The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-02-02


that the boys and girls, while at
school, ought to be kept in separate I
rooms. But this notion ! believe to
be altogether erroneous, and if not |
Objectionable in theory, it is, under !
the circumstances, utterly impractica-
bic. 1t is moreover at war not only /
with due economy in the adminstra- /
ton OF the system of graded schools, 7
IL is believed TO be ut war also with
the laws of nature. Children of both /
sexes grow up together in the family,
sit at the same fresde, cat az the
8 same table, Join in the same amuse.
| monts, and in the devotions of the I
= sanctuary they sit and kneel side (
] 10y side. Aud the notion in ques-
: ton refutcs itself the moment the at
Y tempt is made TO realize it in practice.
y For although the sexes are separated
g in theory in the High and Grammar
e schools, vet they are allowed to recite
b together in the same classes The at
q tempt TO separate the sexes in our
y public schools does not succeed and
ought not to succeed Only injury to
J. the schools results from the attempt to
s separate them and still greater injury
T. would result if the attempt were car
j. ried out The practical difficulty in
: the way of the separation of the sexes
g in these schools IS that there are not
pupils enough in the district, attend
le ing school, to constitute separate
Is male and female department for each
D. grade of scholars, without inter
LII, e. 1t.,s ,tl a
v at q greatly increased expense. As n
Sc matter Of fact, the girls and boys are
g. not kept in separate rooms except for
or study, for in their rccitations they do
OF and must meet in the same classes;
d. and it is, on the whole, not only the
u natural and economical, but the only
o. practicable way Entire isolation of
IN the sexes in school is as little desirable
ne rs in the family circle If the two High
h School rooms could be united in one,
by removing the partition between
ell them, thus securing unity as to cassi-
er fcation, order and discipline, and the
le- same thing be done with the two
he Grammar schools, uniting them also
is, under one head, with the same NUM-
or Der OF teachers as at present, tho
ne schools might then be perfectly grad
nd ed, as they never can be with til,
$ rooms cut up and the schools divided
lar ass they are now In that case schol-
es ars could be admitted, annually, with
rs out regard to sex, to the school fol
lat which they are qualified; and whei
ial these changes shall have been made il
the school house and IN the organiza
ISIS ton Of these schools, there is hardl,
-. anything more to be desired as there
y is an admirable and elegant schoo
Mt house and corps Of accomplished
he and faithful teachers, to raise thes'
ry, schools to the highest excellence anC
SKIS efficiency Additional accommoda
! 6 tons are however required for prima
ing ry schools.
Po- The school house on Elm street ough
ms; to be, and ere long must be- enlarged
IS by raising the roof and carrying th'
w walls up another story and SO making
eN- room for tie increase Of pupils in tina
cen section of the village.
ue, At my first visit to the primar,
school on Elm street June 5th, Their
- were 81 scholars registered and z
~ present; at my second visit, Sept. 29tl
''e there were 81 registered, and, on &C
count of the prevailing sickness, onl
81 present with insufficient accom-
lli' modations for even the smallest {
these numbers Only A seats wer
provided in the original constructi0
IN of the house. and the surplus Of pupil
~. ~ was crowded into the settees place
= next to the walls. The school ha
manifestly outgrown its accommod;
Nv i tons, and another room ought to |
W provided so that those scholars VIII
80 become qualified may have an equi
'"o chance with other scholars in the di
A az trict for admission to the Grammf
w and High school. | found the teache
=; Miss Curtis, laborious and faithful
- ~ but it was hardly possible ft
her or for any one to keep ord
>. in a school of rs scholars in
~ room originally calculated for 4
ent The scholars were very backward.
reat one class there were French CHI
hool dren who were unable to speak or
oper understand a word of English
loie' found here II pupils without any xii
'ieh- of book whatever, their parents beil
40 either too poor or too careless to pr
eX, cure them any.
District No. 3. Taught by Miss
: NJ NJ. Brigham. Visited May 18th al
I'm. Sept Goth At the first date -four
sent q scholars, and at the latter, 20, pre-
rom ent, out Of 20 registered The ter
one was months. The teacher did h
ents duty faithfully; the school was a goo
limo one, and made satisfactory progre
,abiy on the whole, though there was di
) be position on the part of the olde
scholars to omit reading, from mo
mistaken idea that they had got b
'rlct' yond that, when, in fact the exerci
UNA OF reading properly conducted ind
many competent teacher, was perhaps t
'reinS most needful and the most useful
IlSn1 any for them.
- = District No. 6. There was no schc
H., - maintained here according to law; b
!. IL young woman (who failed to obta
10Y a. l., Al.