Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-08-03

/ suCu as We al Oc5iEcO W huoW' OhC
thing which particularly impressed
Us was the idea that the islanders
were never able to unite TO form a
nation by reason of the numerous
dia ects and their inability to under
stand one another, even those who
| live at a distance of a few miles.
people living on one side of the river
cannot converse with those on the
other side; for distance of twenty
Eve miles the dialect might be in use,
but there would be a change and
beyond that perhaps the people could
not communicate with each other to
any extent. He spoke of the exorbi
tant taxes imposed by the Spanish
and the bloodshed and carnage in the
islands during their occupancy.
The islanders are lacking in mental
capacity. Their powers of observa-
ton and imitation are good, but they
cannot reason in any degree. They
are naturally deceltful, and consider
it weakness TO state facts frankly.
They learn readily to memorize, they
are natural artists, mechanics, and
musicians. They are lazy and will
not cultivate their land nor do any
work except what they must to live.
He stated that many of the women
are larger than the men. He spoke
of the necessity of our governments
retaining the islands, for many
reasons. Our commercial relations
demand it, they are an outlet for our
manufactures, they give us access to
China, Japan, and the Orient, they
afford US advantages from military
point of view in case of war, giving
US, together with England and Japan,
in case of need, better opportunity
to prevent the encroachment of
Russia, and the seizure of Chinese and
Corean territory by that power.
Mr.. Stone is a fluent speaker, and
he enlivened his subject with sallies
of wit or pleasantly which added
much to the enjoyment of his lecture.
Barton people will always welcome
him here.
Francis A. Bagnall, supt., of schools
> at Adams, Mass, has delivered sew
eral fine addresses on the subject of
history at the summer school session
during the week closed. He would
begin the teaching of history in the
primary grade by the use of stories
begin it early for the study of history
b. is the study of life-adapt the story
with its facts to the comprehension
8 of the child-repeat it until it is fixed
D in the child's memory-have him re-
produce the history stories in his own
q language, an exercise which will de-
velop the powers of expression and
fix more firmly the important facts
J. Some of the aims of history are LIST
information, I'd culture, Sd develop
ment of character, 4th development
= of public spirit. The phases of history
: upon which he dwelt were: political
religious, Industrial, including com.
. MERGE, social-the family and educa
: tional. Some of the aims in the use
of stories in teaching the children
: history are to stimulate their imagin'
q alton, acquaint them with placer
. where the events took place, arous.
), interest in the subject and cultivate
: right feelings. His ideas of thu
N essentials of a good story were these
D, simple, in the sense of being plain tt
% be understood, elevating in mora
&c tone, instructive, and complete an
& connected as a whole. He advise'
DIT the use of myths, like the Greel
IN classics, fables, etc., and old storie
l. which have come down from forme
CT times, and are valuable as the "sur
u vival of the fittest," together wit
true stories about heroes and impor
30 tant historic events.
IN He urged upon the teachers tn
ne necessity of cultivating their abilit
IL. to tell stories in an interesting man
7e ner, as an accomplishment whic
ne would make them more efficient
O; their work in teaching. Good stor
Us telling is high art, and can only
u acquired by much study and prae
~ tice. All enjoy stories, not only til
n children but adults, and he advised
ne continuance of story work up {.
er least to the intermediate grad
"a Many very helpful hints were give
Ter to teachers which our space forbit
all mentioning; enough, however, b:
ed been reported to give something of q
est idea of the excellent work which NJ
KS Bagnall has been doing.
n