Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-03-07

singular !" at the same time looking rather
curiously at the back ofhis right hand-and
MIR. Calhoun, placing his head between his
hands, seemed buried in thought.
To the Parents, Guardians, and
Friends
Of the Ninefy-eight Thousand Children in
Vermont, aoho are grOving mp to be the
Citizens Of the State and of omr common.
country:
The time is Just at hand when, in the
several towns in the State, you will be re-
CURED to choose superintendent of your
schools; and we would urgently and earn
estly appeal to you, Oh that occasion, not
only to select the right kind of men for that
office, but to give them such directions and
encouragement as shall prompt them to the
jealous, efficient, and faithful discharge of
their duty. Our county superintendency
having been abolished, the office of town
superintendent will now assume higher re-
sponsibility and Importance than have hiih-
erto belonged to it.
In the first place the duty of examining
teachers will devolve solely on your town
superintendent This is a work which
you, as individuals, would doubtless be re-
lnctant to engage in, even if you possessed
essentially the requisite qualifications Be-
sides, there Is certain tact and skill ac-
qulred by experience in this, no less than in
any other kind of business, which YOU could
not expect to exercise, if you were to at
tempt to distribute the labor Of examining
your teachers among yourselves, each per-
forming the service once, perhaps, in Sc
rles of years. If you have delicate piece
of work 10 be done, you apply to one who
has gained skill in such work by Practice.
DiuiSion of labor,-each steadily pursuing
particular employment, and thus acquiring
an ability TO perform his work skllliully and
well, is Il characteristic of the civilized
state, and the most effective means of adj
vancing civilization. Aud this is true not
only in regard 10 the mechanic arts, but all
the employments and pursuits that look to
the promotion of peoples welfare.
Nor Is this duty of examining teachers
one of trlflIng Importance. Without
thorough system of examination, many who
are wholly incompetent and unfit for their
high and holy work, will be likely TO find
place in your schools as teachers many,
who, if they do not positively lead your
children into error, and corrupt their morals,
will yet fail TO rouse their energies, to ava
ken their interest in study, and secure their
proper advancement And if the precious
season OF then early i:fc DC allowed pass
away unmproved, they will sustain loss
o., ha tint
never fully repair For the wasted oppor-
tuni:Ies of childhood may be mourned over,
but they will not return.
But failure from incompetency in the
teacher is not the only evil to be feared
He may do far scorse than fail He may
inculcate error, or exert demoralizing in-
fuence. And remember that the Impress
ions and effects thus produced are OF no
transient duration. The teacher is engaged
in rearing a structure "whose base is on
the earth-whose cap stone is in the skies!'
He is lnscribing on the mind and soul of
those entrusted to his care, tracery which
time may not alter, -characters that men
and angels must survey. His instructions
and influence will tell upon the character
and destiny of those you love, for time and
for eternity.
In the second place, the duty of visiting
your schools will devolve wholly on YOUR
town superintendent. Doubtless one of the
most important ends to be answered BY this
visiting Of schools, is to keep alive in the
teacher sense of his responsibility, and
show him that some solictude is felt for his
success, and awaken in your children new
and liveier interest in their pursuits by the
assurance tina. their progress in learning is
regarded as a matter of SO much Importance
as to be made the object of your own and
the public attention. To such sympathy,
both teachers and pupils are fairly entitled,
and they need 1t to encourage and animate
them in their work. From this view of the
nature and leading purpose of the duty in
question it might be concluded that you
could perform it to better advantage than
you could that of examining teachers. But
could we rely upon you to attend to it amidst
the engrossing pursuits of your business!
Would YOU perform the duty promptly, thor
oughly and faithfully! We indeed hope
we would entreat u,-that you will not en-
tirely neglect the duty as an individual and
personal one. Yet you need not fear that
the services of your superintendent, in this
way, will be supertluous or useless.
Again and lastly, the duty of recommend
ing the books to be used in your schools
will also devolve entirely upon these officers.
You need some arrangement to protect
yourselves against the fluctuations and chan
ges in schoolbooks which must unavoIdably
result if this matter be left without any sys-
tematic regulation. You want well inform
ed discreet aud stable men to advise on the
subject, SO that you may feel secure not only
that your children have suitable books, but
that no caprice from any quarter shall, on
the one hand compel you to purchase anew
at the commencement of each successive
school, (if not ofiener,) or, on the other
hand, expose you to have the usefulness of
your schools greatly impaired-the labors
Of your teacher essentially embarrassed and
he progress of your children seriously re-
multiplicity of textbooks and
l consequent multiplicity of classes. The
recommendations OF judlcious superintend-
,nts will tend to establish a system which !
'ou can rely upon to be as permanent as
he nature of the case will admit, and which |
Iou can conform to with far less embarrass-
nent and expense than Won vould he sinh.