Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-16
School Report Of the Town Of Penob'
scot. 1870.

while we nave had Tue pleasure OF report
ing some schools OF superior grade. the
majority have attained TO ONLY medium
rank. aud one ar two have been decided
failures. We believe II holds true with re-
gard to our schools that there have been
about a. many total failures a signal sue
cesses. Our schools have suffered from
general lack Of discipline ana system.
from a want OF progressive spirit and
ideas. and from prejudices existing In the
public mind against improved method, of
instruction. and systems of government
ANY teacher who represent, the culture
and progress Of the times ha, To meet the
prejudices. caprices aud pet notions of a
less-iniormed community. and il i not I'M
frequently The ease that he has no, the
grace and wisdom to harmonic hi> adj
yanced notions with the spiri; OF OPPOSE
ton which encirclcs him. consequently a..
natural result lie must suffer disa~trou.
defeat, he branded a. a radical fool. q. a
traitor to the sacred memory Of hi, tor,.-
fathers. and be drummcd out Of tow. nm
der the gibes and curses of an enrage,l pnb-
lie. Ii we would see our schools atlyauc.
to a higher standard. we must ba In >yp,-
pathy with the spirit of true progress.
move in the direction indicated bv the
guideboard Of popular education. de-
nounee no new measure or institution A. a
humbug-a> 4 scheme designed la tatf.u
the few at the expense of the many, until
a candid examination or actual dcinpu.;ra-
ton has convinced us Of H. iueffi,ipusy =.
willing {" adop; new views 80 fast 4. they
appear e. b. true views. and hail with graf
huie any new means calculated 10 elevate
the standard u public education.
The registers which have been returned
To NJ exhibit some astounding facts. Onlv
about 3-'fhS of our scholars have awaited
themselves of the educational advantage,
afforded by the town and state durin. the
pat year. This fact alone ought "a .timu-
late a spirit of anxious inquiry q, regard.
the criminal Indifference OF our l.eonl,. to
the education ct the rising generation.
| pan whose head r,.>i- the bIam. and
shame thai nearly en-. half 81 oar school
population. have received $40 hrnrn, from
"nf public schools the past year. Parent.
You a5r IN large measure culpab.e fer
the n"a-a'teudancr III Your children. f,
e possible that you arr ruhbiug them II
ia" r.ch">i boon ~ thu nineteenth ceninr,
"A good practical education Are Va,
more Jealous Z" MI Y4Hr pockets with filthy
luerc. than :" store h,tr mind, with u.s.
iul know ledge. and Tim. gualif, Them f,r
the practical bu-iuc>. 1T lie.
The iA-i voung blood of America he,ifi.
Ia grow uneasy ~ the age Of fifteen. vet.
quite nervous At the age OF sixteen. be-
comes desperate At seventeen. aud nI.h-.
Mildly into the active bu>iue., ct Ito. d,
large part 81 our scholars leav,. school
three or four YEAR before the proper grad
uati"n dat- arritc--mn>i at them never
more T." attend school. Now while We
recognize IT 2" hr ynur dul 20 giyo your
children au ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS az Il, them tor
som" profession We believe Il 10 b. equal.
~ your duiY 70 >cr that their education
!, u"i neglected. 20 thc meantime; tor upon
the latter depends largely their future -ur-
cess aul u-eiuluc-,.
SUPERVISION.
In the supervision Of school. xr Aa,,
not occupied 80 much time. We ih.uh a.
the law couicmpla'r~. and liz Interest. 4.
education demand W. have na. i.lt d,
liberty To depart from the custom Of nuI
predecessors, nor 10 cUcruach ui.1n What
We supposed &" BE- public opinion a, To- ..le
amount nj tim" the committee ~houli .lr
vote 10 each school consequently ac have
made II a point. whenever practicable 2,
make two visits . diy giving ID each
school two or three hour n H. commence
meni and close. Thi> we think /. n..t ar
iicieni Time for the Accomplishment, 81
what ought 10 be. done. one daV /, MOI
Too much In which 70 ascertain the aentsi
sfstus-ih. aftslnmenrs and capacities,
from forty to fifty scholars and eiaslfy
them accorlingly-io comprehend thor
oughly their intellectual need. illuStrat.
methods 1T instruction. max. hints aud
general remarks. and in fine, shap., the
school A. II ought 10 be AT it, beginning
or give 4 Respectable examination AZ H.
close. But more time devoted Ia thu. ,u-
peryision Of our schools would niece. ,ari,y
entail greater expense upon the town.
which We fear would excite spirit of OBJ
position damaging Ia the interests OF ~,lll-
cation. We are not ignorant of the fac;
thar there are many. and some even who
affect 10 possess uncommon intelligence.
and wisdom. who would g,lillotinr the
state superintendent, and hang every town
committee In the STATE. They are ilui-
-ancc say they. and ought 10 he abai.4l.
Bur apply this notion To- other interest
and branches of business aud the incof,-
>i~,cucy of il II once appears
la some eases We have not been notified
of the commencement oi schools. for tn.
reason A. Ne believe that our service
We're not desired. fiji, aversion to thu. Ill
perSi>inn of schools by town committee.
i one of the iollics of our time. aud must
be deprecated By all person, Of an enlight-
ened mind. sound judi. aud public
spirit. We regard il a the result OF alb
normal conditions Of mind and soul. which
would stand out IA, A strong evidence in
favor Of osr'> admi- sion 10 the Insane
Asylum.
lNcpMrETE>Cl oF TEACHERS,
1t i a matter Of regret thar % large a
proportion of The teacher, engaged in act
i've service are incompetent To- properly
manage aud instruct "A common district
school. They do not seem To apprchend
the difficulty a. we'll II. dignity of the
teachers mission. and the varie,y of qualiti-
cations essential 10 success. The idea has
been quite too prevalent. that a rudmen-
tary knowledge of the branches taught in
our public schools. joined with plea>in.
address i all that l. necessary To cousii-
tute a good teacher. Now We do not hest
tate Ia assert that there must enter into
the composition Of every highly success ful
teacher larger variety of qualities aud ac-
quirement-. than is required in the make
up Of any other public or professional char
actcr.
lie should be the repository of extensive
general Information. rs well ~ systematic
knowledge. skilled in a practical knowl-
edge OF human nature. possess an accurate
aud quick judgement. ardent sympaihie>.
dignified but pleasing address clear and
concise language. a mild nut firm authori-
iy. correct moral principles and habits.
combining the grace of the christian. the
wisdom of the governor. the shrew,ines.
of the politician. and the lore of the phv-
losopher. He i 10 educate his pupils to
see. think and to feel. TO observe the phe-
nomena Of the natural world. the silent
but instructive operations of the vegetable
kingdom. and the various habits and capac-
titles OF the animal kingdom. to think upon
abstract themes with clearnes, to analyze,
compare and infer. to feel deeply. prompt
~ and powerfully. and by presentation of
the highest and nOblest motives. he should
be able TO stimulate spirit of earnest en-
quiry. and aspiration for higher truth bv
presenting invisible facts concerning OBJ
jects common 10 the eye. yet little under
stood by the mind. We have thus briefly
sketched the ideal teacher; but where we
find one who i rounded out to the full re-
quirements of his profession. we find TWEEN
4 who are sadly Iati.iaut In, .,. .r al