Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-04-02
For tho VERMONT FARMER.
Parents Relations to Schools No. 8.

The crowning advantage Of town over dis
trict supervision would be the establishment
of graded school Of high order in the cen.
ter of the town, which would be accessible to
all. This school would have three depart
ments,-the primary, the intermediate, and
the academic,-and would afford excellent
facilities for every grade Of pupils fitting for
business and for college. Such town sys-
TEN of public schools would supplant the
common mixed academies, leaving the classi-
cal schools Of high order and the higher
seminaries and colleges, where the graduates
of the graded town schools could finish their
education.
And more complete supervision of the
schools would be secured under the town sys-
TEN. The town board of education would
naturally be composed of cultivated and eff.
icieut men who would act in concert for the
common good OF all. They would not only
examine, but employ the teachers; and
hence would be able to secure those who are
the best qualified and adapted to the differ
ent grades of the several schools.
The utility of this change from the dis
trict to the town system has been demonstrate
ed both in town and state where the exper.
iment has been tried. And that will be
fortunate day for the cause of popular educa-
ton when this true system of public instruc.
ton shall have been everywhere established; !;
and it is the duty Of parents to demand and
secure this change wherever it has not been
made.
The graded system of schools is so impor-
tant shall be justified in making special
plea in its behalf. "a graded school" says
Wells, sis a school in which the pupils are
divided into classes according to their at
tainments, aud in which all the pupils Of
each class attend to the same branches of
study at the same time"
The special utility of this system will ap-
pear when we consider
l. In thoroughly graded school perfect
classification can be effected Pupils of the
same age, having a common interest and mu-
tual sympathy, are brought together. The
influence of class pride and emulation is
brought to bear upon them, With fewer
classes, more time is given for class-recita-
ton and personal drill and more complete
supervision of the school is secured.
2. Under this system school trustees can
select teachers adapted and fitted for their
own special department, and can employ
them permanently; can provide uniform
ity Of textbooks, and secure more punctual-
ity aud regularity of attendance.
None Of these advantages can be realized
in the mixed uncassi6ed school aud yet
this is the condition Of large majority of
the public schools in every state in the
Union.
These schools are thoroughly mixed all
children of schoolagc, "from four to eigh-
teeu," are huddled together. They are pro-
vided with textbooks OF every kind and upon
every subject, aud the teacher is expected to
govern and instruct this heterogeneous assem-
blago in the most approved manner.
Yet how can she do this ? There can be
no system or order in such school. Every.
thiHg is at the mercy of circumstances
There are at least three schools lin one) to
be managed and taught,-the primary, the
intermediate, and the academies aud still
there is only one day at time to be devot'
cd to them all. Tho teacher must keep or.
der, adapting her discipline to the child Oi
four years, and the man or woman Of eight.
cen. A little world, with all the diversi
ties of age and disposition, is under her ad
ministratiOn, and for their improvement and
culture she is held responsible. The demand
is preposterOus. PARENs.