Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-25
VERMONT SCHOOLS.
How Shall Their Condition be I'm
proved

70 the Editor OF he Free Press ana Ilmes'
In previous article have cndcavUred to
point out me Of the difficulties that lie in
the way of making any adequate progress in
our public schools. now propose to oifer
some suggestions by way OF remedy. Inc
first thing that should be done is the recon-
struction of school districts throughout the
State. These should be enlarged SO as to
largely augment the grand list as well as in
crease the pupilagc of the ncw-!ormed dis
tricts to such proportions as would warrant
the building of new houses suitable for all
the requirements of Graded schoo'. OF
course will not attempt in a brief article
| like this to 90 into detail, bat as an outline,
taking our own town again by way OF Nus
tratiOn. The number OF our districts should
he reduced to four at most Each of these
w.formcd districts should proceed to build
| a new house on well chosen site containing
at least one-half acre of ground that shall be
| owned by the district and to be graded and
made smooth and enclosed all round with a
good fence, with trees planted round the
| margin and all made neat and tidy Tor
school park. The house should provide
rooms necessary for three departments sat least,
| Primary. intermediate aud Academic. The
| PRINCIPAL of such a school so lar as may d.
practicable should be Il young man "ht
proposes to make teaching his profession,
and Furthermore proposes to himself as time
and fortune may prosper him to marry and
haze home aud household, and TO become
identified with not only the interest OF th'
school but of his ncighborhood and town
The public schools thus organized woua
have characters and pcrmancncc. The servlc. .
of a good teacher once secured, there won't
be little occasion for change. 1t redlstrc
ing our schools it would not be necessary t
follow town lines in all cas1s, but make th'
new districts rs compact IL possible. Now
it seems to ne there can tie but one ohlcc
ton TO the plan proposed and that Is the dis
lance some Of the pupils woul have to lrav
ell in going TO aud from school, aud cvcl
this objection would be countclbaauccd b.
the fact of 1ciug ona)led to attend schol
that will be competent to fit them Tor al
the ordinary pursuits, an! avocatioas OF lie
aud if required to fit them for an cnlranc
to the higher aca Jenny or even the unlvcrsii
itself, and all the time while attending tn
public school, having Their board ard lnc'
dental expenses provided for a home.
We learn from the report of the State 81
perintcndcnt, Hon. Justus Dlrtt, that tn
|
aggregate for the last year 800, 2SS 81 aver
agin! for the PAL towns in the State S22e3. 81
, Do the people get the value Of their money
a Lit u see Go into almost any one OF gu
! schools and yOu Will tiud about dOZc
pupils IN Attendance. If YOU stay awhl
Il You will see and hear all that is trauspuin
I no, only IN the school you enter but in all {
nearly all the schools in town. 1t will max
t. no difference on what day of the term yo
i, Shall make your call for all days will
: alike. You will see aud hear no.hug say
= rotations from the text book, and shou
j. you stay the whole term through 1t VIII !
u the same. There will b. nothing to reiic'
y :. the m1no,ony of tn six mortal hours pasic
= there every day. No varied exercises, l
: talks nor qucstlonin.s from the teacher,
~ compositions, no dcc,anAiDns, nothing
y inspirc an Auimatc The duilncss aud indl
T. ferunc, 50 manifest among The pupils No
>. suppose several .: these iragMcn,ary scho,
:, were to he brought tOg tg,r under conilllo
; and surrOUn iuLs suCl 4, ! hasc outline
4 where TIE very EeatuC.s an order ana so
- taste shOwn ave OF themselves an educate
~ brought lOgeth'r under tue oversight al
management If some trained and 0rsanlM
MUD, who should ont Of the 3315 sch.
ma'ams of the state call round him his nee
~ ed assistants, and all ito work harmonious
and in concert toward the accomplishment
&c one common ohject-thc highest aIialnmt
st and success Of our public schools, No
r Mr.. Editor to my apprehension there
p nothing visionary or utoplau IN ail TINS,
~ rather the prescntmeut oi sober lrnlh Il
=" may be wrought ont and demonstrated
~ fore all the people aud that too without a
itsa startling addition Ia The cost Of running {
~ public schools as nov orslniA.d.
~, Yours X
.o Milton, VI.