Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-03-26
TX, BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1880.

that dictionary is found upon the teachers
desk. In our graded schools we have not on
ly dictionaries, but the latest encyclopedias
and other books of reference but, II is not to
DO supposed that only the children who are so
favored as to be in attendance upon these
schools can make use Of dictionary. The
| prudential committees Of our district schools
are legally authorized and required TO see
that 'all appendages and things necessary
for the advantage of the school be provided"
| This is the very letter Of the law, and Ger.
tainly dictionary Of the English language
should be reckoned among the things that
are necessary il not absolutely indspensa-
ble the children should be encouraged TO
question the teacher as to the meaning of
words and to consult the dictionary for
themselves each day. The same cannot be
too frequently used and when there has
dawned upon the mind Of the child that the
words he finds in his daily lessons, and the
words he makes use Of in conversation, are
not mere arbitrary signs, but living realities,
each having its own origin and history, an in
terest will be awakened which will never die.
The district school house OF fifty years ago,
with its unattractive exterior, its primitive
furniture and its gloomy interior with bare
undecorated walls, should remain thing of
the past The age in which we live demands
far better things. It calls for the best talent
on the part of the teachers: it would have
every approved modern appliance for the aid
of the pupils, and, above all, a generous spir-
it on the part Of the people in making due
yigio go b.. A.
since the intellectual training of "the rising
generation is second only in importance to
the religious and moral welfare of the race
BLACKBOARD EXERCISES.
The attention of the several prudential
committees is called to the fact that a need
exists in all of our school rooms of additional
blackboard facilities In many Of them the
only blackboard is placed behind the teach
er's desk, the most inconvenent and insult
able place that could possibly be found for it.
For all practical purposes it might as well be
in the outer hall, on the outside of the school
house, or even on neghboring fence Ev-
cry available space on the four walls however
small, should be made use Of for this purpose.
and especially should this be done in the diff
feront recitation rooms connected with the
High and Grammar schools in order that an
entire class may be engaged in blackboard
exercises at the same time The wall should
be divided into spaces for the work of each
pupil, with numbers over them correspond
ing to those borne by the different scholars,
and thus the work performed may be left
for the inspection of the teacher, and no
question can arise as to its author The i'm
portance and advantage Of more frequent
blackboard work cannot be overestimated 1t
was once thought that a blackboard was only |
necessary for the exhibition of certain math
ematical problems, but We have since learned |
that the study of language, history, music,
drawing and the different natural sciences |
can best be promoted and encouraged by its