Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-08-11
SUMMER SCHOOL.
Orange County Teachers Meet For
Instruction.

Thursday, after the devotional exercise
led by Rev. V. M Hardy, Mr.. Edison spok
on arithmetic. He gave many devices fo
drill In the fundamental rules, and EN-
phasized the fact that they are the mos
important of all. In teaching the young
er pupils take care never to teach wha
you will later be obliged to unteach. Civ
q great amount of work in shortsdivisioi
before long division is introducedias th
former is OF greater value, and In al
grades have many oral explanations, he
ing sure that the child makes correc
statements In good English. In fractions
II is very important that the pupils un
derstand the relation Of the parts to tn,
whole and why they do as they do in solv
ing the problems.
Mr.. Commits subject for the grammar
lesson was infections. He spoke OF the
great difference In grammars as relating
TO the number of cases of nouns, some
having three and others two. He prefers
the latter number, but thinks that toe
much attention should not be paid to the
difference In opinion OF grammars on
minor subjects. A great deal OF exercise
in telling the parts OF speech is OF benefit
to the younger children. One method is
to read from some book, allowing the pu-
pill to tell the part OF speech as the word
is pronounced and then after the sentence
is completed to make corrections.
Mr.. Campbell took up the subject of de-
sign for the drawing lesson. In this we
have two helps, namely, nature and what
has been done by others, from which to
get suggestions but the true design should
come from the artists brain. After nam
ing the schools OF art ard giving few
definitions he asked the teachers to con-
ventionalize the yellow daisy and make a
design In colors.
The first period of the afternoon was
taken by Miss Allen with a lecture on
reading. For the first grade pupils be sure
to keep list of the words taught and
often have them go over this list rapidly.
Phonics are great help in teaching read
ing and certain amount of time should
be given to them, using familiar words
and taking care that the period be a
pleasant one. When books are used, have
the pupil study the lesson before reading
and help him with the unfamiliar words.
Take little time to talk with the chill
dren about the subject OF the lesson and
after 1t is read have them tell the story in
their own words. The children Miss AL
len WAS expecting did not come so she
took some OF the teachers as substitute
and conducted q reading lesson.
Mr.. Edison began the language lesson
|with talk on how to correct written
work. Always have the pupil make an
be spoken OF before the composition is
begun, as in no oti3er way can a complete,
systematic essay b40Ptained. Paraphras-
ing is an excellenf< exercise If properly |
done, but do not allow the child TO follow |
the words of the book too closely.
In drawing Mr.. Campbell took the SUBJ |
ject OF conventionalization. The young |
child will not conventionalize SO 1t is not |
best to ask him to, but give work in IL
lustratiDg stories and games I'd that in
terests him and cultivates his imagina-
ton. AS usual, the greater part OF the |
time was taken In drawing.
Friday mornings work began as usual |
with lecture on arithmetic by Mr.. Ed
son, in which be spoke on many lines OF
work. He again emphasized the need OF
teaching the child to work rapidly and to
be careful about small things and correct
1t is well to have the problem
read, see what is involved in 1t and express
Il before doing the work. Teach factors
and multiples together and with small
numbers as their relation to each other is
best shown in this way. Do not teach the
rule and then do the problems but take
the problems and by reasoning lead up to
The rule. Our hope is that we may live to
zee the metric system in common use and
we should introduce the children to the
units OF measure in that system.
Mr.. Conant chose connectives as the
subject for the grammar lesson. His ad-
vice is, not to begin by telling pupils that
Did ways are wrong, but show them that
7ou can teach and teach well and they
will have confidence in whatever method
bends on our handling OF connectives
when we come to the study of sentences.
Mr.. Conant spoke first of the -ordinate
ind then of the subordinate connections
ind their uses.
In drawing, Mr.. Campbell spoke again
IN color. He defined harmony as the
,leasing com binstion OF colors and gave
he different Kinds He then requested
he teachers to design plaid, using col
'rs which harmonize.
In the afternoon Miss Allen gave many
devices OF the teaching of
eading. After few object words have
,een taught with "baven use the same :
words with esee" and then change the
'ronouns introducing adjectives as the
hid becomes able to grasp them. Give a
'reat amount OF drill in finding and rec
gnizing the words which have been
aught or they will soon be forgotten.
diss Allen closed the talk by conducting
class OF first grade pupils in reading.
Mr.. Edson occupied the second period
nth lesson on language. He advised
pending time on the study OF word forms
o as to get correctness in spelling and to
e especially careful in the use OF "may"
nd "can," ''shallr and ''will." Have the
upils use the dictionary, giving them as
many as six words from the reading les
on to find the meanings OF and several
oot words to find the suffixes and prefix
p The most important thought for the
eacher should be, "How can I instlI into
be minds of my pupils a desire for good
terarure ?" Try to get the pupils to read I
God books, for no mind can fail to be j
Iimulated by association with greater
linds, and to fill the mind with good
houghts is to leave no room for evil ones.
i've the pupils list of good books and :
squire them to read certain number out
school, giving credit for such work. Mr..
dson gave list of selections and books
'hich would be good for this kind of
.udy.
The third period was taken by drawing.
lr. Campbell devoted the subject of de-
gn into two parts, decorative and con- .
'ructive, taking for the subject Of the
sson the latter as being of great value to
1ltivate the taste, but not adopted to
'wer grades. One method for teaching
lis is to have the child draw the objects,
len cut them out and fasten upon a sheet
different colored paper, thinking of the
rtistic arrangement, and that to obtain
lis there should be unequal divisions OF