Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-08-04
SUMMER SCHOOL.
Orange County Teachers Meet For
Instruction.


The Orange county summer school 70
teachers was called to order at 3 o'cIoc
Monday by County Examiner Fred Z
Prichard of Bradford. Mason s. Stone
state superintendent of education. wei
coined the teachers with few well -chos
EN- words. speaking of the excellent worl
they we're doing and the lines in whicl
improvement would be welcomed. 1t i
his earnest wish that nature -study be EN-
phasized more and that the children b,
taught to notice the changes and beauty
OF nature to a greater degree.
Prot. A. w. Edison of New York city
was then introduced and gave the frs
lesson in language. He spoke of the worC
Language" as having two distinct mean.
ings- being faculty OF the mind, ano
the study OF certain subject. As study
It develops thought and expression ano
tends to cultivate pure literary taste
The child should have the use Of at least
one unabridged dictionary and the teach
er should have several reference hooks
Composition work is of great value and il
is well to let the child personify the sub
iect when possible, as it develops the
originality.
Ar. Charles M. Campbell next gave a
short talk on drawing, in which he spoke
OF the deficiency OF art studies in the
schools, so far as the development of true
taste is concerned, and lamented the fact
that we have no distinctive American type
OF art, as ours is mostly Initiative. In
drawing as in any study that relates TO
the development OF taste there are certain
fundamental laws which a teacher needs
to know and follow. Mr.. Campbell closed
his talk with an outline OF the work in
drawing for the term.
Tuesday, the school opened with devo-
tional exercises, followed by a talk on
arithmetic by Mr.. Edison. The modern
idea OF arithmetic is that 1t is moi so prac-
tical as 1t was once thought to be. Num-
bers are taught first instead of figures and
small numbers are preferred to large ones
as the principles are as we'll illustrated,
and rapidity and accuracy are obtained at
the same time. The CRUDE system should
be used but not emphasizing those num-
bers we have little use for, or fractions
whose denominators are not multiples.
Deal thoroughly with one method OF do
ing work, and that the most practical one.
There is far too much written, and not
enough mental, arithmetic taught as by
means OF the latter the same result can be
reached more quickly.
The second period was taken by Mr. Ed
ward Conant on grammar. The purpose
OF this study is to enable us to think clear
ly OF what we speak, read and write. The
unit OF spte III is q sentence and the ele-
ments are the words, SO the mere uttering
Of words is not in itself speech. Analysis
should not be confounded with parsing,
as analysis has lido with the unit Of
speech, while parsing has to do with the
elements OF that unit. Analysis begins
with the sentence, then with the chief
word, and then with the modifiers of that
chief word, while parsing takes up the
words in their order.
The last period OF the morning was oc-
cupied by Mr.. Campbell on drawing. He
spoke OF children being fond of color and
interested in associations and how these
two things should be used in choosing OBJ
iects for them to draw. Have new things,
new shapes and new kinds and color OF
paper to interest them. Placa the paper
to suit the object to be drawn and never
put things in the center OF the paper or
have equal divisions of space. Do not
give perspective rules until about the
sixth grade. Show the pupils how dis
tance changes the apparent size and
height of the object, and show the differ
ence in the appearance when the object is
held above and below the level OF the eye
and how every point above or below the |
level OF the eye will tenS to go toward a
line on level with it.
The first period OF the afternoon was |
taken by Miss Lizzie Allen on reading. |
She spoke of the manner in which the |
child's pets and playtbings can be made
link between the home and school, by |
having him bring some OF them and talk
aoout them for the first reading lessons.
In this study as in others 1t is best to
make haste slowly" teaching only two
DR. three words the second week and being
sure the child expresses his thoughts in
complete sentences. Miss Allen had a
class from the lower grade of the primary /
md show ed many methods OF keeping up
she interest while teaching.
L..
BY Mr.. Edison in which he gave many
He thinks that there should
be regular time each Gay Tor this study
ind that the lesson should be explained in
advance. Always encourage originality
and insist on connective and progressive
work. Use simple words and short sem
ences and use care in the writing, spelling
Ind punctuation, avoiding repetition and
he use of superlatives. 1t is well to have
pecimens of the best work on exhibition
is it touches the child's pride and iucit IS
lim to do better.
Mr.. Campbell gave lesson in drawing
Turing the last period, in which he again
poke of the value of interesting objects.
lie has many drawings taken from graded
md ungra6ed schools that he uses to IL
ustrate his methods and the results that
an be obtained. The greater part OF the
ime was taken by the teachers in draw
ng.
Wednesday, the same order was followed
IS on the preceding day, Mr.. Edison
peaking first on arithmetic. After
hort review of the work of the day be-
ore, be spoke Of the value of objects in
eaching numbers and their combsna-
ions. Always have the child do the work
nd handle the objects himself and not
imply watch the teacher; and use the OBJ
ects until the child has a clear-cut pic
ure OF the whole. Teach the child why
le is to take certain studies, as in arith-
netic the observation, memory, express
ion and Imagination are cultivated. Drill
In fundamental operations
nd ensist that there be no hesitation and
10 mistakes, as rapidity and accuracy
hould always go hand in hand.
Mr.. Campbell began the drawing lesson
nth talk on the primary and secondary
olors and their combinations, how tints
re produced by mixinga color with white
nd shades by mixing It with black. Diff
arent kinds Of grasses were brought in
nd the teachers drew them in colors.
luch benefit is derived from these les
ons as the teachers do the work them
alves with the excellent aid OF MI. Camp
ell.
During the third period, Mr.. Conant
sctured on grammar, first mentioning