men
ial employment.
The meeting adjourned after
beautifully rendered soprano solo by +,
by Miss Bernce Fuller and an organ
solo by MIR. Whitney.
Later the annual meeting and ban
quet of the Schoolmasters' Club was
held at the Woodstock Inn. Prin.
w. Z. Ranger Of Johnson was toast
master and he proposed as COM
mon theme, expert Supervision in
Public Schools" introducing rs first
speaker Supt. Stone. The discus
sion was continued by Supt. |. F.
Hall of North Adams, Mass. Prin-
cipals Ellery, Comstock and Craw-
ford, and Rev. P. Mcmillan OF
Woodstock.
AT the business meeting Prn. E.
II. Whitehill of Woodstock was
ele, ted president. Supt. ]. l.. Alger
of Bennington. Prin. d. Y. Com
stock of St. Tohnsbury and Prin. N.
]. Whtehill of Montpelier were
elected members of the executive
committee and F. E. Pritchard of
Bradford was chosen secretary and
treasurer. 1t was voted to hold the
next meeting in Burlington on Fast
day.
Following the devotional exercises
at Friday mornings session came
business meeting at which a number
of committees were appointed. The
President IN his address, "Concern-
ing Our Association" outlined the
objects and scope of the organization.
"A Neglected Elective" was the
subject of an address by Prin. II. X.
Whitaker of Brattlcboro, the speaker
making plea for. individual in
struct,on and urging that allowance
should be made for the individual
needs of the pupil.
Supt. Kelley of Hudson, Mass,
spoke on "The School and Society,""
and the colslng address was by Pnn.
Comstock of St. .Johnsbury on "The
Teachers Greater Field"
The report of the remainder of the
sessions is deferred until next week.
The meetings. thus far have been
largely attended and enthusiastic
and the convention is one of the
most successful IN years.
Brothers n Get for the First Time.
A somewhat unusual incident is
noted by The Ages Bridgewater
Centre correspondent concerning
two brothers-Chester Baker, aged
oe, and Hiram, Is years old. They
have always lived within forty miles
OF each other and yet met tor the
first time recently IN Bridgewater.
AY,op q water vi1la2G.