St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-03-25
A Model superintendent's Report.

Mr.. C.. A. Bunker, superintendent OF
schools at Peacham, made a model re-
port at the late town meeting. 1t has
been printed and deserves wider cir
culatiOn than the town for which it was
written. We cannot fill our space bet
ter than by giving some brief abstracts.
This is what he said of one school:
This school composed wholly of small
scholars, whom some thought it impOs-
sible to keep within bounds, has been
the most quiet and orderly school in
town. No school can succeed without
order. 1t is all-impOrtant. Whisper
ing, that little insinuating, insidious
curse, was almost wholly eradicated.
Now how have all these good results
been brought about l will tell yOu.
The attention of this district had been
called again and again to the fact that
things were going at loose ends that
the children were doing anything but
studying; but the parents persistently
shut their eyes TO facts until things
reached crisis when something had to
be done. They came to the conclusion
that their children must be obedient,
and each went to work as the Jews I'M
der Nehemiah, in rebuilding the walls
of ,JeruSalem-each one over against his
own house. The committee, too, went
to work in a business-like way. Instead
of haggling about the price, he said to
the applicants: 1--WE must have good
orderly school. These severe criticisms
of this district every year must be stop
ped. If you can do this work You can
have the position; otherwise, | shall
insist upon your giving it up to some
one who can accomplish the task" The
teachers found themselves subjected to
pressure such as Peacham teachers
seldom experience. They felt that they
must have a good school and that the
committee and district would sustain
them. Now what this district has ac-
cOMplished any one can do. But there
must be hearty cooperation on the part
of all concerned. How this model COM
mittee-man was secured | shall tell you
farther on in this report.
HOW TO ELECT SCHOOL COMMITTEES.
This is the way they secured mode
committee man in Peacham:
l have another thing in mind which
believe is worthy of your serious con-
sideratiOn-the manner of electing pru-
dental committees. | think it is the
practice in most, if not all of our dis
tricts, to elect this officer viva vOce. il
is more expeditions. 1t saves time. Bn'
is it the best way? In the first part o
this report / spoke of the good fortune
of the Corner district in getting the
right committee man. We thought il
best to choose this, our most important
officer, by ballot. Instead of voting IL
the first man that anyone might harper
to nominate, we found we were very
much divided, SO that we had something
like half a dozen candidates. Afte
several ballots we succeeded in electins
a deacon who has managed so admira
bly, in carrying out the wishes of the
district. Let us all choose this office
by private ballot, each person votin!
for the one he thinks best qualified TO
the place, and believe it weuld maxi
a most favorable revolution in our com
mon schools.
CLEANLINESS NEXT TO GOODNESS.
To have good schools all must per
form their part. The law and circum
stances are such that all interested (ant
that includes everybody must work il
hearty union in order to accomplish tn
best results. We shift responsibility
too much and too often. Our schoo
officers are too negligent or rather care
less. Committees do not always watcl
over the interests of the schools as the.
/ -hnt,ll HnncaS m ado Gnit1 hi
or comfortable. Things will wear out
they will get broken. Every schOo
house should he thoroughly cleaned a
the beginning of each term, and whel
| saw thoroughly mean the Chote build
ing, including the amer. fit be tru
that diphtheria is a filth disease, | an
amazed that it does not eftener brea
out in some of our schools.
TREATMENT OF TEACHERS BY THE ST.
PERINTENDENT.
Generally the committees desire an
expect me to eXtol their schools 9th
ers who are not satisfied deman
meIciless criticisms. l think it my plac
to point out evils plainly with vie'
to their correction. As for criticism
teachers, it should be done very spar
ingly, and as favOrably to themselve
as the facts will warrant. Their pos
ton is often a very trying one. The
make mistakes, but frequently such Il
may be corrected, and it is not right t
ruin their reputation and business be
cause of minor errors.
Making out the Inventories.