Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-03-14
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


For the torn Of Derby, for the gear 1880.
In this report the personal criticisms on
indiUidu0l teachers are omitted.
In presenting the report of the state of
district schools in this town for the year
past, there are certain things that perhaps
ought to be said in view of the important
part our schools occupy in the ultimate
welfare of our communities. The neces-
sity of providing good schools can hardly
be over estimated. Education is essential
to the perpetuation of democratic
democratic in the sense Of government by
the people-form of government. For
ignorant voters will choose ignorant
legislators, and ignorant legislators will
assuredly evolve crude and unwise legis-
lation, such as can only bring about an
archy and national ruin
1t then devolves upon every community
to see that the educational facilities which
it provides for it's children and youth are
of the best possible kind. How is this to
be done? Chiefly, think, by the appoint
ment of better uniform grade of teach
ers, and the securing of a more complete
oversight of the school than is obtained
under the district system. And here
again the question rises, elbow is this to
be done?" Your superintendent answers
that his conscientious convictions lead
him to say, by the abolition of the
district, and the adoption Of the town
system of schools. 1t is needless to go
back in the history of the school system
Of this nation, and point out that the town
system was its basal thought, the real
test Of any system being, is it the best
possible one that we can have? for if not,
then it is bound to go under by the 'sur
vival of the fittest.'
1t is a fact that any candid observer,
possessing fair facilities for observation,
will acknowledge, that the highest posi-
BILE results of common school training,
are not attainable under the present dis
trict system; and it will probably be
found that the comparative lowering in
| value of Vermont's educational standing
among the States, over which so many
of our best minds are mourning, arises
from the fact that the district system
prevails almost universally amongst us.
Perhaps some will ask the reasons for
the failure Of the district system. pre-
sent the following: LIST. The appointment
of unsuitable prudential committees. 1t
ought to be known that there is not a
prudential committee man in this town
that can be said to have done the whole
of his duty. 1t is supposable that COM
mittee man having in charge such work
as looking after the educational wants
of the children would say, ''Where can
find the best teacher?" instead of which,
in too many instances it is simply, where
con find teacher who will do the work
the cheapest? What wonder if it some
times proves to be "cheap and nasty?'
Then, after the teacher is engaged, ant
the school duties are entered upon, it is
suppOSable that committee man should
visit the school three or four times term
not necessarily remaining the whole O
the session, as is required Of the superin
tendent, but dropping in and staying
short time to satisfy himself that tn,
teacher is qualified, and that some meas
ure of adaptibility for the work is shown
Now what are the facts, during the q
terms of school taught in this town, no
more than eight visits by prudential com
mittees have been made. During tn
year previous to this last, the number 0
these visits was Just five If any MAJ
attempted to run a farm with hired he'll
in this way, he would soon run himsel
into hopeless insolvency.
End. The district system is fruitful O
a too frequent change of teachers. An,
this is not only wasteful, for it may safel
be said that every change of teache
causes the loss of over a weeks training
to school; but it is also unsatisfactory
IN many instances, as causing an unneces
sary repetition of lessons, thus disheart
ening many of the pupils, and producin
a lack of interest in their studies.
Sd. Finally, them many cases-annU
al appointment of town superintendent
together with the niggardly remuneratio
he receives, forbids such regularly era
ded system of lessons being required
every school in the town, as alone ca
secure the necessary continuity of studies
Even if the superintendent were appoin
ed for term of years, at the present rat
Of paying him but $1.50 per day for hin
self and team, and restricting the numbe
Of his visits to each school to two Dc
term, he could not afford to spend til
time necessary to formulate wise cours
of study and by frequent consultation
with his teachers outside of school hour
, see that the course was faithfully laugh
Ii the best results are to be gained und'
the present system, prudence would di
tate that larger stipend should be pa
Sc to the superintendent than he receiv,
ne from the State under the present appo
to tionment.
~ But now, if this detached district sy
TEN could be changed, and all the schoo
III in the town grouped under one gener
ne committee, chosen for their interest i
i'll and knowledge of, educational affair
~ who should prepare thoroughly grad,
or course for the different classes of pupil
re- -
whose term of office should be rotator
DO do so that the larger number composing
should be familiar with the course
RI . -, =