Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-11-06
TO THEiPEoPLE OF BARTON.

Being about to visit the Old World, L !
an compelled to resign my office Of su-
perintendent of schools. Ishall endeay-
or to leave such notes in the hands Of
my successor, as will enable him to make
the Annual Report complete.
Of few things l wish to speak, here
and now. Barton has, at present, no rea-
son to be ashamed of her schools; but
other towns. states and nations are push
ing forward in education, and you need
to do the same. The nOblestIprOduct Of
this town has been, and must be, in the
future educated men and women. In or
der to do this, even greater attention
should be given to your schools, and
more money spent upon them
Among many important suggestions
concerning education, | quote one SEN
tence Of Governor Fairbanks late mes
sage:
Almost any expenditure Of money,
whetherifor the better superintendent
Of the public schools, or for securing the
hearty cooperation and interest of the
parents and guardians. or for training
and bringing into the service more expe-
rienced teachers. if it only serves to ele-
vate the character Of the public schools
and give to the state more intelligent
virtuOus and persevering citizens, is eco.
{ nOmical and judiciOus."
: This town needs!tO give better pay {
v most Of its teachers; it can then com
;, mand Of them better qualifications. L
T needs to supply every schOOl-hOuse with
L at least, dictionary. globe, maps AM
g extra chair. all Of which most are with
1. out. 1t should see that the walls Of th
N rooms are covered with plaster, and pa
Is per or Hhitewash, and that the laths al
rs not bare for months. True, it may
y the duty Of the districts to attend |
e. such things This is one reason fl
% adopting the town system" which
III urgently advocate as, on the whole, niue
C. superior to the present. 1t appears
he me, however, that the school money no
Is, raised might be more advantageous
Of used By the consolidation Of some of Il
e. districts. To this end. the opening of
at few short roads or lanes might be ma
d. ter Of great economy and benefit.
rly As suggested, better pay will secu
in better teachers, and these, in some d
ore triets, are imperatively needed. 1t wou
NIB encourage more scholars than now, to
tn themselves thoroughly for this VOL
ant The teachers Of this town, as a who
Ons are better acquainted with text-boc
than with the best methods Of instr
va ton and government Therefore, be
the they will feel it duty more frequen
ing to visit the best schools, in order to
Ons quire their methods, and that the pr
,rp- cipal Of the high school will always,
i'm, now, De competent to give special
lich structlOu in the theory and practice
inst teaching.
ray Increased attention should be gi
his to the decimal metric system. which
leg soon, in daily use. to supersede the pl
who ent system Physiology should
.ers, | taught in all our schools: regret I
con- this study is not placed among the
sion branches required by the statute g
rs" air. which some teachers carefully
Of cure, would then be the rule in
If = schOol-rOoms, and both instructors
Ilous pupils would be far more successful
'alth their work. while many a prOmii
CON- child would escape the seeds Of eonsu
stec- ton, fevers and other fatal diseases.
plat the study Of physiology in all our schc
the the gain to the community in hea
en- length Of life. pecuniary economy
Glib all elements Of prosperity, would far
na- coed the belief Of those who have
the thought Of this subject Unless il
Orth, the care Of the soul. what study is l
into fundamental and important to every
will son thanithe preservation and impr
lblie. nent Of health? First. we should do
ithe best to insure to theIyOung long and