Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-12-03
EDUCATIONAL.
The Public schools Of CbltteRien County.


and suggestions in our own columns. Unfor-
tunstely, the statistics are given, not by towns
or counties. but only in the aggregate; so that
We can only conjecture that the county, Bur-
lington being omitted, contains one fourteenth
part of the following articles l3 thermometers,
III clocks, 100 dictionaries, 100 globes, $40
maps. and so on for the other items; state Of
things that calls for instant attention and remedy
The winter schools are just beginning, and there
is an almost total lack Of the simplest school
apparatus viii it be supplied by the Commit
tees1 Doubtful. As for the superintendent
they can do nothing but recommend and 'he
more's the pity.
At the State Institute, held at Milton IN july
one hundred and twenty teachers we're enrolied :
the largest number reported, with the exception
Of Orange county. Just three Of these were
from this city. But then, the Institute occurred
during vacation in the city schools, when
teachers could not receive pay fer attendance
Ruth A. HodgkiDs, Helen J. Bliss, Frances NJ
Learned, Julia A. Latham, Amy A. Nash, and
Lucy NJ. Wheeler received the State fye-year
certificate The first two had previously taught
in Burlington: the first three are now employed
here The Secretary says that the candidates
were much beyond the average in capacity and
requirement, only two Of those who went through
the examination having failed. at Is easy,
he says, to see the good results Of well or
gained and well sustained Teachers Association
in this county Whether this Association Is the
result or the cause Of the more than ordinary
interest manifested in the cause Of education IN
Chittenden County, or whether it be not both
result and cause, am unable to say Mr.
Rankin goes on to suggest that the State ought
to offer special inducements to foster an encoar-
age these organizations. He thinks that twenty
Eve dollars should be appropriated to detray the
necessary expenses Of each gathering Of this
sort, Lot exceeding two annually in each county,
and that the services Of the volunteer force thus
secured, would be Of incalculable value 10 the
educational interests Of the State As it is, the
expense falls chiefly upon those whose salaries
barely suffice to board and clothe them.
The concerted action Of the Superintendents
Of the County III regard to examinations, etc, is
spoken Of AS ' furnishing valuable suggestions to
the friends Of education in other countless and
the account Of the meeting which appeared in
the FREE Press at the time, with the resolutions,
&c, is copied in full into the Report. We be-
lieye that the influence Of this association Of
stockholders was felt for good through the
county Weappend some hints from the reports
Of the different superntendents.
CHARLOTTE. - DR.. Yarney reports better
state Of things than could be expected, consider
ing the indifference of the people, the incOnyeni-
ence of the school-buildings and the lack Of ap-
paratus. But two or three houses in town iii
for the purpose None of them supplied with
globes, outline maps, dictionary, thermometer
or arithmetical blocks, and a deficiency Of black
board in every case Great need Of good teach
ers and cooperation on the part Of the people.
CoucnEs1ER.-Rev L. H Elliot, Supt From
the Report to the town-the only one printed in
the county, Burlington ezcepted-we copy a
few statistics. Whole number Of children Lof
school agel in the town, $40. Of these the
registers enrolled the names Of 5l2 in the sum
mer and ABS in the winter. More than half Of
the children, then, have never been inside
public school The village Of Winooski contains
76l children, l6l have been in the public school
for three months and more; 81 for shorter time.
Twenty have been connected with a private
school, and l79 with St. Joseph's school; . Of
them, however, for less than three months.
Sixty have been in both the public ard private
schools; SO that it appears that ouly ISL have
been in school at all, and less than 800 for the
term of three months. Full halt the children
never were even enrolled; something for vi
nooski to think on. Two buildings, Nos. and
10, wholly unfit for use; two others, and u,
little better. All need repairs, No. excepted.
No ! I has no blackboard; in many other dis
tricts the boards are small poor as to he near
ly useless No map Of Vermont in the town. No
alone has outline maps. No globe, no Their
mometer, no dictionary. In some districts no
citizen has entered the school-house during the
year. Only seven out Of twenty-five teachers
publicly examined Four taught for several
weeks before asking for a certificate. We pre-
sumo Colchester is not much worse of than
some other towns in the county. We cite these
statistics only as specimens Of what the facts
prove TO be, when carefully ascertained.
HISEsBuRGH. - Rev. c. E. Ferrin, Supt.
Three things needed in examinations. % Great
er thoroughness. In many towns it is very
loosely done, in some hardly done at all Su-
perintendents changed too often, and chosen
without special reference to capacity. (2) We
need to aim at greater uniformity in the differ
ent towns and in the same town year after year
(S) There is need Of something like standard,
recognized and recognizable; and this standard
should be gradually raised, till it is at last re-
spectacle Examinations shonld all be held on the
same day, and the Secretary should furnish a
list of printed questions to be used as basis in
the examination, the Superintendent varying /
them as be may judge necessary.
HuXTINGToN.-Rev. Z. S Frost, Supt. But |
few teachers attend the Institutes; some of them |
never attended one. Pupils are usually pressed |
forward SO rapidly that they learn nothing
thoroughly. Not enough attention given to the
elementary principles of the English language,
1r of sny branch studied. Many do not know
now to teach. Some own that they understand
algebra and other higher branches, better the
simpler studies Of the District schools
JERIcHo.-Rev. II. C. Estes, Supt. Another
ears supervision has served to deepen his con-
liction of the impOrtanceof the Superintendent
york. He can render great help by judicious
ounsel, suggestion and encouragement The
York should be done faithfully, though unpaid
nd thankless. Oftwenty-three teachers, eight
en- had taught before; some were skilled OF
wenty-nine terms Of school, only three were I
cry unsatisfactory No boarding round - q
Nominations partly oral, but all were required /
write answers to ten questions in each branch 4
wenty passed the examination satisfactorily a
ONE teachers and District clerks remiss in re- G
ard to the registers. The establishment Of :
ormal Schools great step in the right direc- t
on instruction in these should be free The +
'unty institute at Jericho Corners in April Of II
sos did good. The law requiring State certif- L
ties should be enforced. Mr. Estes sugges- a
ons are all valuable. He is now out of office, a
e believe Was he too faithful and efficient?
.richo is to be congratulated if the present 5
lperintendent is his superior in capacity and t
ness for the post. /.
MILToS.-G. II. Rice, SuFt Too many school t
stricts and too few maps, globes, dictionaries,
ocks, thermometers, &c. Should they consoli- !
tie, they might have better school-houses, more 2
lalihed teachers, longer terms Of school. That !
e increased distance which some would have to
, is no insuperable objection, appears from the :
CT that the three cheese factories are visited a