Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-06-13
Our Schools.
State Com.


At the present moment nearly two hundred fe-
males are engaged in as many different schools in
this county, Sin controlling petulance, exciting
indifference to action, striving to enlighten stupid
ty, and laboring to soften obstnacy; and whose
very powers of intellect have been COMPOUNDED by
hearing the same dull lesson repeated n hundred
times by rote, and only varied by the various blum
ders of the recitcrs If to these mental dstresses
are added n delicate frame Of body, and mind am
bilious Of some higher distinction than that Of be-
ing the tyrant of childhood, the reader may have
some slight conception Of the relief which solita-
ry walk, in the cool of n fine summer evening, al
fords to the head which has ached, and the nerves
which have been shattered for so many hours, in
PLYING the irksome task of public instruction"
Such is not an ovcrdrawn picture Of a mcritori-
Gus class of young women who are now engaged in
teaching in the public schools in Windham County.
They commence early, work late, and are suffered
to plod on unrelievcd by the faces and kind words
Of those who ought to be most interested in their
labors The school-room, the scene Of their tolls,
trials and difficulties, are seldom Or never visited
by the parents of the pupils. The children are
sent off in the morning and in many cases the par
ent is only too happy at the prospect Of relief their
absence affords. Whether they go to school or
play the truant is matter that cxcitcs but little
concern; and if they grow up ignorant, with a
disrelish for study the fault is charged directly to
the teachers, who are denounced an idle and in
sufficient set of persons.
Now every parent ought to know that the child
early catches and is governed by the same general
tone of feeling and action that cxcites and nuen-
ces the parent. In the matter Of schools, If the
mother is not interested in the progress in learning
of her children, no amount Of labor on the part o
the teacher can inst into their minds thirst fol
knowledge stream cannot rise higher than the
fountain, nor will child be likely to attain stan
dard that is not pointed out to him by those whom
nature has appointed as his guides
The greatest obstacle at present in the way o.
the success of our public schools is the lack Of in
terest on the part of parents They do not suff
GENTLY visit the schools and engage in promoting
,hsi- -os nari.,- w. ,h;rt The. - 'ha facts rs-
known it would be found that no. nearly all Of tn,
public schools in this county were visited at al
from their commencement to their termination
The teachers were suffered to spend their time ant
with it the money raised by the districts, withou
any inquiry into the manner of the expenditure
and without any knowledge of the righteousness o
the investment.
Efforts are now in progress to excite create
interest in the cause Of public instruction. In N
way can these efforts be seconded ably or effect
ually as by frequent yisitations Of the schools b.
all those who have children therein. Ills unecessa
ry that the parent should be able to examine mi
nutely into the qualifications Of the teacher. Thi
is desirable it is true. But the object sought 70
will be attained by the frequent attendance of tn
parent upon the exercises of the school. Bot
teacher and pupils will feel encouraged by sue
visitation and will be melted by it to greater yea
and diligence in their respective duties. They wi
feel to greater extent that the eyes of the com
munity upon them and that they will be hel
responsible for the proper discharge of their seve
raj duties.