Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21

paid within three months.
Town Supervision Of Schools.
In some parts of the state unusual inter
est is manifested in common school in
struction. During the past week several
notable educational meetings have been
held in this immediate vicinity. A large
and interested public meeting of the More
town Teachers Association was held during
the day and evening of Friday. The
Orange County Teachers Association held
two days profitable session at Williams
town, and the Waterbury Teachers Associa-
ton held its regular semi-monthly "confer-
ence meeting" on Saturday. At these meet
ings the matter of practical instruction in the
branches required to be taught in the com
mon schools is discussed; school discipline
and the general management of schools is
considered; questions on special points are
asked and answered; that strength which
comes from union is acquired, and the mex
perienced may profit by the counsel Of the
older teachers. Better methods, more thor
ough-going instruction, aud an elevation of
the standard of excellence in our schools
must be the outcome of these teachers
meetings. This movement is in its infancy.
Indeed it is but just born. 1t will require
careful nursing and the exercise Of much
patience, wisdom, courage and judicious
effort on the part of those who are guiding
its first infantile demonstrations.
Town superintendent should heartily CO.
operate in this movement. They can de-
cisively help to give effect to the labors of
the teachers. The law says that they "sball
inform themselves of the discipline and
progress in study of the public school, advise
the teachers and adopt the necessary meas
ures for the examination, regulation and
improvement in learning, of such schools"
OF course the specification of the duties Of
a town superintendent proceeds upon the
assumption that in school, as in railroad or
any other supervision, the superintendent
has the superior knowledge and experience.
His knowledge of subjects, of methods, of
discipline, of the perplexities of classical
ton, and of school management is assumed
to be superior to that of the teachers. There
may be grave doubts whether this theory of
school supervision is always realized in
practice. 1t may even sometimes happen
that the supervised and the supervisor
should change places in order to secure the
theoretical relation that should exist be-
l,,t q 80, Ill -. -
the improvement in learning" Of the
schools would be enhanced by such change.
Granting for the present purpose that school
superintendent are always competent, it
may still be maintained that they do not in
any reasonable proportion so discharge
their duties as to satisfy those requirements
of the law which we have quoted, and which
were presumably designed to secure i'm
provement in learning in hepublic schools"
In the first place their visits are not fire.
quent enough to enable them to Uniform
themselves of the discipline and progress in
study of the public schools" The sporadic
incursion of a superintendent into school
is momentous affair both for that function
airy, the pupils and the teacher. 1t is equally
an object of terror TO all three, barren of
reliable information to the official and of
benefit to the school. And as to the prof
fer of any "advice," such as the law says
the superintendent shall give the teachers,
the act would, as general thing, quite as
much astonish schoolmistress as a pro
posal of marriage from that officer, and
would be equally matter of amazement if
not an exhibition of oficious impudence to
any schoolmaster. Now it is in the wise
and faithful discharge of the above specif-
cation of their duties that town superintend-
onto oan cooperate WIN the Jeacners ana
the friends of education in the fresh interest
in our schools which is evinced by the forma
ton Of these town and county teachers as.
sociations. They should "inform them
selves of the discipline and progress in
study of the public Schools" explain to
teachers any defect in their methods, show
them where they fail to make connection
between their instruction and the practical
life for which they are professedly fitting
their scholars, check them when they are
crowding their scholars along faster than is
consistent with a well grounded understand
ing of their studies, and stand between teach
ers who are faithfully and conscientiously
doing their duty in this respect, and those
parents who are found in every school dis
trict and who estimate the progress theil
children make at school by the number Of
square feet of text book they traverse dur
ing term. Competent and faithful super
intendents who inform themselves of the
needs of the school, as the law requires
them to do, can bestow great deal of use
full "advice " by the exercise of tact anC
judgment. Of course advice should be com
municated as privately as possible, and in
variably it will be thankfully received il
kindly and judiciously given. In these teach
ers' meetings superintendent should be lead
ers among the exhorters. General and specific
suggestions can there be pointedly mad
and strongly urged without danger of wound
ing individual feelings. Mutual understand
ing will be cultivated and the way pave,
for the practical application of improved
methods that shall immeasurably increas
the efficiency of our common schools. w
trust town superintendents will seriousl,
consider the nature of the trust they hav
undertaken to discharge in accepting tina
office. They should magnify its importanc
till it fills the utmost limits of the letter an
spirit of the law which clearly prescribe
their duties The winter schools are no,
fairly under way and the time for the exc
else of the important functions of superv
sion is fully come. Improve it.
AN "ExPERT"-Nearly two years ag
when the management of the insane under til
care of New York city was investigated, I'll
young DIR. Spitzka, the " horse doctor" VIII
testified to Guiteau's insanity, announce
himself, in answer to the question of coul
sci, as an expert. Six years old was h
diploma, and yet he did not hesitate to tai
issue with men many years his senior, an
what is more important, vastly his superi,
in experience, which ought to weigh dow
any jaunty and quick-witted testimony by