St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-04-05

iting parents to visit the school, has
ceased urging them, consequently the
number of visitors, like the number of
scholars, grows less term by term. This
is not only discouraging to the teachers
but it is detrimental to the school. The
scholars are old enough to feel the
slight and to see that if the school Is
not worthy of the presence OF the peo-
pie it must he not a very prosperous
one.
The closing exercises of the terms
even are not SO reH attended as they
sometimes have deserved. The reading
exercises, given by the school at the
close of last term, were worthy the lis
tening to from any one, and all i'll the
place. Judging from the remarks made
by some who We're present, the exer-
cises would compare well with some for
which we have paid 800 for to fill the
town hall to hear. Scholars like to
have such deserving efforts noticed.
We have two papers printed here, with
columns devoted especially to locals,
but no mention has been made within
three years at least, i'll any shape, about
the exercises of the high school, while
We frequently see tiattering reports
from similar exercises in other schools.
Isn't such an exercise of reading and
recitation us the high school lately gave
an item of local interest : OF course ii
is not expected that the teachers shall
furnish YOU with the reports of THEN
own exercises. We understand that
neither You, Nh Editor. nor ANY one Of
that long list of worthy editors pre-
NiouSlN connected with the Times. has
your papers. and this Withholding OF
the presence of yourself and others from
the high school ;S though it WAS NOT
even worthy of being noticed, produces
among both scholars and teachers Il
feeling whose results are injurious to
the welfare Of the school.
The fact is the school is not popular.
and people seem bound that it shall not
become popular. either 10y their open
opposition OF 10y their pa>>ivity
>taunch friends are wanting. lou 90
to seek the tiicntiS of the school and YOU
cannot lind them, "r if You ii" You are
not sure of their constancN, for they
talk one thing. and boast loudly of atli-
liation. hut send their scholars some
else. Wendell Phillips told Us that BoS
worth the seeing, but its public schools:
but how is it with lis when strangers
come among lis ; We are particular to
take them through the scale works.
show them the Athrnaum. the new
boarding house. the monument. etc.
All very we'll Vet who has known of ii
Perhaps this L. dine Ia great d.-i"r.n""
thought t" he paid the teachers. to save
their chagrin i'll being able t" present
only II pupils iii Il large room designed
to accommodate 20, and might Ice thus
TILED if pupils of the Village were III
their places. We should think this WIS
out of pure respect to the teachers if
the school buildings were not 50 srIang
ed as to preclude from the mind of the
passing strangers all ideas of school i'll
his admiration for our excellent wood
and brick yards. where everything
thereon is considered safe though IN
enclosed. Yet teachers who are con
scious of having done their duty, ask no
such token of Difference. If the pride
of the village is not touched certainly
the teachers will have no tlNors to ask
in that direction, but will do as they are
expected to do, bear the blame of the
whole.
While it can but he acknow lodged
that the majority of our people care
little or nothing us to whether or not
the high school is to succeed or 90
down, perhaps the teachers are not fit
ted for the places they occupy. If they
are not why are they retained ? 1t is
certainly no en\ liable position to he Il
successful teacher; what must Ice the
feelings of II teacher. who with untiring
zeal, seeks to enable and infISe with
new life the precious charge committed
to his trust. Yet from no fault of his and
with no power to hinder, is compelled
to witness the failure of his own efforts.
and however ndeservedly must alone
bear all the apprehension. Can we hon
orahly ask Il man to take charge of our
schools and still retain him. while we
withhold our children from school, on
take them out and do it with no thought
of the injury we may he doing his rep
utatiOn We know of no particular
complaints made against the principal.
but if he is not the man to sustain the
school us well as could he expected I'M
der the circumstances. let us change
him: if he is Il tit teacher let lis retain
him and change the circumstances
W hen there Is So much dissatisfaction
in IL school. or with the instructors. that
half of the pupils are withdrawn. it he
comes the duty of parents to prefer
charges and demand the discharge of
the teachers if found unfit for their po-
SitiorS. and it is not the prerogatiNe,
nor IL proper respect to the rights of
Others as long as IL public school is |
maintained, for people having children