The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-12-04
Vol. II. No, 90. Whole No, $40.


bully their masters, and having been accus-
toned to tho discipline of those whose chief
object seemed to have been To govern rather
hnn 10 instruct, they appeared 10 expect,
with all their trilng and restlessness, that
order would,be iniorccd, and they must yield
TO its acquisitions. But with this negative Vir-
tue ended all that was promising or COM
mcndable in tic appearance ofthe school.
| The scholars, though they had been kept at
school, perhaps two thirds Of the time, for
years, were yet extremely deicient-in any
correct knowledge, at least-oflhe most con-"
mon rndments oflcaruing. They hnd,mmy
of them, gone over much ground indeed;but
! they had acquired but little correctly, and less
Understandings. And il was still with tho
utmost difficulty that they wero restrained
from running over whole pages for lesson,
when perhaps rs mnuy sentences would he
more than they would have thoroughly mas
tered. Besides this, the common vice Of our
schools, especially village schools, the schol,
airs seemed to have little or no relish for their
studies, and as little ambition TO excel ia
them.
Although this unrromisng condition ofthe
school was, us before iutimatcd, directly at
rlbuable 10 the management OF unqualified
teachers, there was yet another circumstance,
which had not only, in great measure, prob
ably, remotely caused the whole evil, by lead
ing TO the employing Of such teachers i'll the
first place, hut which continued 10 operate
with the most unfavoruble effect on the adj
vnncemcnt ofihe pupils. This was the total
neglect with which the whole subject was
treated by the inhabitants of the distrct, who.
as is too often the case, rarely troubled their
heads even 10 inquire about the school, much
less TO visit it..
With all these obstacles before limit was
some time before Ams,Ien, with all his tact
and perseverance,, could succeed in combining
his pupils 10 methods Of study which prom
lsed any real improvement. And if he sue
cecded in doing that, he found it no less
difficult to excite in them al in their
studies sufficient 10 insure an application pro-
ductve OF any important results.S
At length, however, by extraordinary OK
crtons, he so far overcome the difficulties with
witch he had 10 contend, rs 10 command the
attention Of his pupils, and TO raise, in most
of them, some little ambition TO press for
ward in the path Of Improvement. Bur,
aware that much remained to be done, and
being sensible at the same time that but few
scholars will long persevcre in attempts which,
the eXertuns off, teHcher, only, have induced
them tomake, unless ihey expect their labors
will be rewarded by the encouragement and
appreciation of those TO whom they are in the
habit of looking for every thing else in life,
his next step was to enlist the interest Of the
parents in his school, and thus secure
their cooperation in bringing about the desired
object. With this end in view, he at first
made an effort to induce the parents and
guardians ofthe district TO make individual
visits to his school. But, meeting with no
other success in this attempt Than what con-
sisted of promises reluctantly given and in
varlably broken, he next determined TO all
point particular day for the reception of Wis.,
tiers, and 10 prepare his scholars for going
through such interesting exercises OH the oc-
caslon, as should furnish an additional n-
lucement for the invited, at least, 10 attend.
In pursuance ofthis plan, he fixed on fu-
lure day for what he concluded to call pub,
lie examination of his school.
Aud, having caused information ofthe APP
noiniment to be spread through the neighbour
lood he began to make arrangements for the
purpose among lis pupils, and TO eXhort
hem TO the use of such diligence in their
studies rs should enable them TO acQuit
themselves creditably before the expected
ossemblage. 1ncited afresh by the thought
If displaying their acquisitions before their
parents and others, or fearful of exposing
heir DEFICIENCIES, the scholars, with almost
one accord, betook themselves eagerly TO
heir respective studies. And, in the two
y weeks that INTERVIEWED before the day Of tho
proposed examination, they had made such
progress that their teacher began really To
eel very proud Of his school.
As the appointed day drew near, Amsden,to
make douby sure ola general attendance,
vas at the pains of calling OH most of
he parents and guardians ofhis pupils, TO re-
mind them ufthe time when the contempla-
ed performance were to take place, and TO
lrgo them to he present. And so well did he
prosper in obtaining individual promises of
that he supposed there could be,
his time, scarcely possibility of failure.
lis scholars, in the mean time, were full of
mbition. He seemed to have succeeded, at
asst, i'll infusing into them portion ofhs own
pirit and enthusiasm for learning. Every
hing went swimningly on; and he felt hinI-
in looking forward with certain
v 10 the brightest result from the operation
If his plan. But, alas! alas for the blindness
nd guilty neglect of the public,on point SO
important to interests which we should hold,
bove all things, dear We will not, howey-
II, anticipate.
The oventfu day at leangth arrived; and
ur hero, having risen and breakfasted, left
lis logings for the scene of his daily labors,
hat morning, in high spirits. Every thing,
hus far, seemed suspicious 10 his undertake
ng. On his way to his school house, how
yer, his attention was attracted by numerous
and bills, posted OH the doors, corners, and
ii other conspicuous places in the streets,
nnouncing in staring capitals, for that eve
ling, the wonderful exhibitions of the far
AIMED Potter, protested Juggler of those
ines, who proposed, in the present instance,
s usual, to display the astonishing feats of
wallowing swords and iack knives, hatch
ng chickens, frying in his hat, together with
N endless variety Of other 1eats never before
bat all equally Miraculous Per-
to commence, in order to do fiIA
ustice 10 the public, at the early hour Of