Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-19
Speakers Declare There Should
BE a More Intimate Relationship.
Annual conference Of Vermont Branch
OF National CONGRESS- Of Mothers
and Pnrcnt-Tcachcr Association
nt High school Building.

bulluulG lnuTSuHN HItc1Hool. ! Nv meet
Ing was presided over by the president,
Mrs. henry A. Hartman of Rutland
Following prayer. offered by the Rev.
6. j. Staples of this city. and the sing
Ing of America Mayor James f. Burke
welcomed the association to the city.
VI. ~ Chittcndon superintendent of
schools, was called upon and in behalf
Of tho teachers extended his welcome.
he told Of the beginning and advance
ment of the work Of the burlington
Parent-Teachcr associations. They have
been formed at the high, Thayer Adams
and grammar schools. The aim for which
they were formed and which he Thought
was being reached was closer sympathy
and union between the teachers and
parents. He said that he was glad to
welcome the association hecaus" the
teachers Of the city were glad to have
"A part in the work and that the insplra-
ton it gave was needed.
Greetings were received from the Yer
mont Federation of Women's clubs by
Mrs George II. Smile from the Yer
mont n. \. X. by Mrs Perlev Ha2en
and the Vermont Colonial Danes by
Ms Jennie Valentine Miss Katherine
'Iaepr gave pleasing vocal selection.
Professor Phiiip Y. Lcavenworth was
then calico upou by the president He
smoke Of the association from the teach
ers viewpoint He said in part: While
Il seems the fashion 20 criticise the
schools md those who have them in
charge throughout the state. and while
talent has even been imported from New
York for the Same purpose. after MI the
schools stIl have some good DOints and
much good work 10 being done. There
was some truth in tho criticisms but
tho ono thing needed most Is co-opcra-
tion between parent and teacher. \ very
small percentage Of tho parents know
just what tho TEACHERS i'm their schools
are attcmptiu" to accomplish. and IN or
dor to learn Of tho work they should
visit the schools r. more attempt was
made ON the part of IN" parents to
famillarizc themselves with thu school
methods there would not 10" as much
chance for criticism
It Is fine to impress on tho children
the idea that IT is honorable 10 get their
hands dirty Ivy shop work or work In a
garden. The opportunity does not present
itself in the homes as IT did In days gone
IVY FOR such training. and tho responsible
itv Therefore comes uOon the schools. and
the home is constantly putting more re-
sponsihilitY upon the schools for which
the teachers are held The home should
assume some of the duties and assist in
the proper training. With tho little ex-
perience he had had Mr. Leavouworth
Thought the Parrnt-Teacher association
was u great power for sympathy and the
teachers will always he found to zoe ready
to meet tn" parents more than halt way
Many of the schools in the state are
not up to the standard rs regards clean
Illness and sanitary conditions. partly be-
cause of the fact that funds are not
available and partly hecaus" Of tho di-
rcctors in charge who do not find tho
time to devote to the duties OF their Of
fco. Each board should contain at least
one woman member Both tho child and
teacher can work better with proper en-
vironmont
| While tho speaker lid not think school
gardening practical I'm Vermont he was
strongly i'm favor nf homo gardening and
told Interestingly of the work which has
hocn carried ON i'm his district during the
past summer. IN closing. No made an
appeal for m" parents to Get into tho
schools oftcner and offer suggestions that
might improve the surroundings Of their
children
( The Rev. g. J. Staples opened his adj
dress with the remark that though the
program did not say So he supposed he
was TO sneak ON tho question from the
parents side Tic said in part: THE
work of the teacher in the public schools
cannot hc exaggerated or magniiied
enough and they could not be paid for
the invaluable services theV render. The
parent should try to put himself In tho
place OF the teacher. who in order 20 he
n real teacher, was born and MT made,
large number ~ teachers ar" IN the
business from a business basis, hut now
and then we come across one, two or a
half dozen who have graspcd the mean
Ing OF what a teacher can and ought to
| he. To such We owe debt which can
never he paid. From parents stand
point, rcal2n@ the constant wear and
strain on a teacher, 'hore are few
things to n" asked. II is not 60 much
the studies which the child has at school
that the parent is interested in as his
habits, which are later his stock in trade
aud at the school time Of his Nfc are in
the formative stage.
Each child should he required to give
n strict account Of his studies A sense
of humor should also he one Of the teach
er's attributes. \ child does not respond
to preaching which sets in opposition
the pupil and teacher n thing to he
avoided. III humor is a thing for which
no excuse can he offered in the school
room. II would he better to pension a
teacher who because OF i'll health or
overwork vents her i'll humor in the
school-room, than to let her continue. for
this is one OF the great enemies, The
only fault to be found in general is that
there Is too much emphasis laid upon the
small things. 1t is not that particular
rule should be learned word perfect as
that the child should have an understand
ing of it's meaning" The speaker heart
fly agreed with the idea that co-opera-
ton is the one thing needed and that
the worst enemy is the subtle atmosphere
between teacher and pupil which must
be overcome.
EVENING SESSION.
| The evening session was interesting and
instructive. a large number being present
to hear several speakers well qualified to
talk on the subjects allotted them.
The session opened with the reading of
a greeting from Mrs. Frederic Shon,
| president of the national Congress OF
Mothers. The greeting was a message OF
inspiration to those interested in the work
or child ana parent welfare. Mrs Henry
10 4 H.. N.aVf,, ~