The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18


disposed school, but did not think however
al the time OF my visit that the discipline wa.
Suilclent to ensure success in that school.
District No. 5.-The summer term was
taught by Miss Jane Meserve. Lack ol
promptness and energy on the part of the
teacher, and, consequently, order on the part
OF the scholars, made this school of little val
ue. The second term was taught in the fall
by Miss Emeline Jones. l visited it but
once. Found good order and good degree
of interest manifested, especially on the part
of the teacher.
District No. G.-Tke summer term was
taught by Miss Amy Green. Good order
was maintained, but there was not that abiIi-
ty OH the part of the teacher to awaken an
interest, and impart instruction that we had
reason to expect from one of her experience.
Some improvement, however, was made.
The winter term was taught by your SER
want. | found the school easy to govern and
eager to learn.
District No. THE summer term of this
school was taught by Miss Sarah A. Masoon.
There was good order maintained and as
much proficiency made by the school as we
could reasonably expect, considering the in
e. perence of the teacher.
The winter term was taught by Mr. VIM.
Noyes, teacher equally inexperienced, but
possessing good abilities for maintaining Or
der, and imparting thorough and correct in
struction. This school could not fail to be
profitable.
District No. $40 school of any kind
has been sustained in this district during the
past year. They have, however, built new
school house, which shows that the subject
Of education is not forgotten.
District No. 9.-But one legal school has
been maintained in this district during the
past year. This was the winter term taught
by Miss Jane Morgan.
Although young in years, and destitute of
experience, but few shoots were under better
discipline, or made better improvement, than
this. Her instruction was thorough and cor
rect, and her government mild but firm.
District No. 10.-The summer term was
taught by Miss Emeline Jones, good schol-
ar and thorough teacher. A good interest
was awakened in the minds Of her pupils at
the commencement of the school, the benef-
clal effects of which were clearly manifest at
our last visit, toward its close, by the man.
ner and correctness Of their recitations, as
well as 10y their advancement in their studies.
Tie winter school was taught by Miss Mar
garet Lumsden. l visited this school but
orce. There was lack of order, but of her
final success cannot report.
REMARKS.
While | believe that the schools in this
town, during the past year, will compare fa-
vorably with those of many other towns in
the state, still great Improvements essential
to their future success ought at once to be
made. And first, while there are few good
school houses in town, the most of them are
entirely unfit for the purpose. This is en-
phatically true Of those in districts Nos. l, B.
), :, 9 and 10. While all of these houses
are very unpleasant and uncomfortable in
their construction, some of them are located
it would seem, in the most unpleasant place
that could be found, and while they are low
and destitute Of any furniture or apparatus
of any description (not even shovel or tongs
water pail or cup, or even that seemingly ne
cessary artice-a chair, being found in most
OF them.) They are entirely destitute of any
means of ventilation, except by that danger
Gus way of opening the door or raising a
window. And the benches are adapted to
the convenience, or rather inconvenience o1
adults instead of children. In such places as
these we are vainly attempting the education
elevation and refinement of our children. If
parents realized the result of confning their
children, during the tender period OF youth
upon such benches, in such houses, even up.
on their health and physical constitution, to
say nothing of the mind, such houses would
not long be endured.
District No. has built the past year a
very pleasant, good school house, in pleas.
ant place. This house is we'll and beautiful.
ly finished throughout. Those who antici
pate building school house would do well
to examine this and take the hight of the va
rious grades of seats and desks and notice
the way by which it is ventilated, if nothing
more.
District No. has a very good schoo
house, nearly new. The desks, however, are
much too high, the seats are too narrow and
too far from the desks, and their backs ap
proach too near the perpendicular. In Other
respects the house is quite convenient and
pleasant.
VISITING SCHOOLS.
Here also great reform is needed. Very
few parents ever enter the school room.-
They see no Importance attached to it. Thi:
fought not so to be-" Every parent should
visit their school at least twice during eacl
term. The beneficial results of this would
be, first to increase his interest in the educa
ton of Lis own children, if not in that of tht
whole school. Second, by seeing your inter