Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-04-29
1tsgtllonfous.
RE P OR T
81 surgniNTENpENr OF COMMON SCHOOLS,
WAITSFIELD, VT, MARCH, 1852.
fnactna I'M nnhlcnilon b, nnnncstl

WAITSFIELD, VT, MARCH, 1852.
loaerod for publication b, Reqacst.l
Among the evidences of increasing in
sersst IN Common Schools, which we enjoy
"a common with very many towns Of the
safe is an improvement IN the condition
Of our School houses We can boast Of
three as beautiful aud commodious school
houses as are to be found in the county
aud the others are ali very good look ing and
credltable, The past year, The Mil DIS.
trici las substituted for its old house, which
vet did not answer to the description of sew
eral old school houses mentioned in the last
State Report, an elegant new one, which at
once gives a new character to the school
Il proves attractive for the roll has in
creased from - as il stood last winter, to
"a ihls winter. 1t IS very tasteful build
mg, economical yet generous IN its arrange
ments, aud very chaste aud agreeable in It's
painting. 1t IS a matter of regret that the
Centre School House, 40 being moved and
neatly fixed up, was not enlarged according
to the original plan. la my first visit to 1t
this winter, the scholars we're slowed, m
some instances, three IN seat. beside Two
90 the desk aud four on the desk steps
THIS is altogether too close crowding for
room ~ a school house IS one of the first
Of conyeniences. The South School house
on the river is also quite too small and in
convenient for the increasing number of
scholars. But am glad to report that
they propose to repair and enlarge It this
sumner. !, is to be hoped that they will
DO 1t 10 the credit of themselves and the
town
The proper qualification aud instruction
ol toe teacher IS a fundamental point IN our
school system. The expenditure of money
by the State on Teachers Institutes and
Normal School is really more profitable aud
betting, than TO bestow all the public mo-
ney directly on the schools For if good
teachers are provided and their value learn
ed, districts will prefer them, though they
be obliged to pay a larger tax The Su-
pefintendent Of Public Instruction ia Ken
lucky makes suggestion on this subject,
which 1t would be profitable for thls State
deliberately TO consider 1t IS only three
years since that State has adopted the COM
mon school system, yet their annual expen-
iiture of pubic money Is 5000 more
han Of tins State. The Superintendent
suggests to the Legislature the plan Of max.
ug Pennsylvania University the head OF
the Common School system and out OF
SIS, 900 of pubic money, to apply Sc,OOO
ior qualifying teachers. Would II not be
Better" he inquiries, to spend s., 900 to
furnish 200 900 children with good teach
ers than to give each Of these children tour
cents piece, and allow them TO have poor
ieachersw (Vt State Report, p. 40.) -
Vermont has about half tins number of
scholars; aud now greatly would half this
expenditure, or 1900, Tor securing better
teachers, improve our common schools
The proportion of male teachers IN town
Is increasing, and also the number OF school
children. Last winter there were male,
and D female teachers; this winter u male,
and 3 female teachers. There have been
lag weeks taught by females, at the aver
age wages OF 81 81 per week There
have been - weeks taught by males, at the
average of 100 per week.
The total expense of the schools has been
Wages OF male teachers, $3.50 80
" female A" 229.5
Board of teachers, 1851
lncidentals, 200
Total. S776Sl
The number of school children in tow
Is $40. The number of scholars, enrolled
by the teachers IN summer schools, was
2oi; of which the average attendance a
my visits was l6l The number of schol
ars enrolled in the winter schools was
w average attendance at my visits, 262
Three schools had term of IL weeks; two
term Of ii weeks; one a tern OF IL
weeks paid by a district tax. The othe
schools had the usual term of IL weeks.
The schools of this town have good de
gree Of uniformity in school books. TIT
benefit is seen in the schools not bein,
crowded with classes. But | noticed on
EVIL OF this kind this winter. In the Cent?,
school, IN consequence of having boil
Sanders and Towns Readers, Their
were seven classes, where were all tina
were needed. In the South School, Town
series is wholly used in the ether schools
Sanders Series. The lower numbers @
The series, e. g. Sanders First, Second an
third Readers are so soon finished, aud III
pupil passes SO rapidly from one 10 the 9th
ef, that there is not need of these beln
changed very often. The highest Reader i
the series is used longer, and the scholar
may get wearied of il, and a change ma
be desirable. To effect this both Sanders
Fourth and Towns Fourth, may be USED
That excellent book, which is ye. found i
some of the schools, Porter's Rhetoric1
Reader; is good one for the most adyane
ed scholars.
Many teachers carry their classes yer
rapidly through the Reading Book. Som
Glasses have gone over their Reader two c
three times this winter. This mistakes I'll
object of this exercise in school. II is be