The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-12-26

"e'eiiilllle lfom tfe daily rccltatOns what
bent the minds of his pupils are taking, and
II 1t Is wrong. that he should provide a rene
dy; consider also that in the discipline of a
score, or OF two scores of youth, there will
arse many questions demanding reflection,
and then ask yourself, what opportunity the
teacher has for reflection and Stulyo Has
he time for reflection or for sober Thought in
the school room, or has he it in the strange
family to which he goes at night Can the
teacher prepare himself for all the duties of
his school if no evening of studious quiet
comes to him?
But what is the remedy? Itmay not be too
late to provide that the teacher board at one
place: but if it is, still something may be
done. For the week YOU board the teacher
can you not provide him room and fire and
light. that he may have his books and his
quiet and hi, preparation for the morrow $
labor Cannot YOU say to him, If YOU are
mortal and if YOU partakc of the frailties COM
mon to other mortalS YOU must need rest
from the labors of the day, and opportunities
to prepare for the duties of tomorrow, and
have accordingly provided for YOU room
and fire and light" Will rot then. those op-
portunitics be improved? Ii YOU are a social
man and wish the teachers company, You
need not fear for after little rest and study
he will be in better condition for Your socc-
tv. so that one hour shall be worth more than
the whole evening otherwise. Ada to this
that YOU will respect him more. and be Your
self more respected. and that vour children
will respect him more and be more influenced
by him. and You can hardly fail Of this small
effort to make your school good one.
Now that the teacher is provided for a,
home. let us see if he is supplied with all
nec,!tul aids at the school-room? Has tn
school house good black board. of sufficient
size? If not. there is time to provide one
for this Very winter. and fifty square feet of
No good teacher Of eXpcricnc, will feel that
he can do without it.
If YOU have the blackboard. have YOU a set
Of outline maps? Many of Your scholars
study Geography. and it is a VIII established
fact that a class Will learn full twice as much
of Geography i'll a term with Outline maps
we'll used. as without them. This would
make it an object to get the maps for this
winter: but when procured, YOU will have
them for many succeeding tcrm>. for each ii
which YOU have secured doubc the acqu>i
ton of Geography, on which You can rrcnon
without them. Nor is th!> ali. there will he
a new interest awakened il school which will
extend to all the studies. The best set OF
outline maps for the common school can be
obtained for six dollars. II yon have ,hr
maps. have YOU globe? This again will b,
a new power in school. 1t will enable the
teacher to explain clearly what cannot be cx-
planned half 50 well othcrNi>c-,:l shape and
motions of the earth. the cause Of day and
night. and Of the change of Seasons. and yiv
ing to Your scholars more definite and clearer
ideas on one subject will lead to more cxac,
enquiries with regard to others. Good hab-
its Of study are Of the highest Importance
If YOU have all these. have YOU Webster 5
Unabridged Dictionary in Your >chool-room !?
This >hoLld be on every teachers desk. both
for the teachers use and for the scholars.
1t is ncc,ltul because it is il reservoir Of that
know ledge which is the first and the last to
be taught in the common school,
1t is needed because bv it the pupils can
be taught practically what is the true use Of
books of reference. which is worth more than
to possess all the knowledge it contains.
These are but a few things but they are of
immense Importance in CARRYING on the bu>i-
ness of school, What school in Ncsmont
is too poor to procure at least one of them for
this winter. if they are not already possessed ?
1t is useless to complain that such things are
little used and socn DESTROYED. for if true it
is the fault Of the parents. Let an interest
be manifested in them: let the teacher be
asked how he likes them: how. and how
much he uses them: when his classes rccitc
that use them: and tell him that YOU shall
call and see those classes perform and be sure
YOU fulfil the promise. then will black beard,
or maps. Or globe, Or anything else YOU have,
not be liable to dis,lsc or misuse.
For many other reasons it is the duty OF
parents to visit their schools. 1t is the only
way to gain an accurate knowledge of the
true character of the school which bv your
office as parent YOU are bound to know. But
chiefly. it will create an interest in the school,
its studies. its comfort and its reputation.
Every parent knows that his boy will take
better care of his little garden. or the girl of
her flower bed. if father and mother and the
neighbors go sometimes to see it, and COM
mend what is commendable, or criticise gent
" what is deserving of criticism. The good
farmer and the good housewife. with all their
usual neatness, will severally take some ex-
ira pains to have all things in order when
company is coming. Even the confirmed
slut seizes broom and falls to raising the dust
when she sees her tidy neighbor coming to
call on her. SO will school be quickened