Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-31

scholars have managed TO oeoei'o
parents and stay out from school for sew
eral days at time; the teachers suppos-
inc thew had left school. To correct TINS
evil 1 would recommend the adoption OF a
rule req uiring the teachers in all cases OF
absences of over one-half day, to take
measures to learn the cause. They can
do this with but little trouble, through
the aid of their scholars. This will be
source of little annoyance to those VINO
keep their scholars out OF school 1or
valid reasons, but have no doubt all Will
cheerfully aequiese in the arrangement
for the common good.
| TEACHERS MEETINGS.
During the entire year in term time
under the charge and superintendent OF
Mr.. Dana of the High School, the teach
ers have held semi-monthlyi meetings OF
an hour and half each, on alternate
Saturday mornings. The interest and at
tendance upon them has been usually
good. The benefits to be derived from
them if properly conducted are apparent
and they should be fully sustained by
the Trustees Attendance upon these
meetings should be made part OF the
duty of the teachers. There are now six
teen teachers in the employment of the
district and they should be persons suf-
ficiently educated for the employment
and interested in the work so that meet
ing of them once in two weeks would re-
suit in benefit to themselves, and profit to
your school.
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.
The High School for the past year has
been under the instruction of Mr.. Dana
and Misses Herrick and Carleton. The
Grammar School under Misses Wright,
Proctor and Parmlee. The improvement
in these departments has been positive,
and of a permanent character. The teach
ers are well qualified for their positions
both by experience and education, and
are conscientious in the discharge of their
duties To enable these departments to
soon take very high stand, it only needs
the proper training of the scholars in the
Primary and Secondary Schools, and
such care and attention on the part of the
parents and patrons as Twill keep their
scholars in school until they have COM
pleted their course.
The Secondary Schools have been under
the instruction OF Misses Melden, Gran
dy, Pitkin, spaulding and Hitchcock.
The Primary under that of Misses Rey-
nolds, Hine, Murray, Ruggles, Lee, Bur-
nett and Green. All of these schools
have during the year made very COM
mendable progress, and portion of them
have come fully up to the grade of thor
oughly good schools.
They average well with schools of the
same grade in other portions of the State.
During the year nearly all of the teachers
have made increased efforts to improve
the spelling in their schools, and these
efforts have been attended with good sue
cess There is, however, much more to be
done; for this branch of education has
been sadly neglected. Those who have
| lDS CudtS6 VI Tue bChOo1o III AobuIO
| insist that the rudimental branches should
not be neglected, and especially spelling.
There is positive necessity for this, if
you wish your schools to take high or
even a medium rank. Good spelling lies
at the foundation of good education,
and if that be faulty there will be def
cheney in all branches. To be able to read
well requires the clear articulation and
proper emphasis which is best acquired in
we'll drilled spelling class. Let the
pupil be taught to spell, dividing the
words into syllables, carefully pronounc-
ing the word syllable by syllable, and he
will not only be able to spell difficult
words with increasing facility, but the
habit of distinct pronunciation thus formed
will prove of immense advantage in
making him good reader. And this
same reasoning can in degree be carried
to all branches of an education. Much
more attention has been paid to writing,
and the necessity of this is fully appar-
emit. 1t was long ago discovered that he
who would obtain q good education must
learn to read, to write and to spell, and
that in order to obtain any proficiency in
reading and writing, spelling must first
be learned. And school teachers eentu-
ries ago demonstrated the fact that they
could best instruct their classes of begin
ners in spelling by calling them upon the
floor in line and have them spell orally.
| Tn he hacfa arI a{+anliDo< he i,-
PRODUCTION into the schools of a multitude
of new studies, these facts, positively
proven, have been well nigh forgotten.
To the practical man, it is evident that
the young person who can read and spell
well, and write goodihand, starts in life
with a much better stock in trade than he
who is deficient in these branches, and
has smattering of an academic or even
collegiate education. Your teachers are
many of them deficient in these element
airy branches themselves; it should be
insisted that they qualify themselves to
instruct and interest their scholars in
these branches. and by reading, reflection
and observation, seek out the best meth
DDS of so doing, or else yield their places
to others.
In the selection of your teachers there
is need of the greatest care. OF the num-
Der of persons now employed as teachers
in this State, very few, comparatively, are
really fitted for their places. The educa-
ton received at home or at school for a
few years past has not tended to make
good teachers. The teacher of children
should be practically educated. A por-
ton of this education can best be acquired
by an acquaintance with home duties and
cares; the balance by thorough knowl-
edge of elementary studies. Most young
persons who have received their education
in the few past years, are sadly deficient
in all of these requisites. But the first,
constant and most iroparafiya raon;o;ta "a