Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-04-01

my frs, visit. | may say here, that do no,
mean to charge these changes as the fault
of the districts IN which they have taken
place, but rather to speak Of them as a mis-
/ fortune 10 be always avoided if possible
Ii is a great misfortune to district to en-
plcy teacher in the first instance that
proves incompetent to his task "A msfor-
tune Of not unlrequent occurrence, and
which beyond doubt districts might oftener
avoid than they do. Aud ii is another
great misfortune To be obliged, for any
cause, to surrender teacher under whose
care the school has been prosperous aud
happy. Aud IT is fault Of district to be
disposed to dismiss a teacher without the
most evident proofs that the good of the
school requires it. Sometimes an ignorant
prejudice, taken up by some portion of a
district aud the want Of prompt and cor
dial examination into the real character and
condition of the school on the part Of those
qualified to Judge, has resulted 10 the dis
mission of teacher that ought to have
been retained, and the ruin OF a school that
otherwise would have been good and prof.
table. ,.to ol,co
e., ,,ch Of these causes, and from many
.,.,- s"u human control. But 1t IS
matter worthy Of the most serious consid-
Grafton ofthe people Of the tewn, and should
lead TO the exercise Of the utmost care aud
candor To prevent their future occurrence
in all cases where prevention is possible
Care, | mean, IN the original selection Of
teachers, and ou'aOr in Judging Of them al
ter they are once employed ~ their work.
Second schools the same season are too apt
to be like the second planting of corn, too
late to come to anything but stalks In
spite Of all precautions, second planting
is sometimes necessary. But due care a.
bout the qDaHty Of the seed, aud the time
aud manner Of planting, will generally in
sure success to the first undertaking.
OF the schools that | visited the second
time, am disposed 10 give the decided pref.
ereuce to the lower school at the village
taught by Mrs. Sherburne, and the school
in district No. IL, laugh, by Miss Nye.
The school Of Mrs. S cannot help re-
garding as model school e. scholars ofthe
grade of which II consisted. The school
was large crowded into an uncomfortable
and nconyenent room, aud made mp en-
urely of the younger class OF scholars ia
the district But the order and The subor-
diuailon, the obedience and The quiet, seem.
ed complete Aud during a VISIT of an
hour or two | saw no instance of improper
behaviour, or so much as single whisper
Aud this result to ne, So surprising and de-
hghlful was accomplished by the teacher
with the greatest apparent ease to herself,
aud submitted to by the children as though
from choice aud with the most evident signs
OF satisfaction and delight As might have
been expected amid so much order aud com
fort, all the interests Of the school seemed
to flourish as plants thrive m good sol
aud in a warm aud genial atmosphere.
In Miss Nye's school saw the best elias
ses in reading, spelling, grammar and arlth-
melic that have yet seen 10 town, and the
comparison of the end with the beginning
Of the school showed more progress than
have seen elsewhere. Her school was a.
moug the smallest in town. And consid-
crng tina, she seemed to be fortunate in the
character Of her scholars, the smallness OF
her school may he regarded as having been
an advantage But in general the smallest
f schools are the poorest The common de-
feet in these schools is want of animation
, and interest IN them, and II is too often the
+ case that the district graduate the wage,
aud ability of the teacher by the number o
, nate arrangement, surely, for the scholars
, who are sent Ia those small schools. Blu
perhaps the evil scarcely admits Of a cur'
II. so long as the scholars IN those districts re
f main so few. The primary evil Is the small
ness of the districts.
To come 10 particulars il respect to Mis-
+. Nyes school, would say that her class il
Mental Arithmetic, composed Of smal
e scholars, exceeded, IN the readiness aud cor
4 rectness of their answers, aud the nenta
: discipline they exhibnedA any class of tn
j.. kind that have ever seen.
n Her class 10 written arithmetic was re
!. markable for the unusually complete an
y thorough knowledge that they appeared t
n have of The subject. Aud the exercise i
!, grammar was decidedly the bestthat hay
Il seen in town during the winter.
Town SUPERINTENDENT.
10 From the Americas chronological Journal
u THE GRAVEL WALL:
IT'S MATERIALS AND MODE O