Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-22
Registration of $50 at Rutland
Only Exceeded by That at
Burlington Last Year.
FINE ADDRESS ON SCHOOLS
Their strong npd Weak POINTS Out
lined by 4. W. Edison Of New York
The People Not tho Teachers
Make Thcm--Club OIL
GERS Elected.

exceeded $50 day, the second of the
annual convention of the Vermont
State Teachers association here The
officers Of the association are much
gratifed with the registration which
has been exceeded only once before In
the history of the organization. al Bur
lington last year. The teachers listen
ed to strong address at tho Congrc-
Eational Church this morning by A. w.
Edison Of New york. associate suporin-
tendent of schools Of this city. and 4
native OF Brookficld, Vt. This after
noon there were conferences of differ
ent departments, followed at $50
o'clock by the annual banquet of the
Vermont Schoolmastcrs club and re-
ccption to the members Of the Vermont
Schoolmistress club by the Rutland
teachers.
Tonight Leland T. Powers of Bos-
ton gave approximations from Tam
ing Of the Shrcw" and Monsieur Beau
airc" at the congregational Church
under the auspices Of the teachers as
ISOLATION. Tho weather was so fine to-
day that trolley excursion to tho
West Rutland marble quarrics was
taken. open trolley cars being used.
SCHOOLS STRONG AND WEAK
The feature Of the morning session
was tho address of Mr.. Edison whose
topic was THE Modern school; Its
strength and Weakness" lie said
that it was the people, not the teach
crs. who make the schools The qua'-
ity Of work In the schools is usually \
reflection Of the Intelligence and spirit
of the people who support II.
Thu strong points of the modern
s. hool arc: The kindergarten which is
really a step between the home and
the school; more attention to practi-
cal outlook in the primary grades: the
appeal to the Intelligence in labora
tory methods; manual training with
its trend towards industrial and vo-
cattonal efficiency; attention TO the
laws of health; ethical and civic train
ing to lead children to realize that cit
izenship implies Intelligence and vir-
tine. the view that every child. even
the cripple, blind and one who Is men
tallv weak, is entitled to all the educa-
ton ne Is capable of receiving, at pub
lie expense.
The weak points Of the school to-day
ave he said: Tendency towards con-
slant experimentation; lack OF thorough
ness IN essentials; over ambition In ar
effort to overstep all that has gone be
fore
SOME INFORMAL CONFERENCES.
The departmental conferences this aft
srnoon were informal The conference u
secondary schools was presided over By
Principal Ernest G.. Ham of Randolph
and the following topics were discussed
The Place Of History In the Secondarl
School" Principal y. c. Rodgers, Mont
pelior; Aims and Methods in Teachin.
Ancient History" Miss Mary c. Tewks
bury. Rutland; Medieval and Modern
History" Miss Harriet Towne, Burlng
ton.
Prin. f. s. Watson of Newport wa
chairman Of the elementary schoo
conference. The program was as fol
lows: "Practical Mathematics 70
Grammar Grades" Prin. George s
Wright Northfeld; Mental Arith
metic-Aims and Methods" Miss Am
Drake. st. Johnsbury, Field and Lab
oratory Work In Arithmetic" SUPP
Edward II. Dorsey. Ludlow,
state Superintendent of Schools Ma
son s. stone of Montpelier presided a
the meeting Of the department of su
perintendents. The superintendent
gave 'Rcports from the Field" and \
". Edison Of New York led the dis
CussiOn.
BANQUET AND ELECTIONS.
Covers were laid for a hundred a
the annual banquet of tho Vernon
Schoolmasters' club Tonight Princi
pal A, f.. Tuttie of Bellows Fails wa
postmaster. The speakers were May
OF Henry .. Carpenter. President lIar
vey Kingsley of tn" Rutland board q
education and a. ". Edison of Ne'
York, The following officers wer
elected: President. Principal +. ID. Col
Inns Johnson; vice president, Principe
]. T.. Colburn. Fairfax. seCrotarN-trcaa
urcr, Supt. G. l.. Howe, Essex June
tion; executive committee, Principe
G. i. Rowland Of St. Johnsbury, Prir
cipal q. +. Spear Of Bradford, Sup
u. l.. ingalls, OF Hartford
Tho Vermont Schoolmistress club tc
day elected these officers: Presiden
Miss Jessie A. Judd, Bellows Fall
vice-president. Miss Amy Drake, 5
Johnsbury; secretary and treasure
Miss Eta Franklin, Rutland