The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-03-20

deem desirable iu the tchpnl ,hhhlFAtu W.
winch report shall be AZ the disposal Of the
Board 10 making on annual report %. the
school district
Am. T. There shall be- an annual public
eHaminalion Of each school at or near the
close Of the term, held by the boHrd OF under
its direction,
| ART o, T9f several original comm ..iteee'
cDmpTilng the hoard shall be- recognized sub
sequently 90 the organisation d. slill having
the supervision Of those matters which prev +
ously we're appropriated "a IL, and Tor when "
10 20 retain iis distinct responsibility 10 the
school district
Amer considering and adopting the Con
slitUliOB, elected the officers no follows g. T.
/ Fairbanks, Chairman, and w W. lhnyer'
3 ccreiaTy,
The organization was completed ~ 80 lnlea
period In the sehool-yelr that the assignment
Of the schools 10 the special committees was
waived In favor Of the boards proceeding, ~
whole, to attend the public examination Of
each Of the schools az the close Of the winter
term.
AZ these examinations there has been a
pretty full attendance Of The Board, and nj
some Of them few pareuIa, With other eiu'
zens, were present, These examinations have
generally, % TO scholarship aud department.
afforded gratifying indications Of faithfulness
In the teachers, and improvement OF the
schools IN one instance Il Was deemed n du'
" to express dissatisfaction with the deporI-
mcut Of the school while passing the exam
/ nation, the Board being aware however at
! the time o. peculiar circumstances, tending
considerably 10 mitigate the cause for cen
sure. And IL should be- further stated that
on that occasion there was fair exhibition
Of scholarship aud crcdilabe indications Of
advancement Proofs also have abouudcd
sufficiently confirming and Illustrating the
advantage Of the graded school system, and
suggesting high qualification that this dis,
nict has 80 far adopted H. While In at these
examinations Il appeared exceedingly desra-
be that the citizens more generally could have
. been present to witness the developments Of q
system whhh il sure TO acquire hold upon
public confidence more ana more strong in
proper ton a. its workings come under inter
cstcd observation,
/ II has further appeared desirable, increas-
ingly no, that the district should advance in
this system, and approximate nearer TO per
I lcctiug the graduation of il schoos,--that Il
should at least Immediately establish one In
/ lcrmcdiatc school, which might bc easily ar
ranged for with but trilling II any increase Of
present expense, and which would avail for
the instruction Of large number Of pupils
who must necessarily be impedcd by the pres
cncc and training Of the youngest Ia the pri'
mary school, and yet are not qualified 70 en-
ter the High School without both dctrimcnt
To those who are properly members there,
and failure TO derive for themselves the i'm
/ provcmcnt which would be more sure IN q
/ school where the instruction was appropriate
alone to their degree Of advancement. One
Of the primary schools on the Plain is partly
and almost unnyoidnbly assuming this char
actcr and position, and vet il cannot do 40
wholly, and for the benefit Of the whole dis
/ trict without some action OF the district which
shall fix a standard Of scholarship as re-
quisiiu-io admissinn, and authorize all pupils
who uttaiu that standard to come into il from
the primary schools in all parS'of THO dis
trict.
ese nominations have utsu guggcyrct
/ tho importance Of combining instruction nthc
primary schools TO those studies which are
sltiell.
+ adapted to the state Of minds, there assem-
blcd, for-prcscnt improvement, but also as
l'rcparativc 20 a scaSonablc advancement to
/ the higher schools, II is found that il high
or branches arc taught in tl,< primary schools
it is 4, disadvantages and also tends TO the
disappointment Of the pupils who, having
been so taught, attempt admission to n high.
or school, and find that they are too deficient
in elementary knowledge, and are thrown
back Of necessity, when their age and men
tai power, If it hal been rightly occupied ,
would indicate in favor ofthcir being udvnnc-
-aA--1i l. -naaiicr- Of 10 iriling- imnoriancc
to pupils in such a prcdicament that they
have been led Off, or allowed of, the right
course leading to well deserved elevation and
we'll balanced mental discipline.
! 1t will be seen in the statistics of this re-
/ port that there are comparatively few dcVia-
| tons OF this kind. Fifteen are found in three
| of the schools, of whom seven are in History.
]
mar. And 1t is submitted whether these fif-
teen, allowing them to be good scholars, have
not. To the lelriment- of tho schools beet, nc
| quring knowledge ~ Il disadvantage, as com.
| pared with its acquisition when and where it
is appropriately taught, and at the same time
/ been ncglccting n certain amount of elemcn-
| tary knowledge in which they caupot afford
ITO be deficient when they shall seek advance
mcnt to n higher school. -
Upon the subject of terms and time Of va
cations in the primary schools The Board
would suggest to the consideration of the dis
trict the advantage of such an arrangement
as would break up the long summer term
and not confne the children during the hot
test season, but have them in school during
September and October, the very best season
(or learning and for health in school,
The statistics Of the schools for the winter
term of twelve weeks Grc as follows -
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