Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-05-02
Es Re- 20 IT
OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
Public Schools in burlington,


ment of facts and suggestions.
All the schools in town have been visited, b,
one or more of the supcrinendents. il has
, hcen their design, in their visilings, to make
pretty thorough examination of each school, tc
note the order and progress Of the pupils, the
manner and course Of instruction, and the mode
of government. They have earnestly sirver
TO remedy existing evils in our schools, have
urged upon children and youth the great i'm
portance of constant and punctual attendance
Of diligence in their studies, correctness of de.
pertinent, and obedience TO their teachers
They have IN The mean time, made such sug.
gesions 10 teacher, as circumstances seemed
to demand.
For reasons which must be obvious TO every
observant and rejecting mind, improvements
in our schools advance slowly. But that very
important improvements are being made, in a
manner which promises health and permanence,
your superinendents are well satisfied. And
il affords us pleasure to specify some evidences
of progress, in theil most important department
of education, which they have, during several
years, been called TO superntend.
AS one evidence of a growing interest in
behalf of public schools, it is worthy o! remark
that within the last year, two commod0us and
attractive school-houses have been erected and
fitted up for use. Another has been enlarged,
repaired and so much improved that it appears
like new house These three houses are
now the best in town.
Every year is furnishing an increase Of good
teachers your supern,endents feel that those
who lave in charge the instructions Of our two
thousand children and youth, are doing great
and responsible work. The forty teachers who
have served the town in this department of
luh fho ocf hnva ly
evnced a commendable degree of ability and
earnestness in their work 'As is the teacher
so is the school," By the Bounty Of the stale
some increase of facilities are furnished to
teachers, in securing the requisite qualiica
tions for their arduous duties. OF all the parts
of our educational system that which by its
dlrectness OF its actions, is most important, be-
cause it most effects results, is the school
teacher. The teacher does much to mould the
character of die chd,-t form and fix the
habits of thought, of motive and of conduct. In
order to secure the best teachers, we must hold
out sufficient inducements ; must make our
schools and schuO O'-Aouses attractive, must
treat them well aud pay them well. 1t affords
your superln.endents pleasure to report pros
grcss, as it respects teachers.
In point of order and good behavior, among
there is marked improvement. 1t is prlnci-
pie with them, and one which they have la
bored to impress upon the schools, that there
must be, in the schooI-room, unqualified SuJmis
sion to authority. This is the starting point of
all government ; the corner stone of all order.
l1arshncss and unnecessary severity, your
superntendenls do not approve, they aim to
encourage, on the part OF the teacher an appeal
to The better feelings Of the pupil. Too much
severity is despotic to great lenlty fosters the
spirit of insubordnaion and anarchy. Either
extreme is peTnicious, in its influence on the
minds Of the Young. The golden mean is al
ways safest and best. Let every child be taught
at home, to respect and obey his teacher; let
him enter the school room with the fixed i'm
pression that the authority of the teacher is ne
cessarv, legal and right, and must and will be
sustained, and the government of a school is |
rendered comparatively easy. INSTRUMENTATION
is at an end evils all easily corrected study |
becomes the business of school and rapid pro-
gress is made.
Your supernlendents are happy to report as
a general fact better order in our schools than
heretofore, more sludlousness and deeper in.
tciest in study, greater thoroughness, less of
profanity, fewer cOnspiracies among the large
boys, to practice and cover up mischief, and
much greater readiness to confess any wiongs
done
School District No, l, was reported last
wear as in bad condition. This district de-
serves high commentator Tor The interest," en-
terprlse and wei directed energy II mas mani
tested, during the last elght months. lhey
have enlarged and greatly improved their mouse,
and under the eihcient and untrng !aoors OF
their teacher, MIR. Spailer, nave one OF me
most profitable and best schools IN town. liis
pupls eXn'p'Ieu' upon ''!e an'p'g b'aoh-Ooa.us @
win "hich 'he houSe - l"''Is"eu' oo'ho me
specimens o' map anu o''o' u'"","s., uu' .'e
oh'y lear III rega'u 10 ''''S 'I"oo' 70 ."I. .ney
are attempting 10 ao'o"'p'S" 'oo '''u'" '"'o"s"
one .eacher' ,,o ,
D'S'i'c's NOS - o. - ~ ~ a"u % ""Is
had no important cn"nsu' ""'t'S '.e !ea'' ="
some oi 'hese ul''''c's mere mas oee" an ~.
crease oI sc"o'a,' n anu ~ 'o.n0 ,h ,v! 'ano @"
Improvement IN LIS No' - ',r,e was sumo
want OF oruer ana appl'ca'lon' ine sG"oo' W
Ds. NO. s, appeared every way u,'us"a''y wei
In lhs' NO J., your super'n'enueh.s were us
appointed. lhey were not ao,e " u'seo'e'
those evidences OF appIica''oh ana ,horousnhes'
which are always SO pleasing ana whlch nave
heretofore uniformly character'sed 'hat SCHOOL,
Dis No. ii. is still much IN need Ut GOOD mouse.