Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-28

COnanl, superintendent ol Euuchtlohi O0-
fore the Vermont Teachers Association at
Barre, Aug. 18th.
We must needs often have an ultimate
end in view and a present purpose to ac-
complsh, these being different. yet con
sistent, indeed mutually helpful.
lst.-Betler supervision of schools.
2l.-Better preparation OF teachers.
3l.-A greater number of attractive po-
stions for worthy teachers.
1t is beginning to be felt that school SUI
l,pervision requires skilled labor. The Ia
borer should be not merely an educated
man, but one educated for and in school
work. The town superintendents of Yer
mont represent all occupations and vari-
Gus degrees of practical acquaintance with
school education. Not many of them are
so fresh from teaching and are so much
occupied with supervision rs to be or be-
come familiar with all the professional
knowledge needed to ensure the best per-
Torrance OF their duties. Nor under the
circumstances can they give the labor to
preparation for their work which is need
full very high order of supervision we
do not have and cannot expect from men
called Temporarily from other occupations
to devote but small portion of their time
to the work of supervision. But In most
cases town clearly cannot employ SUI
perintendent whose whole occupation shall
be supervision. For the employment of
professional or skilled labor in this depart
ment, then. it is necessary to find some
other unit than the town.
Shall it be the county, or the probate
disuict? Neither counties nor probate dis
tricts are of proper size. And size is not
the chief objection. These are not units
for any purpose in which the people man.
ifest an active interest.
The county perhaps shows tendency
to gather more of popular interest in Itself
The probate district shows no such ten
dency. Neither seems TO be the proper
unit for school purposes. Some other
must be sought.
And more important yet, we have such
an organization of schools in the towns as
balks frequently the best efforts of the
best town superintendent, an organization
which would he only more hostile 10 and
against superintendent further removed
Before county or district superinten-
dent can do much more than 10 observe
ituu lopDlL SCfOldi SOliSCo vi WINNINGS
need be removed.
For example A school district car
employ an unlicensed teacher and draw
public money to pay for the school.
The town superintendent has little con
troll over the keeping of the school regis
ter. This is submitted by the teacher tc
the district clerk, by the district clerk 10 Il
Justice Of the peace, and when returned tt
The town superintendent it is legally com
pete, vet he often finds the register very
imperfect.
Again, towns are required TO secure the
fulhlment of The law on the palt of tht
school districts, and they have themselve:
certain distinct duties to perform. Blu
they frequently fail to hold the districts tt
their duties and also fail to perform theil
own distinct duties.
For example During each of the foul
years last reported there have been town
in which no district had 90 full weeks o
school, A few towns assessed no stat,
school tax, and many did not assess tn,
full amount required by law. The onl.
remedy against such towns is through tht
courts upon indictment by the grand jury
involving so slow and expensive process
that we can scarce wonder Mt the entir,
omission of it. A town which had adopt
ell the town system went wholly withou
schools some two years ago, and 1t i
doubtful whether any remedy is provided
for such neglect. But this is enough
Should we obtain the adoption of the plal
of county OF district uperntendency
without legislation, we should only get
pail without bottom and be scarcely bette
off than we are now.
Our aim then us regards school super
vision should be to seek for the adoption
of such unit for supervision rs will ia
vor the employment of skilled labor TO
supervision, with further notifications @
law necessary to render such supervision
, effective. But we cannot now obtain TIL
changes by which this end might be re
allied. What then?
suggest that, as first step we meet
secure control over the school district
which would be best obtained by abolish
, ing them and adopting the town system
but falling of that for the present, | sng
| gest the following
, That we seek for the enactment of q law
providing that before public money can b
drawn for school district, the proper OF
ticer must deliver to the town treasurer
certificate from the town superintendent
+ showing that the district has mad schoo
= taught for the required number of week
, by properly licensed teacher; that tn
, school register WAS correctly kept by tn
, teacher; that it has been properly file
n and returned by the district clerk.
q Also let it be made the duty of y tow
/ committee to select and Recommend tex
q books for use in the schools, and of tn
j. town superintendent, to supply all scho
!, irs not otherwise furnished with the rec
commended ext-books, and at the expens
G of the town when necessary.
n The speaker explained his plan MOI
!. fully by reading the following from h
: Forthcoming report.
!. I'm towns using the town system, let ii
Y board of school directors for the year
;; which selection of textbooks is TO |
q made, be n committee to select text -bool
"a for the schools of The town. In towns NJ
n using the Town system let it be require
V that ut the annual March meeting in 1871
i, and ut the annual March meeting in ever
il fifth (O year thereafter two persons, il
&c habitnnls OF the town, be chosen to II
IS with the town superintendent rs a con
is mittee on textbooks. Let the toxt-boc
l.. committee be required to make selectic
If of textbooks for use in the schools of Il
o town between tho first day of May and II
n first day of August, and to make rep ,rt
A. their selection TO the town clerk on or b
ID fore the first day of August next followin
NJ their election rs textbook committe
le which report the town clerk shall put {
!. record. The textbook committee shs
|. also procure the printing and distribute
10 through the town of their report durir
the month Of August. The textbooks
selected shall be the text books to be us,
in the schools of the town for five {
s. years, beginning with the first day of N
~ vember next following the publication
. the report
+ Let it be the duty of the town super
l. tendent to require the use of the select,
lie textbooks in the schools of the town, al
II after the first week of any term subs
e quent to the first day of November ne
d following the duplication of the repol
l. let it be his duty to furnish the need,
10 books from the selected list to any pupi
II not otherwise supplied, and at the expen
&c of the town when necessary.
!