Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-05-12
TEACHERS MEET HERE
Remarkably Fine Addresses Made
at Session Friday
Approximately 200 Enrolled - F. d.
Hayward, Former Instructor Here,
Timely in His Remarks.

Timely in His Remarks.
With registration Friday morning of
1875 teachers, the Southeastern Vermont
Teachers association began its annual
convention in the high school build
ing, leaving little room for par.
ents, had they been interested enough
to attend 1t is to be regretted how
ever, that there were not many par
ents present. They would have heard
topics discussed from the viewpoint of
educators that would have been aston
ishingly interesting to them. The SEES
sion was continued in the afternoon and
concluded with departmental programs.
F. d. Hayward of Newport, N. H.,
former teacher of history in the local
high school and superintendent of
schools in Newport and nearby towns
in New Hampshire the last two years,
was introduced as the first speaker.
His topic was The Child Who Is Dit
ferent. and what he had to say was
based entirely on his own experiences
in establishing an ungraded room
where children who for one reason OF
another are unable to keep up with
classes are given special care and
teaching.
His address was of unusual interest
locally. in view of the fact that the
prudential committee has announced its
plan to establish an ungraded room III
Brattleboro next year
In every room in every school with
the children who are normal and regu-
lar is to be found the child who is
different. He does not remember, he is
half awake, he does not pay attention.
He is set off by himself and teacher
and child are both mortified. Mr.. Hay
ward then told of the difference in
teachers; one who holds back the class
for the slowest, and the other who
leaves the sluggard behind even while
both give special attention to the dull
child. This different boy or girl comes
to school because the law says he shall
come. The parent goes to the teacher
and demands the reason why the child
cannot be helped by the teacher so he
can keep up in the classes. This con
dition deserves an antidote.
The work has been conducted to ben
eft the masses as q whole. A teacher
is rated by what she does for the best
of her class. What she has not done
for the defective is forgotten. In ev-
cry schoolroom are one or more who
are backward who might be taken in
hand and made over into useful men
and women.
Having obtained the pupils and the
room the most important thing is the
teacher. He believed that the best
teacher is chosen from list of the
most successful rural teachers, for hen
work is along these lines. She is used
to breaks in the school routine and has
learned the value of visiting the
homes She has often played the part
of mother. No teacher today has the
opportunity for personal service that
the teacher of the rural school has.
"Choosc the best he said. "Do
not bargain. Give her the highest sal
airy you pay a grade teacher in town
and then add another dollar. She will
earn it. Do not have more than 20 pu-
pills, 20 will be better, for there will
be numerous classes of only two or
three pupils. Give her a free hand.
Mason S. Stone of Montpelier, COM
missioner of education, was the mex,
speaker. He said that he wanted to
continue preaching the gospel of Mr..
Hayward and dwet at some length up
on the fact that the function of the
teacher is to make the child of value
to the community. Today in this
state complete transformation of the
conception of the purpose of teaching
is in progress because more and more
it is being directed to definite ends. In
the old days it was often the case that
a child had as many as 10 teachers in
six years of schooling. A teacher was
only passing sensation. Now the eff
fort is to secure a teacher who intends
to make that her life work, and six
years of a teacher in one school is long
enough for a teacher to make an i'm
preston of the right kind on child.
She stamps the impress of her person
atty ON the children. We have not al
ways had the right ideals in teaching.
1t is necessary to get certain definite
ideals and then establish them in the
minds of the children; definite ideals
of service. The teacher must capital
ize the child to carry into the commu-
nifty life some kind of service.
The last speaker Of the morning was
Principal Frank l.. BOyden of Deer
field academy, Deerfeld, Mass. His
subject was The High School as a So
cial Center. His story of the founding
of this academy and of its rundown
condition when he assumed the prin-
clpal snip Oh IL III l9OA, woven INTO inc
story of not only teaching the boys
and girls who attended the school mat
tiers from books, but of the work of
himself and teachers in practically reg
ulating the conduct of their entire
lives, was one of intense interest en-
livened here and there with stories ana
anecdotes that cOnvulsed his audi
ence
These officers were elected at the
opening of the afternoon session; Pres
dent, Herbert D. Casey of Springield;
vice president, Miss Florence M. Well
man of Brattlcboro; secretary and
treasurer, Guy w. Powers of Town
shend; executive committee, Miss Jessie
A. Judd of Bellows Falls, Frank l..