The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-04-08
SCHOOLS.

l am happy In this report to be able TO con-
gratulats you upon the comparatively satis-
factory condition of your schools generally.
1t would crafty me still more to be able to
report their condition as satisfactory without
any qualification. But good school is pro-
duct of many and diverse forces and as these
are seldom under the control of one indivld-
ual, and are hence liable to be inefficient,
inharmenious and sometimes belligerent, fail
ures will happen. They ale certainly less
frequent than knowledge Of the difficulties
under which many of our schools are con-
Quoted would lead US to anticipate. They
can be wholly avoided only by patient dis
cipIire of the individuals and influences that
make the school into efficient and harmoni-
Gus cooperation.
An essential prerequisite for good school
is well qualified teacher. and among the
qualifications to be sought experience should
not be regarded as Of triAing value. There
must necessarily be beginners in this as in
all other occupations, but the smaller the
number that circumstances require the better
The very satisfactory condition to which the
High, intermediate and some of the Primary
schools in district No. have attained dur
ing the past year is due, in large measure
to the matured skill Of their, teachers acquired
by years devoted to the service. The good or.
der, r,attention to study, accurate recltations and
regularity of attendance that have been Sc
cured in these schools during the several
terms of the year furnish proof, at once, that
their teachers have had experience in their
occupation. As the schools in most Of the
districts are too short to give permanent en-
ployment to their teachers there is, | am
aware, necessity for frequent changes. But
the changes are more frequent than the ne
cessity of the case requires, and it is very
manifest tha. the introduction of new
teacher ito the service of the district at
the beginning of every term Of twelve
weeks school, as the records show to have
been done in majority of the districts dur
ing the past year, is chief source of what
ever is deficient or unsatisfactory in the COR
dition of those schools. I! takes the whole
term for teachers thus employed to learn
what material they have to wolk with, what
cooperation outside of the school-room they
may rely upon, and how they may most easily
and successfully do the work entrusted to
them. Be assured, therefore, if you would
have schools for your children very much
better than you have hitherto had, You must
first not only procure competent teachers tut
retain them longer in Your service.
Another requisite for good school, though
not so essential as the former,is convenient
and comfortable school house, and upon this
point feel obliged TO say that in some Of
your districts tae quality Of your teachers
and their schools the past year has been very
much better than their accommodations. The
houses in districts Nos. 6, Z, s, 9, II and Is
are in very unsatisfactory condition, and
ought to receive Immediate attention, from
those especially who have children to be ed
ucated in them. Some of them are not SO
thoroughly unfit for their uses as others, but
they all need thorough repairing to be COM
Portable and healthy, not TO say pleasant ten
ements for children. Besides the influence
of such houses upon the health and improve
ment of the children, it is to be remembered
that we'll qualified and successful teachers will
not long labor contentedlyin in them. The dis
trict that has a good school house ,riu, for
that reason, secure and retain the serriceS Of a
better teacher, and at lOacer compensation.
A very small outlay by the districts mention
ed above would put their houses in COM
paratively satisfactory condition and the ben
eficial results, am confident, would soon be
manifest IN the better schools that would be
kept within them.
The school registers supply a suggestion
in this conne1ion. Very few visitors. wheth-
er parents, guardians or others, have spent
any time with schools kept in the school
houses, having within cherries look and
poor accommodations. The report Of one
teacher Of one of the larger schools in the
town, during the past winter, represents that