The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-02-02
The Winooski Valley Associ-
alton, Meeting in Barre,
Listens to Mr.. Hillegas
WHAT MAKES SUCCESS
IN THE SCHOOLROOM
The Two Days Convention
Opened Most Auspi-
ciously This Morning

Art brought home to young Americs
in the form of hand colored chromos O
I"Custer's Last Fight" and colorful litho,
OF The Dying Shepherd Boy" was Sc
verely arraigned by Commissioner Mlc
B. Hillegas OF the state educationa
department in his address before 4OC
teachers of the Winooski Valley Teach
ers' association at Spaulding high schoo
this forenoon. Commissioner HilIega.
took for his subject, My Ideals of q
Successful Teacher" in what was the
most important contribution to the
mornings program. His remarks anent
the atrocious picture prints that adorn
the walls of some of our Vermont
schools formed part of an address in
which he sought to emphasize the neees-
sity of teaching children to think for
themselves, to cultivate among them a
knowledge Of what is practical in life,
and lastly, and most important, to in
spire in them the love and appreciation
for literature, art and music.
1t was Mr.. Hillegas' first public APP
pearanee in Barre and interest in a mum
Der of attractive features OF the opening
session was somewhat subordinated to
the address which he delivered at IL 80
o'clock. The attendance at the third
annual conference is wholly gratifying
TO the various school heads, comprising
some of the most prominent educators
in Washington, Orange and Chittenden
counties The Winooski Valley associa-
tion was organized in Barre in 1914 and
is recognized to-day as one Of the larger
units Of its kind in Vermont. An after
noon session was gotten under way at
l;S0 o'clock and the program includes
a moving picture entertainment this
evening and the closing session to-mor-
row morning at 8 o'clock.
Principal FL. II. jackson of Spauld-
ing high school presided to-day snd the
first conference opened in the assembly
hall at l0:l5 o'clock. The invocation
was offered by Rev. ]. w. Barnett Of
the Barre Congregational church. An
sxemplifcation of what has been accom-
Iished in the schools of Barre by chill
lren who have taken up the study of
folk dancing was carried out under the
direction OF Miss Josephine Hovey. di-
rector OF music. Beginning in the order
named the children appeared to excellent
advantage in the following folk dances:
Dutch, English. English, Swedish, Dan
sh. Swedish and German, the A |, b
md the first, second, third, fourth, fifth
md sixth grades being represented. The
dancers were in costume and
he showing they made occasioned more
han ordinary interest.
Then followed demonstration lesson
n charge of Miss Mabel Chandler. Lib
raj opportunity was allowed for devel-
ping the lesson and sfterward when
dr. Hillegas came to lead the discussion
rowing out of the lesson. the teacher
vas highly commended, first for her or
anization of the lesson, then for her
esourcefulness in bringing lesson that
ad to do with the Great Lakes to bear
pon conditions the children are famil-
ar with here in Barre, and, finally, be-
ause her questions were so shaped as
o aid the children in giving extended
nswers. A number of teachers joined
fith Commissioner Hillegas in discuss
ng the points brought out in the lesson
emor tration.
A brief business session followed the
iscussion and on a motion from the
oor the chairman was authorized to
ppoint a nominating committee of three
lembers TO report at final meeting
aturday morning. Pres. Jackson ap- I
ointed Supt. H. C. Hutchinson of Mont
elier, Supt. H. S. Read of Richmond,
nd Miss Mabel Chandler of Barre. An
were also made concerning
inners and room reservations.
Commissioner Hillegas' Address.
Commissioner Hillegas was well re-
lived as he assembled the stage to speak
n "My Ideals OF a Successful Teach
:" He said in part: "In the business
orld we Judge of a mans capacity by
le progress he has made year by year
nd by the extent to which he goes in
ivertising his products. Perhaps we
Idge of doctors by the number of lives
lev save and so, think we reach the ,
that the successful teacher is 1
he who is accomplishing certain aims
nd objects in the school room. 1t is
prime Importance that l should men
on. among three essentials, the ne (
ssity of getting the children where K
lev can think for themselves. In the 4
hool room it often happens that the {
lid who insists upon doing his own q
linking Is the child who very often {
terferes with the school curriculum and {
erefore. is the most troublesome Out i
lie of school, that independence of Y
linking and acting is the very thing
E applaud. The reason why self-think- .c
2 is an essential are obvious, many {
them. and / shall pass on TO the next II
sential. a
The successful teacher should be in [
position 70 aid the children in obtain ,
2 knowledge of certain methods and G
actical accomplishments. How many
mes there are where the man of the {
use cannot hit a nail squarely on the .
ad and falls down again when il comes Il
using the saw. Sympathy goes out n
the homemsker who has a husband in {
is case and I mention the hammer
4 the saw by way Of illustration. q
lere are hundreds Of others which e
n occur 10 you and 50 / ask, why {
ould we send our boys to school and 4
4 70 furnish them the opportunity '
scquaint themselves with these praeti. "a
arts! The successful teacher should 81
oW how to teach the girls those ordi- v