National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-12-31
Our Com man ,SchOhls.
D. w. COBB.

One Of the Interesting portions If
Secretary Rankiil's report is the re-
marks of the several To- II Salmlin
t,ntients inserted in it. We suppose
this report is not 81 general! read
Tut that Il summary vi what the Su
prrintendelts of Orange County
have said III it. way he rad with
interest hy our patrons. The com.
parisOns of what is reported concern
ing schools Of the several towns will
be Interesting. We will however,
suggest that the coio.ing which is
given to the picture of the schools
in the different towns, may I've cred
tied in some degree, to the eye Of
the respective snperintendcnts. The
one who sees most defects is very
likely to be he tne who is doing
most to remedy them. He who sees
no defects, is probably making no
effort al improvement.
BnADFORD.--lIev. }. X. Williams
says: l cannot speak highly of our
schools, pare hts take little interest,
in tiem. Our school houses are in
a miserable condition, with four cX.
ceptions. Many Of the schools are
small. There are too manly classes,
because parents complain that they
have too many books To buy. The
standard for teachers is 10y, and
their wages low. give the prefer
ence to Guyot's Geographic 'or sim
plicily, concisenrss and BREADTH
The graded school is working wei
and will prove great blessing I,
the town. One great need of Yer
mont is Il class Of teachers who vii
make teaching Il life work as Il pro
frssi0n. The Normal schools ar,
tending to this result.
BRooKFIELD.--O Que hindranc" dii
ficult to remove. is the small numbr
of scholars to the district. Whil
the number of voters in town ~
mains about the same, the humble
of children bet ween four and eis lit
cen, reported, has been decreasing
for % Years. In 1874 the numbr
WAS 500 ~ 1910, 556; in 1854. 5Ol
in 1859, I59; III 1864. 396; in lS6!
44O;-aii average decrease of fit
for every five years, The aNerag
number of scholars to each distri,
is abOut %: the average attendanc
the last year, Ia.
CHELSEA ptllcy Chandler says
ANS town paid tie past year 4
cents per scholar more than the a.
eraec paid in the State" And |
takes this as an Indication that il
coming "a lm briicte,i that u goo
school literally paid fer, is chtap'
than a poor one AT any price. o.
Of the creates! evils IL our scluu
is irregular attendance The STA
would liz justified in making ron
provision to secure more punctu
attendance. He would Impress II
on both teachers aud pupils the gie
Importance of tl'oioughnrss in q
men'ary instruction.
CoRINTu.--C. &. Sargent spca
Of prosperity IN tie schools. Cou
the districts lm reduced from twehl
five to fourteen, the schoos wO
be sustained with moc ample n,ru
aud a higher order of instlnctio
Most OF our teachers are half pai
and unless excellent teachers II
willing to work for pay less th
two thirds the wages of u comm
laboler, they must torsake the pl
tession. The Superintendent IN nj
under the snh," system Of degrc,
tion, and is actually paid less 10y u
half than the lislilnan who iii
bitches. The great desi,lera,um
- n,ore thorough fundamental instr,
ton, impaired by more experience
aud critical tncllrrs, aud surpol,
hy " more active interest from ,
people.
kANDoLPu--N. G. Boyden sa,
W. laye had 81 uiiltient teacher
MI successful save one. ! revol
81. -" - D..