Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-11-03

rully made to help him, II definite class
instruction were given along moral lines,
IL would be very easy to discuss in a fair
minded way the habits that are WORKING
havoc In the lives of our boys and caiis-
ing them, | believe, more than anything
else to leave school. / refer among other
Things to the cigarette habit Last spring
a circular letter was sent to the super
intendents and principals of tho State
which sought to determine the attitude of
the school men toward the cigarette uues-
ton. The reply indicated that they were
practically unanimous in their condemnn-
tlon Of the habit. All seemed to feel
that cigarette smoking was pernicious
and destructive of manhood in the boy;
that the Intellect as well as the moral ma
ture was dwarfed and stultiflcd: that
physically the results we're bad. think
that most school men feel very strongly
that this habit accounts for nnny
breaches In department and for many
boys leaving school. In nine cases out
OF ten as soon as a boy begins to make
use OF the cigarette, his interest in his
work lessons
Another virtue that we ought to in
culcate fearlessls. yet wisely. is purity
| am confident that more Of our bows
would stay in school and come out at
the end or four years. a credit to thcin-
selves and to their school If we awaken
them TO the fact that there can he no
such thing as an impure gentleman for
the words are contradictory.
IN America where the stability, the
wisdom and the efficiency of the govern
ment depend upon the ballot, it is I'm
perative that the public school shall
turn out product which shall
be not only intellectually developed but
also morally sound. IF tho history Of
Greece and Rome is not to be repea ed in
America, the public school must see to It
that every boy and every girl has a
thorough training In ethics. Let every
true. patriotic citizen lend his influence to
TINS end and the glory and permanency
OF the democracy is assured"
TREATMENT OF BOYS.
Just what can be done to keep the
boys In school was considered BY Super
intendent II. w. Lewis of Randolph. The
answer to this question. Mr. Lewis said
was to treat the boy as an individual with
a personality. Boys, said Mr.. Lewis. like
to he treated. but a boy who has the
making Of a man in him likes ~ be treat
ed as something rather than with some
thing. Parents and teachers. said Mr.
Lewis sometimes treat children as they
would dogs, unknowingly. perhaps and
still the child may feel that he is being
sighted instead of being recognized as
an Individual with a personality.
SCIENTIFIC FARMING.
State Superintendent Mason s. Stone
Of Montpelier took for his topic "Estab-
fish Agricultural High Schools" The
State superintendent said that If the
popula ton of the future is to he doubled
1t will be necessary that the present agri-
cultural system be modified SO that the
output from our land will also be dou-
hled. How is this to be done, asked Mr.
Stone, unless the boys are trained So that
they are able to go back TO the farm and
increase the output of crops by scientific
knowledge Of the art OF caring for the
soil? He spoke of Vermont as State
pre-eminently adapted for certain kinds
of husbandry. but he said the State can
only come into her rightfu legacy by
training the boys IN agricultural high
schools to the possibilities OF taking up
with the conditions as they find them at
present and doubling the products.
COLLEGE TRAINING.
Principal L. 3. Smith Of Brattleboro
presented to his listeners the Importance
OF college training. The speaker said that
he believed everything should be done
to keep the boys and girls in school. He
would even sanction athletics 10 keep the
boys there. They must do some work in
connection with this form of amusement
and while he remains In school there is
always the possibility that some fact will
dawn on him sooner or later that will
carry him to something better The
speaker urged the necessary for all kinds
Of educational training in one school.
Give the boys and girls just what they
want in the way Of training, he said. and
results would soon begin to manifest
themselves.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.
That Vermont teachers are taking a
lively interest in the practcability Of vo-
cationel training was evidenced by the
good attendance at the conference on
that subject at the grammar school
building.
Principal A. S. Hartman Of Middlebury
acted as chairman and the first speaker
was Superintendent +. f.. Spaulding Of
Newton. Mass. HIS subject was "Noca-
tonal Direction" He emphasized the i'm
portance Of looking after the children in
early life and seeing TO it that they are
put on the right track. In his city there
Is special school for backward pupils
where an attempt is made to determine
h, Is haS
adapted to follow. This accomplished,
the boy or girl Is given a thorough educa-
ton in this one branch. A bureau through
which the comparative demand for
workmen In different trades can be de-
termined is an important adjunct to such
a school.
Elementary Agriculture was the
theme treated by Principal Arthur r.
Merrill Of Lyndon Center. He advocated
the introduction OF agriculture In the ru-
raj schools but said that it positively
must be taught by specially trained
teacher II II Is to succeed. He Is of the
opinion that four or five years of nature
work should be required. The discussion
of this paper was led by Superintendent
]. n. Barss Of the Vermont Industrial
school.
Don't educate the girl away from the
home" said Prof. Bertha NJ. Terrll of
Burlington. who gave highly instructive
paper on Home Economics" She thinks
the country girl should be given a sense
Of responsibility as IL home maker; should
be impressed with the idea that the farm
home should be made a place OF the
higest physical, mental and moral devei-
opment. The girl should be taught the
value of the farm nroduCts and how 20