Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-16
REPORT
Of REV. GEO. PUTNAM, Superintendent
of Common Schools for the ToaUn Of
Albany, March 6, 1860.


conferred but also of my own incapacity
of meeting the responsibilities of the Of
fee, having neither attended nor taught
school for nearly forty years-the litera-
ture Of our country having progressed
during the same period beyond a proceed
ent. | have however, as l have had
ability endeavered to discharge the du-
ties of the office-Though it has been
with much embarrassment. lam happy
TO say with regard TO the schools there
are indications Of improvement. With
in few years ten out of the fourteen
districts have furnished themselves with
school houses, several of which are of a
superior grade and all answer well the
purposes for which they were designated.
As TO the other school houses, the one
in district No. ? may be considered passa-
bic; too valuable doubtless to be thrown
away, and yet it makes but an ordinary
appearance when compared with the
buildings with which it is surrounded
A new house would be much to the cred
it of the district and also to the comfort
of those attending school.
The school house in district No. 4
has been vacated the past season I I'M
derstand for the want of scholars. ]
visited the school in the summer and
found bat three scholars in attendance
and was informed by the teacher that
only five were connected with the school
The house also has gone to decay so thai
a new one becomes indispensable, provid
ed the district does not fail up and be
come obsolete, which considering the mag
nitude Of it would be misfortune mucI
to be regretted. A disposition is mani
tested TO sustain the district, and It is saiC
there are quite a number of children WIZ
will soon be of sufficient age to attend
school. This being the case, preparation
for new house should soon be made.
A new house is also called for in dis
trict No. 5, unless those who compare tn,
district shall find it for their interest t
be annexed to other districts which ar
contiguous. The board of education re
commend the formation Of large dis
tricts rather than small ones wheneve
circumstances are favorable thereto
How ii is in the present case it is no
my province to determine. 1t is an i'm
portant question and ought not to be de
cided without due consideration.
The school house in district No. 10
considering the wealth of the district ant
the number of scholars attending schoo
is by far the most objectionable. A pro
fitable school in such house would no
be in accordance with the common orde
Of things. But Knowing the characte
OF the people, their ability to accomplish
what ever they undertake, and withall
their unwillingness to be outdone b
their neighbors, l am sanguine in tn
expectation that ere long the old dilap
dated shool house (though to be honor
ed for the good it has done) will b
forced to give place TO one at least nc
inferior to any that has yet appeared
As the prosperity of our schools depend
much on the character Of our scbo,
houses, it is to be hoped the reform S
favorably commenced will progress III
til there hall be no school house in an
district of which as a people we sha
have reason to be ashamed.
There is also some improvement as
teachers. l think our teachers are be
ter educated, more laborious, and nor
successful than heretofore, and give be
ter satisfaction. l am sorry however
be obliged to say there are exception
Though with regard to most of tb
teachers l have heard no complain
whatever, it has not been so with all
Some have bees represented as deficiel
not so much in literary attaintments {
IN the management of their schools
Ihls has been much regretted, yet as
disposition has been manifested on tb
part OF the teachers TO do the best the
could, DO serious difficulty has ensued.-
l think as a whole we may congratulate
ourselves that the past has been rattle
a prosperous year, perhaps as much s
as any that has preceded it.
There is evidently great disparit
IN the character of teachers of the sam
literary grade. Some fail as to govern
ment. Others have no gift to teach
They know enough but have not III
faculty OF communicating what the
know to others. They were not mad
for teachers, and it is unfortunate f
them that they have undertaken to /
such. Others are not fond of teachin,
nor are they fond of children, and it