Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-04-03
Wrlltan for tbs spirit Of the Aga'
SCHOOLS.

SCHOOLS,
Ma RpToRi-fhe voters Of this
school district TO night must decide
whether tho school tax shall be thirty
or forty cents, by some II Is thought
that there should be no reduction IN
tho wages Of teachers, as dress must
be considered A school teacher, Ike
other people, has an indlspnlable right
10 dress as he OF she can AFFORD, u q
teacher chooses 10 spend The greater
part Of her wages on dreAs II Is no
ones business but her own, II she
chooses TO adopt u somewhat cheaper
mode Of dress than that now ~
vogue, no intelligent person VIII lind
fault, There might be criticisms, II Is
true, but they would emanate from u
class 30 mail that ton thousand such
could dance on the point OF q cambrIe
needle. Remarks Of that kind, wheth'
or proceeding from palace or hovel,
arc utterly unworthy q moments con-
sldcralion by any person sufficiently
intelligent 10 teach school, We need
good schools, We want tho very best,
but fine clothes add no more 10 the
capacity Of tho teacher than Il nosegay
would 20 the power Of an engine
The "riSing generation" need, first,
good morals morals that arc round
from centre 10 circumference, that Will
stand the wear and tear OF every day
HE; aud second, good education.
Education that is thorough aud real
With many OF tho formal supc'ilailieS
omitted, Any economy that will re-
tard the utility Of the schools will be
very poor economy IN the end, On
the other hand, any unnecessary eX-
pcuditurc Of public money Will be-
very unjust to this taS'burdcncd com
munily, There are many laborers
who are thankful Tor the humblest
work at one dollar, or even less per
day; many small trades men whose
profits are not much over that; yet
these men (many Of them paying
heavy taxes on mortgagcd property
are usually expected to support iami'
lies Of five or siSpersons, meet THAR
obligations aud coihe their children
above rdculc. Society has arrived at
n / int where it needs an enthusiastic
and abiding revival. ! state an incon-
trovcrtable fact when say that lit.
Tie girl clad in plain print dress
uhough ever so clean and whole
wearing stou. copper.tocd boots, can
not attend one Of these village schools
without being made to feel the con-
tempt OF her more fortunate compan-
ions. The little son ot a laborer CAN
not 90 barefoot to school in warm
weather without being ridiculed. To
such an extent is tins carried that
teachers are often compelled to inter
fere. If the teachers are to work for
less pay, would it not be well for the
aristocracy to dress their children a
tlihe palmer, and also instruct them
in some of the courtcSics of lite. l
have small respect for that class OF
wealthy parents whose children can be
ladies' and gentlemen in the presence OF
those whom they consider their
equals; and occupy their idle mo-
ments IN making sport of poorer clad
companions, or offensive remarks to
humble men and women passing in
the street. Such children do not al
ways astonish the world with either
their scholarship or good manners
There is no doubt that the schools
have mace a very marked improve
mtnt during the past year, under the
able and efficient management OF the
committee, but the Improvement can
90 on even il the tax Is 80 cents,
WlGHT.