Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-04-07

VI CIIC OOmilIUGOO w ooO uiA p1OPSA ONOh-
omy in conducting the business of the
district, yet it is by no means their whole
duty, nor the most important part of it.
1t is the duty of the committee to make
himself acquainted with the wants of his
district so that he may know just what
kind of teacher will suit the require
mentAof the district; and having done
so, his next duty is to ascertain where
such a teacher may be found, and then
engage him or her before it is so late
that you must put up with such as may
be left. Under this head | would say
that there is much injury done by chang
ing teachers too often. 1t is no doubt
necessary to change, but when you get a
good teacher, keep him even if you have
to give them little larger salary-and
even though you may have friend who
may wish to get certain friend in, or
even if you have a friend of your own
who may want the situation. To those
of you who may engage teachers who
have never taught before, l would say
that you would confer a favor upon the
superintendent if no engagement were
made until after the public examination
of teachers. The second hinderance |
will mention is the irregularity with
which pupils attend the schools, both
as regards absence and hardness. Of
course the parents must be in a great
measure to blame for this This may
arise partly from want Of consideration
of the great injury they may inf1ict up
on their children In some cases child
ren, for the most trivial causes are al
lowed to remain out of school for day
or more ; others are allowed to go or
stay just as they see fit, while others
again are detained, it may be to render
little assistance at home. But any
trife that your children can earn in this
way is but small recompense for the
great loss your children sustain by stay
ing away. Nor is the injury only done
to those who are absent, but their ab-
sence deranges all the classes to which
they belong, and either renders it nee
essary for the teacher to go over many
of the lessons again and again, or the
absent ones will lose just so much in
which case the pupil will very soon cease
to have any interest in his studies till
finally every opportunity to absent him.
self will be embraced. Again, it is an
injustice to those who have no children
to send and yet have to pay for the sup.
port of the schools, and this fact is be.
ing realized by the latter class. A third
hinderance | would notice, is neglect
of parents and committee to visit the
schools from time to time. If you coulG
but realize the pleasure it would afford
your children and teachers, to have yol
appreciate their work and progress, yo,
would no longer neglect spending som'
of your leisure time in visiting the school
Again, you would be able to judge fo
yourselves whether things were goins
on to suit you, and whether some of tn
reports which are circulated in regard t
the school, were correct OR not, and il
many cases you would prevent the yer,
unpleasant circumstance of calling in tn
superintendent to close the school. :
Again were it regular practice it woul'
be an inducement to the pupils to con
duct themselves in manner which woul,
be satisfactory to all 1t would ais
stimulate the teachers, in some cases a
least, to more faithful discharge of thei
duties.
Before leaving this subject, | woul,
call your attention to another importan
matter, viz: the very uncomfortable stat
of some of the school rooms where you
children are compelled to pass SO muc
of their time Some Of them, at least
are altogether unfit for the purpose
The snow in winter and the rain in sum
mer have fair access to the inside Of th
room. The seats also are in many case
instruments Of torture more than any
thing else. No wonder your childre
dread the thoughts of being confined i
such place six hours day for week
at a time. ! am we'll aware that
costs money to keep the school in goo
repair; but you will find in the en-
that it will pay even in dollars and cents
and much more than pay. in the mora
effects of the pupils. Trusting that 20
will give these matters your serious a
tentlon and If they seem to you to (
reasonable, that you will endeavor |
act upon them, this report is respec
fully submitted.
j. d. MCKENZIE.
: BUYING AT Wholesale. so far /;
l is practicable, will make quite redu
tion in the yearly household expen.
, bill Of even small family. Thoue
e the saving of 24 cents on a six-pour
r box of starch may seem but sma
e economy considered by itself, yet Il
r saving in the aggregate on the articl
of tea, coffee, sugar, starch, soda, crea
u of tartar, pepper, and other spices, favo
r ings, the finer kinds of soap, etc., us,
t during the year of a family, will make