Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-09
For the VERMONT FARMER.
Parents Relations to Schools. No. A.

The graded system Of schools secures such
division Of labor as will obviate many diff.
fculties found in the mixed system, aud will
enable the teacher to bring order out Of con.
fusion, and light out Of darkness.
Everyone understands the Importance Of
this principle as applied to the departments
of industry in practical life. Division of la
Dor is indispensable to success in the arts, as
taught in political economy,
To illustrate, will refer to the process
of making watch. We are told that there
are one hundred aud two distinct branches
to this process, which may employ rs many
different apprentices. Each one Of these
departments constitutes a separate trade;
and the iOatch: :fnisher is the ouly man Of the
whole who knows how TO make watch in all
its parts. I..t.... .a..i .s. ,d|
This same principle is applied to the me-
ehanic arts generally. 10 all our factories,
each operative has his own special depart
ment aud confines himself to the work ss.
signed. The result is much more efficiency
and skill, and hence more productiveuess of
labor.
And what have maintained is, that this
division of labor should be applied to the
management and instruction of our schools.
First secure as perfect classification of the
pupils in the district as may be, according to
their age and attainments; second, assign to
each department teacher who has been
thoroughly trained, and is adapted especially
to the position 20 be occupied and the work
to be done; aud thirdly, furnish that teach
or with the necessary books and apparatus,
tools to work with, the process Of
education will be successfully carried on.
Having settled the system of school-or-
ganizatiOn to be adopted, parents should pro-
coed to make careful aud thorough prepara-
tion for the school.
The location Of the school house is mat
ter of vital Importance. Too often do we
find it situated in some dark alley, or on
some noisy street, on low and marshy ground,
or upon the barren rock where no shade trees
can grow, or upon the dusty corner where
four roads meet. In such localities children
are disturbed by noises, suffer from exces-
sive heat and cold, or from dampness, or in.
sufficient light, and hot air; aud are robbed
of all the advantages aud pleasures Of pleas
ant surroundings and tasteful arrangements of
well-orderod play grounds.
Other things being equal, the school house
should have central location, for convenience
Of access. But this is not the most impor-
tant consideration. The character Of the
grounds and surroundings should weigh
against a few rods Of additional distance for
the children to travel. The school-yar
should be selected, laid out, aud graded, with
a view to furnish the children pleasant aud
attractive play grounds. This is as impor.
tant for the purposes of education as we'll
constructed and well furnished school room.
This yard should contain at least half-acre
of land on slOping ground, and should bO
oruamented with shade trees, and furnished
with swings, ball-bats, footballs, and other
inducements to healthful exercise.
In selecting the site, special regard should
be had to the surroundings. Noisy mills,
factories, and workshops, in the immediate
vicinity Of the school house, are serious
hindrance 10 successful study. Stores, rail-
road stations, and taverns ale liable to con-
sumo the time. vitae the taste, and corrupt
the morals of pupils who are allowed to re-
sort to them. Hence the school house
should, if possible, be removed from all such
local Disadvantages, and, for the sake Of
health, equal care should be taken to avoid
stables, sewers, marshes, stagnant bodies Of
water, and low and damp situations where
heavy fogs linger long after sunrise, and chill
night-dewS gather before sunset.
PARENs.