Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-03-14
Report Of the school superintendent
Tor the Town OF Walingford.


ing to serve you as Superintendent Of
Schools. When entered upon the work,
knew not your teachers; / knew not
where your school, houses We're, and still
less did know of what was being done
in the important matter of educating
the children of the town. In some OF
these respects my own knowledge has
very materially increased, though wheth-
er have really rendered any aid in the
great work to which our schools should
be devoted, Of training the minds OF, and
imparting knowledge to Others, is
matter upon which l should speak more
doubtfully. have found my way to
each schoolhouse in our fourteen differ
ent districts, on an average Of twice
each year. have learned by examina-
ton, and by observation in the school
room, something of the intellectual
character, the qualifications and modes
of management and Of teaching, and
Of over fifty different persons who have
been employed as teachers during these
years, OF the twenty-three different
teachers employed the last year, only five
or six had ever taught in town before,
and six Of them had never before been
engaged in teaching anywhere. Thus
we have had an unusual number Of new
teachers, some Of them quite young.
OF some of our schools could speak
in the. highest praise. Their teachers
have not only possessed the requisite
knowledge, but have shown an aptness
to teach, tact in governing, ability to
awaken ia their pupils an interest in
study, and to excite to thoughtfulness
and earnest application and not salts
fed with going through each day the
usual tread.mill routine of classes and
recitations, they have been actually lead
ing on their pupils, week by week, to
clearer and more definite views Of the
studies pursued, and 4 conscious advance
in them. Where a district has been
fortunate enough to secure such teach
er, change for new term or school
year is very undesirable. Let the old
teacher come back, and with the knowl-
edge already acquired Of each pupils
habits and requirements, there will be
far better prospect OF combined progress
than with 3 new teacher.
While can speak thus Of some Of our
schools, truth compels me to say that
there have been some comparative fail
ures. And have asked myself in the
case Of such failures, during the past or
previous years, where the blame lies.
"A poor school during single term, in
any of our districts, is great calamity.
The children in such q district not only
fail of making the improvement they
should, and lose so many months of time
needed to prepare for the duties, respon-
sibilities and eOjoyments Of life; but
almost of necessity they fall into bad
habits of study, or neglect OF study
learn some things which better not be
learned, and become more or less con-
taminated and debased and turned aside
from the true path, morally as well as
mentally.
But how is the poor school to be
avoided? The Town superintendent
should OF course see TO it that 40 one
has license to teach who has not the
requisite qualifications, SO far IS an &C
quaintancc with the branches required
to be taught in our schools are concern.
ed. Yet this is rather delicate matter
A committee wishes to engage cheap
teacher, and one is found ready to I'M
dertakc the school, and the district may
think it hard ii superintendent viii
not permit her to try and see what SHE
can do. In the same year have with
holden certificates from two applicants
engaged to teach in the same district
tae last time with some fear that th'
district might feel that | was unwilling
to allow them to employ the person O.
their choice to teach their children. Blu
it is not the fear Of the district, usually
that keeps one from withholding a Ger
tiicate from an obviously unqualified
applicant, but an unwillingness to seen
even to be unkind to the person thus
applying. 1t is not an easy thing t
withhold . certificate from a youns
gentleman or lady who applies for one
especially if, as is usually the case, th'
school is already engaged. And mus
acknowledge that have in some case
given certificates when 8 subsequen
visit to the school has convinced M
that ought not to have done IL. I re
joice In the prospect that the business o
examining and approving teachers ii
soon TO pass out OF the hands of tn
Town serintendent. According to I
law of the last session Of our Legisla
ture, the State Superintendent, with tw'
practical teachers associated with hin
in each county for the work in thai
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