The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-25

has been kept oy males, while two huendrd
and thirty-four by females. Tne whole num-
Der of scholars during the winter term has
been but two hundred and lightweight, Civ
ing an average in each school of tventy.two.
Ot this number two hundred and eighteen
nave given attention to arithmetic, sixty one
to grammar one hundred and twenty-one to
geography, nineteen to history, one hundred
and fifty 20 penmanship, and nine to book
keeping. Nearly or quite the whole number
uaVe gwen their attention to reading and
spelling. In our schools are found some fine
scholars, who deserve words of 1mmenda-
ton for their decorum, diligence and deter
mina,ion to win the laurels OF the good schol-
ar. There are teachers in town this year
whnse reputation should not be confined to
;he narrow limits of the districts where their
valuable services have been bestowed, but
the town should know CT their professional
worth as teachers We have men in every
district who feel interested in promoting the
cause Of education in their midst. The re-
suits attending our educational movements
are sufficient to encourage increased interest
and effort.
The Importance oe our common schools,
and the yearly Sums expended for education
al purposes, should awaken, at least with pa
rents and taxpayers, increased attention to
tie subject. Inasmuch as the school registers
are not returned to the clerks office until
sometime in the month Of March, complete
statistics of the schools for the current year
cannot be given, but will furnish some for
the year ending March 81, 1868:
The number Of heads of families as report
ed last year was three hundred and sxty-one;
the number of children between the ages of
four and eighteen years were three hundred
and slxty-fve; the average attendance of
this number during the year in only TWO
hundred and sixty. The whole number of
weeks of school taught by males was sew
enty-six; the whole number taught by fe-
males was two hundred and eighteen; the
sum paid male teachers for seven,y-six weeks
exclusive of board was S326 so; the amount
paid female teachers for two hundred and
eighteen weeks, exclusive of board, was
S399.je; the amount paid for the board OF
teachers during the year was S306.17; the
amount paid for fuel, furniture, d Incident
ais was S115.S4; the Whole amount raised
upon the grand LIST by school districts !.
town was S6G052 the amount raised Upon
the scholar by school districts in town WAS
S20.25 the whole amount of public mo! ev
distributed 10 March, 1863. for school pur-
poses was S6222..2; the amount expended in
repairing schuol houses last year vas S23S,
30 the. amount expended for te chsrs' va
ges, board and full in town was Sll09.11.-
There were lOS weeks of schoo, supported
, by other means than those drawn from the
the town treasury.
BY vote of the town one year ago district
No. If was added to the family of school
districts. Though TIE Youngest in the fra
.erni,y vet rot the least in the amount Of
grand list. number of scholars. and interest
in sustaining the object of their organization.
They have erected and complete. a small
/ but convenient school house, at an expense
Of $3.50.
There are various simple and practicable
means within the reach of I'll, by w:aich tae
character If our schools c1uld be elevated
and their efficiency increased. Among theS-
Il more foil attendance upon the annual
school msetif g, is prominent. Tne interest
trlt and the attention that parents give to
constant attendance of their children at the
school room. H. making our schools all
that could be desired, would suggest that
an efficient cooperation of the friends Of
the cause in each district receive increased
attention. Let prudential committees, pa
rents, and all friends of education often visi,
tie schools in their respective districts, OBJ
serve the order and manner OF teaching de-
pertinent and proficiency Of the scholars
an! evince an interest in the success
OF the school. The interest we feel and
manifest in the subject Of education will Sc
cure to ourselves grseful remembrance
| Under the iIhleace Of an earnest and well
rectitied public sentiment, WITH the intelligent
and efficient corporation Of the frlenis Of
the Cause in each district, we shall soon reap
! tae reward which our fathers have profered
US in this vitally important work and our
common schools will become what they were
i0tended-the greatest OF our civil and So
cial blessings.
Respectfully submitted,
NJ. G. HENDERSON, Supt.
A Kind Act by President Lincoln.