St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-10-09
WATERFORD.
Educational Meetings

Two educational meetings wero .,
at the church at Lower Waterfosa neld
Tuesday, Oct. 1, 1907. Abou+ A0 on
tended the teachers meeting in the as d..
noon in which the district superir +a.el'
ent, Harvey Burbank of DanyilIe s .euu'
of the policy which he hopes to sa apoke
ried through to success in the ScSe eaT-
during the school year closing new T I,,
Mason S. Stone of Montpelier J Stt
superintendent of education goT STATE
very interesting and helpful adde's
school work and school conditions ~
general and devoted considerable >; IN
to the correct method of TEACHING r .',le
ing. 'e"u'
The evening meeting was ATTENDED,
over 100 people. Supt. Burbank 10y "
at the request of the school board VINO mnG
as chairman, asked the people of We rCteu
ford to visit the schools and enco,, ateI'
the teachers and school officers in " I'd
work. He spoke in appreciatiye te srsn
of the earnest and conscientious w, wn nls
which is being done by the teachers " ona
directors for the schools and ment;n sug
the fact that all of them attended bntl
meetings He also spoke of the ser; oO' N
spelling schools planned for WatertoSrJJ'
and asked the people to attend and tT ~
courage them. These gatherings ARE W ~
be followed by one in which all tS'
schools in town will take part T TIs
children will be divided into two sec+;ous
by grades so that the younger ones l mus
have fair chance in the work ~,
recent grading of the Waterford scbnais
was discussed and the superintendsnt
expressed pleasure at the earnest va
operation of all in that work which had
become almost imperative by the st Iaa
requirements in examinations for fss
tuition in high schools and accidents
The speaker mentioned the fact that +bo
school officers and teachers would A.
range for annual graduation exercises
to be held at Lower Waterford at tho
end of the June term for those who tb ,C
complete the ninth grade; all, ofcours al
being invited to attend the exercises
The chairman with appropriate "a.
marks then introduced Supt. Clarence Il
Dempsey of st. Johnsbury,, the county
examiner of teachers, who spoke on "TLs
Mission of the Rural Schools" in wav
which was pleasing and instructive r.
all. He showed himself thoroughly CON.
versant and in sympathy with the CON.
ditions in the schools of the more thiniv
settled communities. His suggestions
were an inspiration to all who are inter.
ested in our schools. He easily sustained
his reputation as one of the ablest edr,
Gators in the state.
Mr. Stone, whose work as an educator
during the last Is years was reviewed
by the chairman as an introduction.
spoke for an hour of "The New Vermont
with Especial Reference to Agriculture
and from start to finish held his audience
by his seemingly inexhaustive fund ofiu.
formation as to his subject, and his plain.
straightforward expression of the evils
of existing conditions, together with the
logically supported remedies which he
presented. He urged a more intelligent
preparation for farm work and that the
schools aid in this work by carefully
acquainting the pupils with the posi-.
bilities that lie in the fertile soil about us
and giving them correct ideas as to the
successful development of them. He
earnestly supported the proposition that
our young people should be encouraged
to stay in Vermont and should be taught
to do things rather than the bare theory
OF how things may be done. His ad.
dress was much enjoyed and could not
be else than helpful to all.
Supt. Melville c.. Smart of Litteton,
who was expected to speak was de-
tanned at home as he was entertaining
State Supt. E. c. Morrison of New
Hampshire. The school directors are to
be congratulated on planning and carry
ing out these meetings with such success