Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-06-22

EXPERIENCES AND OBSERVATIONS or SCHOOL
KEEFihG.


Engages the schOolin BHckstos0n village
Companions are snUious- 2rena6Les
as the great day. approachss-A
sleepIess night-APpears before the
Communicable EraminatiOn-Re-
taectio,ss.
had just completed my seventeenth
year and session of schooling at the
Charmingvsle Institute. With feeling
of self-gratulation / had engaged to keep
the district school of Buckstown village,
ten miles from home, for fourteen dollars
per month and board around" Some
of my companions had sought similar en-
gagements but without success, and they
said that l felt quite big "cause / was
going to teach a country school," Be
that as it may, began to feel considera-
BILE anxiety as the time approached when
/ must pass the ordeal of examination
for appreciation. ] had SO magnifed, in
my imagination, the responsibilities of
my office that 1 feared that should only
make a Notifying failure. ! most of
all dreaded the ordeal before the Exa-
mining Committee, spent days and nights
examining Arithmetic, Geography and
Spelling Book, and began to wish that
/ had waited, till my beard was grown,
before embarking in this enterprise
Friday night l slept not wink of sound
sleep, but tossed about, tortured by
dreams of lowering committee men, big
ugly boys, strapping noisy girls, and
children full of fun, and parents all ask
ing that special attention be paid to their
George or William, or Nancy or Sarah,
1.-THE latter, little girls.) Saturday morn
ing ! concluded to face bravely my des-
tiny and keep stiff upper lip; but, in
spite Of all l could do. my heart would
come up to my mouth, and / dreaded
the possibility that 1 might not pass the
ordeal.
started on my way with my trunk
packed, having my venerated father for
companion. We arrived in due season
to the office of DIR. A. allopath, chairman
of the examining Committee. He was
not at home but was expected soon,
while his associates on the Committee.
DR.. B. homeopath, and Rev. Mr.. C. or
thodox Congregationalist, were in readi-
ness, expecting to receive and examine
the teachers according to Law" After
half an hours chat, DR.. A. arrived, and
at about the same time, FIVE or six other
candidates for pedag ogue honors.
Now the examination commenced
which was conducted in the following
manner. All the candidates were exa
mined together, as in class, each one
answering by turn, DR.. A. taking the
lead in asking questions, DIR. B. follow.
ing, and Rev. Mr.. C. closing up. They
began with spelling book. DR.. A. hat
selected list of long hard words rarely
used and some of them quite obsolete
DIR. 3. had selected similar list, while
Mr.. c. had no prepared list. Some OIL
the words selected were properly spelled
and some of them were not. At ever,
) misspelt word DR.. A. drew on a profes
sional countenance as if feeling the pulls,
of dying man. DR.. B. changed not
muscle, but simply said " let it pass
while Mr.. G. exhibited the most quie
unconce-n till it became his turn to uues
ton. He pursued an entirely differen
course from the other two. His cues
tons were few, but eminently practical
calculated to draw out our knowledge @
the elements of language, and the prin
cipal rules of its formation, He aske,
for the sounds Of various letters,-rule
for the spelling of certain classes of de
f riyative words and then put out for spell
; ing few of tine more difficult but com
1 mon words in daily use. Reading wa
next subject of trial and the thre
dignitaries exhibited peculiarities in thei
!, mode of examination very similar I
those already noticed. ORA. had selecte
a difficult passage in Milton, DR.. B. ha
Rufus Choate's Eulogy on Webster, an
: selected the passage where one sentenc
S extended over three pages, and Mr..
: took from his pocket the daily newsps
2 per and selected the items of intellieenc
e and the piece of poetry in the corne,
then took the common reading book an
. selected the story by Wilson of " Har
nah Lamond's BARN ta'en off by a
Eagle" Similar courses were pursue
4 with other departments, and any failur
:. met with the same professional sadnes
on the part of DR.. A., the same sugar
!, let it pass" from DR.. B. and the sam
len A