St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-05-09
TEACHERS HERE.
Greater Vermon' AN"
County Teachers MeetiDg'


The Caledonia county teachers took a
vacation Monday and Tuesday to attend
on Monday the meetings arranged oy
Mason S. Stone, state superintendent o.
education, in the interests OF elementary
agriculture, and on yesterday the annua
sessions OF the Caledonia Educationa
Association.
The meetings opened Monday after
noon in the North church, where over
100 teachers had assembled. W. b.
TAYLOR, the county sup rvisor, intro
duced Cap E. Miller OF SIgourney' Iowa.
to the audience as an expert on the
teaching of agriculture, and he warmly
advocated in his address, elementary
education in the public schools. de ao'
vised the teachers to have the children
tell about their gardens, what they
planted, and their success in agriculture
He dwelt at length upon the value OF
raising good corn, and OF how one school
had garden for testing seed corn
Supt, Dempsey followed with a care
fully prepared and inspiring paper on the
relation of nature study to agriculture,
referring to it as the relation OF ante.
cedent to consequent, OF parent TO on
spring. de mentioned three very oehnite
relations, the practical or unitarian; its
contribution to the practical side OF
agriculture, and the invaluable knowl-
edge OF the real reason tor the things ne
sees about him; and beyond the practi'
cal value and interest that must be &C.
corded nature study, is its 9sthetic value
Mr.. Miller folio wed with another talk,
showing at this time many photographs
of what had been accomplished in Iowa
schools in elementary agriculture. Have
the children collect specimens OF wood,
have then plant seeds in the schoolroom
and encourage them to get near to
nature.
Supt. Stone made the interesting
announcement that through the kindness
OF Mrs. Frederick Billings her Woodstock
es ate would be open to the teachers this
summer for a summer school OF agricul-
ture and tor a school Of manaul training.
The superintendent of the farm, George
T. Aitken, who is also the secretary Of
the Vermont Board OF Agriculture would
have charge OF the school. Through the
lib, rality OF another Woodstock lady a
teacher # manual training would be
provided for and Mr.. Wahlstrom of the
School OF Ethical Culture in New York
had been engaged.
The afternoon program closed with
briet addresses bv Arthur F. Stone and
Rev. A. F. Walch, the former speaking on
forestry and the latter on the utility and
practicability of such conferences as
these.
The evening session was held in Music
Hall and the general theme Was Greater
Vermont" Music was furnished by a
male quartet consisting of Messrs, W.
b. ano S. D. Atwood, Mackay and Par.
ker, and H. N. Turner presided. Mr.
Turner SAID that Vermont was not great
in area, population or output OF agri
cultural and industrial products as COM
pared to many other states, but her
greatness consisted more particularly in
her manhood and womanhood. His refer.
ence to the two great men S.. Johnsbury
had furnished the Philippines brought
out hearty applause.
Gov. Bell SAID be appreciated what
marble and granite were doing to make
Vermont rich and famous, but he was
happy to say that agl iculture was the
great thing in Vermont. He spoke u
the diversified agricultural products anC
specified the states most noted products
maple sugar and apples. About A pei
cent of all the maple sugar n the United
States comes from this state and Yer
mont apples command the highest price
in the Boston and New York markets
In 1899 Vermont furnished more dairy
products than all the other new England
States combined. He said the sheep had
made almost every farmer in Addison
and Rutland county rich, and the Nor
gan horse was worth more to the state
than all the automobiles.
Editor Frank l.. Creme OF the St. AL
bans Messenger SAID Vermont Was once
a great industrial state and was des
tined to become great again. He dwell
at length upon the early history of the
state. In those days iron, copperas
soapstone, marble, lead and even minera
paint were some OF the products of thu
soil and husbaLdry was secondary
feature OF Vermont life.
He said that over 40 per cent Of thu
people born in Vermont live else where
and he believed we ought to get them
back, and also keep what we have got
He believed that tie new Vermont
would come when iealousies were re-
moved and the people got together.
Mr.. Miller said he was gong back to
Iowa to tell the people that they must
wake up aud not let Vermont get ahead
OF them in patriotism and love OF their
state.
Supt. Stone said that this was the
opening OF a series OF revival meetings
The people OF Vermont must not get self.
satisfied, but must remember that one
out OF every 20 under ten years old can
neither read nor write.
The evenings program closed with a
reception at The Fairbanks Museum.
Tuesday was devoted to the sessions
of the teachers association with Supt
Dempsey in charge of the meetings
From 9 to II the teachers visited the
various grades at the Summer street
SummervilIe and Maple street schools
where special work was given illustrat-
ing the regular curriculum.
AT II O'Clock Miss Amy B. Drake ex
planned the workings OF the Batavia
system from personal inspection OF the
schools there, while at the Summer street
schools Supt. Dempsey conducted con-
ference on moral training He asked the
teachers these questions:
n kor -