Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-10-12
PARENT,TEACHER ASSERTIONS
Annual Conference in Progress
at High School Building.
Held In Connection with Meeting Of
Vermont Branch of National Con-
grcss of Mothcrs-Rcports and
Addresses.

The fourth annual conference of the
Vermont branch of the National Congress
of Mothers and Parent-Teachcr associa-
tons was opened at the high school
4 building yesterday afternoon. The at
| tendance was small. owing to the fact
I that many of the delegates were making
the trip to the city by automobile and had
not yet arrived. At two O'Clock the dec
gates registered at The assembly hall.
where the general meeting was held i'm
mediatey afterwards Mrs. Henry y.
Hartman of Rutland, president of the as
ISOLATION, presided at the meeting.
After the Lords prayer had been re-
peated by the delegates. Mrs. Hartman in
troduced Irving V. Cobleigh of this city,
who gave the address of welcome. IL.
told of the pleasure 1t gave him to be
able, the latter Observation-Disclosures
ton. city to which he had come by
choice not even having been born in III,
State. He said that he greatly in
tcrested in the development of children,
and in the coordination of the work II
parents and teachers, who have been too
widely separated in the past, Mr. Cob
leigh said that re was doubly glad to
greet members of this association who. al
though they have already accomplishc
much, still have a large field in which TO
work
Response to Mr.. Cobleighs words Of
welcome was given by Mrs. C. V. II. Coan
of Rutland, state secretary, who express-
ed grateful appreciation of the courte W
| of the members in Burlington for enabling
the association to meet here on such short
notice, after it was decided that the meet
ing could not he held in Fair Haven on
account of the prevalence of infantile rar-
! alNSiS there. She also spoke of the in
creasing efficiency of the association
whose work was becoming recogniz q.
more and more each day.
Miss Eta Franklin of Rutland, for u
years teacher in the Lincoln school. told
of the beginnings of the parent tea cher
association in Vermont and what it hos
done for the child. 1t has fulfilled prom
ises made at it's inception and is conse-
quently worthy of consideration. 1t brings
the home and school into closer relate
ship, 1t has established juvenile courts.
it has aroused the community to ac-
knowledge of it's duty toward the chill
dren, and has been n means Of eradicat-
ing many grave difficulties which have
come up during the school life of the
child. \ grave responsibility rests upon
the teacher as she may either be the
means of bringing up the child In a
brighter atmosphere. or may treat him
so that he develops into an irritable type.
The teacher should know each child
thoroughly, with his virtues and faults,
so that she may be able to handle him
in the right manner. In closing Miss
Franklin reiterated her statement that
the association was a great success.
Miss Kate Hagar gave pleasing vocal
selection. accompanied ny Miss Claire
Hagar on the piano. Superintendent II.
of ,ha Civ; gaIj t-;n
scheduled as the next speaker, had not
vet arrived. so Superintendent George
l.. Spauldng of the Windsor East dis
trict was introduced by Mrs. Hartman,
speaking on Getting the Vision" He
emphasized the importance Of the teach
er's recognizing this sile Of the child
that is, the visionary side. Mothers ne
said, had this visionary side and it would
be a good thing II the Kindergarten
could for this reason, be brought into
the home The first few years of school
mean great deal to the child. as they
arc his FIRST years away from the home
influence, and he is continually forming
new ideas which should be- the right
ones. For this reason the primary teach
er should b" an expert, ard should re-
ceive rccompense for this extra work
The teacher is fortunate. he said, who
can get the chid's viewpoint. a moth
er does. Youth is 4 visionary time, and
n RI zeal time, az it is then that the child
chooses his course through life and the
teacher can be n great influence toward
guiding the pupil on the right path. Wis
ion, which should control the youth
should not he measured in terms of mon
.cy or self-interest. but OF service. Mr.
Spauldng then asked the delegates 10
arrange some way by which the associa
tons could find out what opportunities
there are in the state for the boys and
girls of Vermont. whom we should keer
, AS much as possible In the state,
The Rev. A. w Hewitt of Plainfield
, of the State board of education. spoke
, on "A Span of Mothers" Mr. Hewitt
explained his topic, saying that it meant
! the mother of the home, or the natura
. mother. and the mother of the school. ol
the intellectual mother 1t is often con
sidered disadvantage. he said to hav,
young teachers but in reality it is al
. immense asset, they have the vision
| of youth. and can more easily under
. stand the children Again. it Is gooC
f thing for the teachers to marry. as thi!
q principle Of home life aids the teacher IL
o her school work The teachers work /!
= more specialized than the mothers. a!
$ the former has an opportunity to TAXI
t the child's tastes and direct them right
- In closing, Mr.. Hewitt quoted from thu
= Bible, saying that motherhood is mad
- in the image of God.
e Miss Constance Rutter. whose voice ha
It volume and clearness, pleased her audi
" enc" with a song, accompanied by Mrs
y j. a, Russell on the piano between tn
e last two speakers. The afternoons pro
: grom closed with the singing of M
. Tribute" a song dedicated to the Ma
< tonal Congress of Mothers and Parent
r Teacher associations by Mrs. Milton 7
:. Higgins, president Of the Massachusetts
ii branch
EVENING SESSION