Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-10
EXTRACTS FROM A SUPERIN-
TENDENT'S REPORT.

The following extracts from the re-
port of Miss Ida Anger, school superin-
tendent from Sutton, will be of general
interest. That portion relating to the
several teachers and schools is omitted !:
Silently and almost unperceptibly are
the greatest and most permanent changes
wrought in the world of mind, or mat
ter. So wonderfully mighty are the
silent powers of air and water, that un-
der their influence the rugged mountains
side, whose gigantic strength defed
lightning's power, is made to crumble to
dust. Of such a delightful graduation
are the seasons, that, ere we are aware
of the fact, balmy spring with her fresh
ness and odorous verdure, bright sum-
I1sef with her gorgeous sunsets and gar
lands of flowers, hazy autumn with her
luscious fruits and golden sheaves, and
hOary-headed winter, have each been
oar guests, and, one by one, successfully
aparted. Another year with its fair
slies and gloomy clouds, its sunshine
aid rain, its seedtime and harvest, has
rdled into the past. Taking a retro
sIectlve view of the retreating year, we
n,te its joys and sorrows, its bright an
tiApations and happy realizations or
bitter .disappointments, Its wearisome
laoors and perplexing cares, and, per-
hfps, we may regretfully sigh that more
has not been accomplished. Yet we re-
joce in much successful labor performed !;
that some seed has been sown in the
Intellectual soil, which, we hope, may
bling forth an abundant harvest in fu-
tue years. We rejoice that our effort
has not been withheld in sustaining the
common schools, and in helping to raise
The masses to higher elevation of habit
ami character, for it is only by the ed
ucltIon of the individual, that the mass
es are to be educated, and the genera
tin trained IN knowledge, and the prin-
cines of virture. Here in these schools
are taugh the rudiments of an education,
ami the cardinal principles of right and
patriotism, that are to make the charac-
ter of the men and women of the years
to come. May these considerations stim-
ulae US to greater earnestness in our
labrs for, and, heighten our apprecia
tiols of, the value and capabilities of
the common schools. The Importance
of education cannot be over estimated
From the tone of the schools which your
children are now attending. will be
largery determined the strength and
character of the people a few years
hence. Be careful that each stepping
stone has solid basis, so that they may
mount to that noble height which the
present hatteringly promises, and the
past clearly declares may be theirs. Do
not disregard the apparently important
item of electing school committees do
not fail to secure the services of the
best, and. therefore, the cheapest teach
ers, and retain them as long as their
presence proves beneficial, and, more
than all do not give any office, whether
it be high or low, to mere ofice-seeker,
or an unfit person because he desires a
position on the school board. Finally,
we would say, that pecuniary sacrifices
dwindle into insigni6cance if the intel
lectual and moral standard of scholar,
teacher or parent can be raised; thirst
for knowledge created, and an interest
in education increased.