Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-12
LAST SATURDAYS PRACTICE AT OAK GROVE
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

A TALK WITH THE PARENTS ABOUT SOME OF
THEIR DUTIES IN CONNECTION THIREwITH.
Mr. Editor We would like, in friend
ly way, to have little talk with the people
of the town whose children attend the Gram
mar school. Occasionally we hear q crit
cism upon the workings of that little repub-
lie which leads us to conclude that those who
crticise so cleverly know very little of the
true work done both by the teachers and pu-
pills. Now we believe, if any person desires
to speak ntelligcnuy upon any subject he
must understand the subject in all its bear
ings, which result can Gully be attained by
personal thought, study and investigation
A man might advertise that he would talk to
the people upon, for instance, what he
termed the Encouragement of our State In
sane Asylum, insisting that he could show
both its terrors and errors ; but, if we knew
all his arguments would be prefaced with the
hackneyed expression, They say so" there
would probably be few listeners TO his ad-
dress We know, however, that there are
men and women who do not hesitate to eX-
press their opinions upon both the methods
of discipline and teaching in our schools, and
tween the four walls where the hearts of an
embryo commonwealth are beating.
Now, we do not approach you with but the
weapon They say SO" to enforce our state
ments, US, for long time, we have given the
matter our personal attention, and 'our pic
lures are drawn by an artist on the spot" In
the first place, we would ask, has it ever &C.
CURED to you there is not another school OF
the size of the Grammar school, all occupying
one room, to be found in New England One
hundred and sixty children from the ages of
ten to fifteen, which all prominent educators
admit is the most trying age to manage, is
quite little community to bring together
under one regime. We have seen many
mother at her wits end in trying tn safely
steer her little craft when less than half
dozen of her own flesh and blood formed the
crew she was striving to pilot and yet here
are 100 active little beings, all of different
bloods and nationalities, aud consequently of
different dispositions and home training. We
all know the child is oft faithful little copy
of his sire, and we are equally sure that few
sires are perfect, and thus, if each child did
but inherit one or two of the parents faults,
and many of their virtues, it cannot be very
easy task to so manage that all these children,
each with few faults, shall work together
happily, and with peace and profit to ALL
We know, however, that days, weeks and
months have passed, and no rod, ferule, nor
d-time methods of schoOl-room torture have
assisted the faithful teachers in their efforts
to aid you in the great work of training your
little ones 80 faithfully and carefully that
they may bring only JOY to your hearts in the
years TO come.
1t is but few days since We heard parent
wondering why the children did not come
home at half past four o'clock, when the law
demanded that school should close at that
time. Probably that parent did not know,
as did We that the teachers, wishing to add
to the childrens education had long ago ar
ranged with the committee that all children
whose lessons and conduct were good should
go at four o'clock, instead of half past four,
and that the majority of the school goes at
that time. If your Johnny, or Mary, or
Susan docs not leave at that time, do not blame
! your teachers but rather inquire closely into