Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-01-25
TEACHERS DISCUSS PROBLEMS.
Annual Convention in Barton Last
Week Brings Out 200 Orleans
County Educators.


held in Barton Thursday afternoon
and Friday, and was pronounced one
of the most successful and most prac-
tical and one of the largest attended
meetings ever held. Fully 200 ed
ucators were in attendance, the actu-
al registration reaching TIA, the
largest it has ever been.
The new officers are Superinten-
dent, E. S. Boyd of Charleston; pres
ident, Miss Mary Bailey, Craftsbury;
vice president, Miss Lottie Fuller,
Derby; secretary y-treasurer, Prin. w.
M, Robinson, Orleans; Prin. G.. E.
Stevens, Barton and Prin. Clifford
Dustan of North Troy, executive COM
mittee. Two changes in the by
laws of the association were made,
viz, raising the registration fee
from 25 cents to so cents and author
izing the executive committee to fill
vacancies by appointment. The NOM
mating committee which make up the
slate, was composed of Prin A. w.
Stone of Derby, Supt. o. l.. Dugan of
Newport Center and Mrs. Kate
Heath of Barton.
The convention opened shortly af-
ter 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon
with Supt. E. A. Hamilton of New
son of Barton offered prayer and
Prof. Burnham of Barton led in the
singing of America" followed by
the address by New. Hampshire's
Commissioner of Education, E. w.
Butterfeld. His subject was, "The
decentralization of Education"
Commissioner Butterfield is a ma
tive Vermonter and lived in the state
until 19 wears of age. He told of our
being bound to educational tradi-
tions which ought to be done away
with and defended the changes made
in educational policies and practices
as necessary to make the youth fit
the needs of the day and generation
in which we live. He deplored the
tendency of teachers to make fire.
quent changes from one locality to
another and said that continuity of
service would leave the impress of
ones work on a community.
Supper was served at the Meth
odist church and the evening service
opened with singing led by Mr.. Burn
ham. Mrs. R. p Webster sang a
solo, which was enthusiastically re-
ceived and she responded with an en-
core.
The speaker of the evening was
Commissioner Butterfield and he took
for his subject, "The Problem of
Discipline in the Home and in the
School," The task of discipline is an
age-old task he said, but the respon-
sibility of discipline in the home is
being shifted, if it was not already
shifted, from the father to the moth
er. He disapproved of physical pun
ishment and said there ought to be
some connection between the offense
and the punishment which the child
recognized and which his reason told
him was just.
One of the pleasant features of the
convention was a reception given the
visiting teachers by the teachers of
Barton in the domestic science room
following the afternoon session.
Light refreshments were served. At
ter the evening session the male
members of the association were en-
tertained at the rooms of the Bar
ton Improvement club and sugar on
snow was served. A late moving pic
ture show was also given which was
attended by many. Many teachers
also took advantage of the toboggan
slide.
Following Mr.. Butterfeld's after
noon address conferences were held,
the teachers dividing into groups,
one representing high school teacher,
and the other grades and rural school.
Over the high school section Prin. w.
M. Robinson of Orleans presided and
M. d. Chittenden, state supervisor
of high schools, gave an address on
the prime requisites and reasons for
high school education, followed by
discussion and questions.
The larger group of elementary
school teachers listened to an address
by ]. d. Whittier, state supervisor OF
elementary schools. The general
subject was geography and Miss
Chapman of the Barton graded school
gave a paper on the subject as re-
lating to the community, Miss Janet
Knowlton of Newport on the views of
an intermediate teacher, and Miss
Anna Thomas, training teacher at
North Troy on the subject as touch
ing everyday life. These papers
were heartily appiauded. Stereopti-
con slides were used to better demon
strate the subject.
The convention opened Friday
morning with an invocation by Rev.
M. A. Turner of Barton, followed by
singing by the audience led by Mr..
Burnham again.
Commissioner G.. ii. Dempsey was
then introduced by Supt. Hamilton
and Mr.. Dempsey spoke on "The
Teacher at Work" He said some
teachers did their work because of
the pay they received for it; some
from the force of mechanical neces-
sity and some because they were do
ing an important work, in making cit
zens. The potential wealth of man.
hood and womanhood is the reason
for education and the teacher must
see this in order to do her best work.
The latter part of the forenoon was
lgiven over to conference work, the
two groups being those for rural
-chool teaehers and for grade teach
ers. Over the former. Supt. e. s.
Bovd of Charleston presided and gave
many helpful SUGGESTIONS from his
own wide experience. Mrs. Daisy
Baldwin of Barton pave a paper on
."Hot Lunches in Rural Schools"
which interested roanv rural teachers.
The principal subject discussed was
that of what constitutes a standard
school and Miss Rose Lucia, state
supervisor of rural schools. led the
discussion. There were questions and
verv helpful discussions.
The grade conference was presided
over nv Supt o L Duoan of New
L Il