The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-04-02

been so industrious of late in setting
forth the incompetency of teachers. 1t |
is not my purpose TO show that there are
not some grounds for the indignation ex-
pressed By "Obscrver and "a PARENT |
No doubt the facts they state are undo.
nahle. | do not wish to shield the
teacher who is unfitted for bis station
from the condemnation which is his due
The guidance OF the young who are fit
ting themselves for future usefulness,
should be intrusted to those who are
abundantly qualified to dovclope to a
healthy action all their mental, moral
and physical powers ] wish, however.
to make few observations in reference
to another point. which ought TO be held
up before the public mind whenever any.
thing is said or written about the incom-
potency of teachers. 1t is this that
the low condition of our common schools
is entirely owing to the lack of interest
manifested by parents. That is the
point to attack The parents those
who are naturally expected to take the
most interest in the subject, but who do
not seem to care nearly so much for
schools and school-houscs as for cattle
and barns-are the ones to give general
blowing up; aud not the teachers. Poo
pie don't generally discover that thoir
teacher is uufttod for his place until the
school is nearly at its close. What is
the rcason} Because they seldom go
near the school Did parents visit the
school, and thereby show their children
that they take some interest in their edn
cation, different state of things would
spring up immediately. | have taught
sovon winter schools and although |
have IN each successive winter tried ev.
cry means in my power to induce the
people in the district to visit the school
as often as once in two weeks have each
time, with Que or two exceptions. of par.
tihl success, met with signal failure
Will parents consider a moment the ef
feet which such state of things must
have upon the minds Of their children
The master announces TO the scholars
that at the end of every fortnight lie will
have a review Of studies. and it is expect
cd that their parents, brothers and sis
well they have accomplished their tasks
how well they deserve the name of
bright and in tclligent scholars. (Some
one, who we'll understands the nature Of
the young MINI says; \ word of encour-
agomcnt is worth more :han whole cat.
aloguc Of authority aud soyeiitY.") With
the expectation. then, of being viewed
before those whose opinions they fear
and respect more tEan all else in the
world. the scholars 20 to work in cara-
est. Their connteuances are flushed with
excitement, and the whole aspect Of af-
fairs is that of ambition and energy The
teacher finds no trouble inkeeping order.
he don't keep order. The scholars do
it. The day arrives for the review.
Sc. ola's come in with Sunday coa's and
Clean dresses on--look bright and hap
py-expcct the loved ones at home "
are on that day to do what they haven't
done since the scholars remembrance.
come in aud hear them rccite. Excrcis-
es commcr ce-scholars vote thcIr pa
rents bad patterns Of punctuality-Non
der why no one has arrived yet teacher
begins to look anxious goes on with eX
erci>cs-yct no one comes. Scholars
countcnances begin to fall-tcochcr coun-
sells pafience--at the same time bites his
lips. They wait all nobody ap.
pears IN sight Of the school house-schol.
ars 90 home greatly surprised and disap-
polnted--teachcr cross and irritable a
week afterwards,
The next day scholars and teacher dis
cuss the matter over and agree that per-
haps there was some cause for the appa-
rent negligence on the part Of the dis
trct-detormiue to try again-at close
of school that day sing the song " Try.
try again lin pursuit encouragement
in the sound thereof But teacher SEES
that tic scholars doa'L leicvo their own
words that they have lost much of Their
energy Still lie persc, ercs-scnds par
ticular Invitations to everybody. " Elk.
animation day" arrives again meets
with the same failurc-nobody comes, or
If one or two DO come in, say they had
nothing else to do" or happened to be
PASSING by Scholars are grieved and
OUTAIeu-leicueT vows lho p3Oplt
are all asses and ignoramuses--ha a
great MUD to be sick and 90 home
Such has been my nearly every.winter
experience, Such, | know, has been the
experience Of many others. Perhaps in
some instances of an inactive or turbulent
school the fault is in the teachers. But
my candid opinion is, that generally our
bad schools are the result of the lack of
interest among parents, There lies the
root Of the evil How can children be
expected TO be interested in what their
| parents seem to have no interest in what
ever? Tho fact is, were the peopIe in
district all awake and active in their
school aiflirs (throwlng to the winds all
those petty quarrels which often arise
from their contemplate jealousics) a
po0r teacher never would BIZ Lired.
Il.