St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-03-12

and failed to give to mental arlthmetic
the time and attention which the I'M
portance of the study demanded. The
one most serious fault of our common
schools, is that the pupils are not
taught to think. The system OF instruc-
ton has been more of the examining,
rather than of the development of the
mind. The new books we're expressly
chosen with view to meet and cOun-
teraet this fault. Where the teachers
did not suffer themselves to be discour-
aged, but patiently persevered, the re-
suits were highly gratifying. A good
beginning has been made. To my
mind the reasons why some OF the
teachers failed to make success of the
new books, are these:
LIST, Impatience. The system was new
both to teacher and pupil, hence the
progress must of necessity be slow.
Both became impatient; the pupil, be-
cause he did not get ahead any faster
the teacher. because of the fault-indlng
parents, for there are some parents who
estimate teachers ability by the
amount of ground she is able to put the
pupil over during the term. / regard
the expression I'VE have been through
the book as conclusive evidence of the
incOmpetency of the teacher; as show
ing that the work has been done in a
very superficial manner.
I'd, Failure to use the Blackboard. The
black board isindispensable in the teach
ing of reading, writing, grammar and
arithmetic. 1t can be used with great
advantage in geography. Yet there are
many who have no other conception of
the blackb board than that it is 'handy
occasionally for arithmetic" 1t is a
fact, that our most successful teachers,
are those who make the freest use OF
the black board. Prudential commit
tees should see to it that their school
houses are provided with good black
boards and crayOns. Districts No. 4, {
and need to be reprinted, while No
Z, 10, IA and IL require new ones.
In our Union schools the village have
a corps of teachers of whom they may
be Justly proud. Miss Kimball, the
principal, has been heartily sustained
by the teachers under her. Marked
progress has been made, and the work
has been more thorough. 1t seems t.
me that the time is not far distant, il
not already come, when the standard
, of admission to the grammar grade
should be raised. l would respectfully
coll -.I.--~..o.ofuu VI the Prudential
Committee to this point. At Foul
Corners the schools have not been sue.
cess. As that school is one of the best
and most easily managed, the cause OF
failure must rest with the teachers.
No. has fine school building, en-
ploys two teachers. The advanced
pupils are inclined to naturalization
require firm but .judiciOus teacher
The school was fortunate in securing
efficient teachers for the fall and winter
terms.
The teacher of the spring term OF
No. 6 gave so good satisfaction that
the district retained her the entire year
This speaks well for teacher and pupils
The schools in Nos. 7, 9, 10, II, IL, Ia
and IL are small, most of the pupils
being in the primaries and interme-
dates. Order and department. good.
The schools we've not 50 successful as
they would have been had they adhered
with more 'firmness to the system of the
books. No. 10 has large cherries
building, in bad condition. 1t needs q
thorough renovation, single seats, new
blackboards. The school should be
divided, two teachers employed. The
pupils are backward in their studies
recitatiOns poor, order and department
bad. The school needs master. No
J Ii has good school building, pupils
divided into three grades. Owing tt
the prevalence of the cankerash the
winter term was broken up, the gram
mar school closed, the pupils put in tn,
, intermediate school. The practica
workings of the plan has been bad. TIL,
[ teacher has had too many classes, ant
has not been able to do justice eithe
3 to the school OF to herself. Aside from
b keeping the pupils out of the streets
D the winter term has been practically
t failure.
f AS the teachers and pupils have be
= come somewhat familiar with the system
of the textbooks, do not doubt bu
that next year will show u marked i'm
prOvement over this. There have bee
rs schools, employing sc teachers
About 1000 pupils. have made Is
visits.
Respectfully submitted,
E. T. SANFORD, Sup't.
Death of a Hero of the Late War