The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-01-06
TillO0e Meeting.

the 4th inst, the following officers were
chosen for the year ensuing:
Presidem-E. c. RedingtOn.
C7erk-O. w. Baker.
Trustees-A. S. Livingston, Al. Willard,
John NJ. Hancock, Lindorf Morris, Emer-
son Hall.
Treasurer-Ephraim Jewett.
CoUector-L. B. Flint.
Fire Wardens-Harvey COWdery, >. T..
Potter. Frederick Bugbee, l.. B. Flint, Dan
ford Wiley. Mitchell Bowker, j. r. Bald
win.
Am7itors-E. A. Walker, VIM. p. Fair
banks A. NJ. Cook.
1t was voted to pay each engine company
500 annually, exclusive Of stewards fees,
provided the companies are kept up to 60
men each; and that the hook and ladder
company be paid $50 annually, provided
that the company be kept up to 30 men,
1t was voted to raise Is per cent on grand
list to pay expenses of the village.
orr SchOOJs--One More ImprOre-
ment NeeGed.
st. .Johnsbury is Justly proud of her
school houses and school system. In both
these she has followed, more or less close
ly, the best institutions in Massachusetts
and Connecticut. But there is one point in
which our schools fall very much below the
standard they should maintain. and in this
respect they are decidedly inferior to the
schools we have attempted to initiate. We
refer to the matter of discipline. The gov
eminent of school is ruined when schOl-
ar large enough to be a lady can call her
teacher the most diSrespectful and vulgar
names before the whole school. and vet 90
unpublished. There is no discipline worthy
the name when scholars club together and
continually break an established rule of the
school and are not humbled for it. Some
may think we are cenSuring the teachers
for this lack. but we must say that the pa
rents of the scholars are primarily and prin-
cipally TO blame. 1t has come to such a
pass in this town that parents say to the
teacher: Make your scholars mind; keep
good order. and discipline the unruly."
Very good. The teacher attempts to follow
out her instructions: but in order to make
her scholars respectful and her school Or
derby Jones's child gets punished. Imme-
diately there is a row. 1T was my child
that was disciplined: one of the most ODE
dent. Hentlest little creatures that ever liv-
ed. If it had been Smith, boy | should MT
| have wondered for he is the worst boy in
town. But then Smith is rich. and the
/ teacher dare not cross a rich mans child.
Il is all Partially. and | won't stand it.
SO Jones goes home to nurse his wrath and
eat his dinner-he tells his wife-they talk
| it over, and the result is Mrs. Jones goes
up to the schOOl-h0uSe. and entering while
! the school is in session. begins TRADE of
abuse upon the teacher that ceases only
when she gets out of breath. The teacher
is not asked or allowed Il word of eXplana-
ton, but Mrs. Vixen Jones lets fly her cpl
tlets and Vulgarity till exhausted. and then
stalks out of the school-room. The next
! day Mr.. Jones goes to the teacher and says
what Mrs. Jones forgot IN her anger to say.
and great deal more. Parents, this is no
fancy sketch. The above are facts with as
Sumed names. And do You ask what the
! OltnSt of the teacher was: She thought
: proper to change the seat of Miss Jones.
taking care to give her one equally as de-
Sirable. This was the length and breadth
of her otfense. Allowing Us to be judge.
the great mistake Of parents is in siding
With their children against the teacher.
They believe every silly rumor that they
, hear about the teacher, and comment upon
it before their children. Our schools will
not be what they mi ght be. what they
should be. or what they are in other States.
until the parents cooperate with the teach
rrS in mainta aiming a strict and wholesome
discipline over their schools. even if ''my
child is the first one to suffer. I'VE have
exceeded the limits Of a local" but have
far from exhausted the subject. 1t is I'M
necessary. Or ought to be, to speak Of the
meanness of adding one care to the over
buTdened and perplexed school mistress
or the cowardicc Of attacking an unprotect
ed lady anywhere. Verify there is one i'm
provement vet to be made in our schools
l. and the parents are recreaiit to their trust
: and blind to the best interests of their chill
: dren if they do not see that ii is made a
q once.