Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-03-27
absences or tardy marks for a term

and Leonard Morton. Those having
no absences and fewest tardy marks
were Eliza Durivage, Charles Sawyer,
Clara Wright, Hannah Traver, Sarah
Burdick, George Burdick.
There was also proposed to the
schools at the opening Of the winter,
a series of 100 or more general qaes-
lions on the Constitution and History
of the United States. | put these
into the schools with the view to call
attention of the youth Of this town
to those matters in our general gov
eminent and history, about which
there is too much ignorance, for our
credit, as people. The interest in
lhese questions was quite unlik in diff
ferent schools. Most of the schools
did something with them, but district
No. 5 showed the most general care
about them. Nearly the whole school
mastered well the greater share of the
questions. The question may be
asked, why not say more about the
individual schools. The faults and
places for Improvement, were freely
suggested to the teachrs when the
schools were visited. That is the
only place where it seems to me it can
be of use to offer these hints for the
teachers are not here now to hear
them, and if they were it is too late
to have these suggestions profit the
oOhools now. Your Superintendent
endeavor0d TO 5rvO i,"tD uhu SuSSeo-
tons of encouragement to both teach
ers pupils, such as would tend to form
the character of the young by the alb
solute standard to which to which he
has already referred. How far his
efforts have been of use remains to
be seen.
But these is to be change in our
schools. Attention is to be brought
back to the elements of an education.
Good reading and spelling, and clear
comprehension Of first principles are
to receive attention.
The ometries and ologies and IN
known quantities, and dark puzzles,
are to wait their time till there is a
good foundation laid in clear and
available knowledge of facts and
principles. Those studies that are to
true education what the lrishman S
window was to the cellar, that is, "a
thing to let the dark out, are to take
their place were they belong. There
has been an effort for the last 81
years to grow sort of intellectual
mushroom, stretching up through OF
beside the foundation studies and the
sad results have fallen upon the men
of my age and younger. Our spell
ing and reading were neglected, and
we feel the effects OF that neglect
There is now a reaction against this
jumping out of the PRIMER ano
spelling book and mental arithmetic
into the fuxionS and labyrinths OF
science. There is disappointment tC
find our own level, when we are al
most afraid to write our names, tOl
fear of misspelling. Now We are
older we are ashamed OF it. We art
beginning to feel that the foundation
is not firm and good, and we art
bound to inquire if our children mus
do as we have done, The public
schools must answer this question no
by tohing 10 wha6 elI0y aio giving u
do, but by showing us what they ar
: doing. We begin to think there is ;
degree of discipline and finish ant
polish to be acquired in leaning t.
) read so as to receive and convey tn
) meaning of a column in newspaper
or chapter in the Bible and In eA
planning clearly the problems of ever
t day life, as well as in wading throug
the mysteries of Algebra to get re
: suits that "we know must be correc
e for they are the answer in the book.
q Our schools, as we'll as everythin
b else, are undergoing reconstruction
d The Normal schools will and mus
= give us the teachers that are to met
y the wants and defects we suffer, c
l. we shall not tolerate them long. LII
}, the youth 90 to these schools and civ
e them a chance to furnish teachers fC
e our public schools. But we hay
e something to do to bring about tn
better day coming, or it will 60 by |
IS and we sleep through it. Let us loo
= at this business candidly and not sper
d our breath angrily finding fault Wi
Is each other, blaming here, and accusin
d there. Our schools cost somethin
b. and we'll they may, for they have
It, great mission to fulfill. They VOL
~ upon precious material, the mo
~ precious we have about us. What can
er parent give his child like good ed
n, cation, including a well formed cha
IS acter, and the ability to use all t
ty right faculties OF his mind to the be
hs advantage. This will 90 with hi
I'd where he goes on earth, and stay wi
him where he stays. Nobody can ia
ty it from him. 1t is capital in busine
OF such as fire cannot burn or floods ia
Is, away from a man. 1t is a source
to happiness of itself, and helps m
ut to be at home wherever he is. O
Ill schools ought to provide such an o
lie lit for life. What are the means
on can nse to get this good from the
Is and what are the hindrances we c
ar, help remove? One thing to be
Dol medied is the non-attendance up
OF our schools. From 1-3 to 1-5 of 1
school absent every day, is q trem
IN dous leak in the vessel. There i