The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-01-30


iu..uhich ti1e, hare not really 90 mueh inlefs
esl ~ 10 the, Common School, Whether ilis
realized or 9pb every mhabiiaht Is affected
b. ihe elssiaetrr Of the school Our
liyes nrel v9iIh more, ~ well as our e.
saiss, ahen COR loi q oasl among those who
oppreciale ifhs value Of good Common
6abc0ls -.
Though our schools arc far nom being
what they Ought 10 he, yet whoever viii com
pare iheiT present condition with what il was
vii Gud cause fgr encouragement The teach
ga are better qualified and the character Of
the teaching i superior 10 that Of former
yesr. TheW IL one cEoeption 10 this 70.
mark penmanship = no better taught than
several year ago, Heading Is much better
taught, theif ATs better readers than former
y we're iovf y oHT schools.
The nseeurslI step TO be taken nov, is' to
rial the sebpq1, Then Improvement WIll FOL.
low a. a naiisalsuisequenee. The badly ar
ranged seats % some Of our school houses
sill be removed and new ones provided. IT.
forts viii be made 90 Trnder our school
rohms more pleasant aud attractive, by pro-
yidiag suitable furniture and apparatus, The
dwelling, Of almost all our people are better
furnished siat r5rnerly. aud the school room
should NOT bs 40 s1erpdon to the general
improvement. Good Substantial deOr sleps,
door or foQ( ,srsPrrs and mats are quite use
hil An s1ieniion to order aud neainess
should be Qbscrvsd IN the school house, and
without. hrouRd II. II paEsnts and others
make Il b6idt to yisit their sehools good
effect. mua gneve,sarily follow. Il will i'm
prsm tlis nnhds Of children with the fact
that thsir advancement IL n matter Of vast
moment. 80 much 20. that busy men take
time 70 visit the school, and are DESTROYS to
know by personal examination that their
children ara happy at school, and have reason
90 love Il.
UNIFORMITY or BOOKS.
The books ussd In the schools rank high
for their excellence. This is particularly true
Of the Heading Docks, Towns series. a
change at present "a not desirable In any Of
the books used. Those interested would do
well TO use their influence in preserving the
prcscnt uniformity Of books. There il an
obvious advantage in using tho-IAme series
Of boohi' throughout the town. Scholars
sometimes find Il convenient to attend school
In an sdjoining district Tor time, and when
having siyhilar books, noladditional class is
needed and the presence Of such scholars, II
well disposed. is no detriment, but a mutual
advantage IA secured. No change In the
books In as6 Is recommended. One or two
additional books are needed. Dictionaries
arc quite useful aud necessary, yet very few,
indeed, are found even IN the winter sehools.
A History Of the United States adapted 10
the capacity Of children OF ten or twelve
years Of age, Il is believed, would be useful
In our schools. A love OF history should be
early nytiiled aud cherished In the minds Of
our youth. Especially should they be In
-.-,.s,-i y. ,hs hisiasy Of their osh country.
This Is Indispensable to qualify them for an
Intelligent discharge Of their duties as eili.
Eena.
CONCLUDING SUGGESTIONS.
Common Schools arc justly regarded the
PRIZE Hud Ri1ry=ef= sairr-iiirEirfr,.-
changes in our aystem Of Common Schools
have been found necessary TO meet the gr wv
ing warts % thu age. IL We endcavor 10
trace out The dtfepts IN Uur Soho0Fl, and TO
ascertain tho rcason that they arc not better
than they arc, where probably would our In
vestigations lead usP This is an important
inquiry; Twill state my own convictions,
aud leave others to form their own opinions
and act accordingly.
In the. frat place, see no reason why our
system OF Common Schools, as now estab-
lished by law, Is not good one. aud adapt.
oil to DE spirit Of our institutions and the
character and condition OF our people. There
- reason TO believe thu, Il will be sustained,
aud that the preeens efTor, to carry out It's
provisions viii receive the sanction md CO.
operatlSh o. tho Rrca, mass Of the people Of
the State It-is to he hoped that this town,
faNorably known FOR It's interest In education
and distinguished az the ssas Of Essex Coun.
~ Grammar School, will be true to itself and
fully sustain Ia reputation as patron Of adj
vsnrsmc11t. Let thu system have fair trial
by complying as far "a practicable with all Of
lie provisions and requirements.
Il eaaaak conacientionslx ascribe any great
want II competency or faithfulness TO our
teAehers Generally they have done well,
hut thaf Efll do better IL the people eneour-
age tisein( II would be folly In ms to state
that ouE,Fehools are no better, because the
ehildrer and youth who attend them are not
competent TO succeed as scholars In attain
ments'nnd morals, as well as any In the
State, because none Of you would believe Il,
nsithsy, dol ,hsiieve Il. Concord furnishes
fair rFopSsionof advanced scholars. And
one Of ysr most encouraging features OF our
history is the fact thut VIC have so many ma
tive teachers.
ousaRquiry then is contracted to narrow
limits We End our system good ono, our
isachonpN nampetent and faithful. and our
ehildfehs Intelligent and capable as any in the