News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-03-12
A Visit to the State Primary School
at MonSon.


at Monson.
had a pleasant opportunity not
long ago to visit the State Primary
School at Monson. The institution
is located on the slope of Bunyan
Mountain. The scenery there is very
lovely. Many children who are
brought up in happy homes and sur
rounded by all the pleasant and help
full things kind parents can bestow,
are often much less fortunate than the
poor, dependent children at the State
Primary, in their opportunities to en-
iov beautiful views. Hills are on
every side; winding river, the Qua
boag. is in front. Pleasant fields lie
between the river and the school, and
beyond the river is the largest of the
four villages of Palmer. A short
walk in almost any direction brings
one to some pretty brook, that sings
over the stones; and the ferns and
wild flowers of Monson would fill with
delight any lover of nature. There
are nearly f r hundred children now
at the school. These are dependent
and neglected children, who have no
settlement in any city or town. They
are from three to sixteen years of age,
the greater per cent. being boys.
NV visit vas so short that only |
saw the children in their school rooms.
These rooms were all made attractive
by pictures and plants, and were de-
lightfully tidy, the floors being scrub
bed every week. The curtains at the
windows give home-like appearance
and add to the comfort of teachers
and pupils. After the children were
dismissed for the day saw one of
the boys evening the curtains with
nicely that would have quite won the
heart of some particular housekeeper.
There are eight schools at the In
stitution, the lowest grade being Kin
der Garten. This school is taught by |
a lady who was graduated from Mrs.
Ropes Normal class at Boston. She
seems to have caught that lady's en-
thuslasm. Since the children have no
homes and admiring friends to whom
they can carry their work, the work
is pinned up around the looms. The
effect is pretty and greatly to the cred
it of the little workers. The children
take pride in their occupation" and
among the many pieces of sewing.
weaving, etc., each child can tell his
own.
In one room the children were at
work upon a mould-table. sit is
like magnet" said the teacher. at
attracts all the children" | know
there are many who do not approve
of the moulding table. 1t certainly
seemed to work we'll with these chill
dren, giving them much pleasure
and clear ideas of the different forma-
tions of land and water. In the
room next to The Kinder Garten l
noticed several good devices for i'm
parting knowledge. One could not
fail to admire the teachers enthusi-
asm and devotion to her work. In
the girls school the pupils sang and
accompanied the music with motions.
The exercise was well done. In this
room l met the pleasant superinten-
dant, Mr.. Andrews, who has already
won the regard of officers, teachers
and pupils, Notwithstanding the fact
that he has but recently received his
appointment at Monson. 1 was
pleased with the spirit of the teachers
and pupils in all the rooms, but there
is not time to speak of each.
l passed several pleasant hours in
the principals room. The interest
shown by the pupils spoke well for
the teachers skill and earnest endeav-
ors. Several memory gems were re-
cited. Afterward the names of the
authors were given and some facts
concerning their lives. When it was
told that Mr.. Tennyson is poet lau-
reate and that poet in that position
often writes poem to please the SOW
ereign, one boy, who possibly had
made some vain attempts in that di-
rection himself, asked eagerly, "Can
he do it easily?" An important part
of the teaching at MonSon is the in
dustrial training in the sewing room,
shoe shop, tailor sop, bakery, kitch-
en-, dormitories and upon the farm.
1t is pleasant to see children, who are
denied home comforts and joys, SO
kindly cared for and carefully instruc-
ted at Monson. E.s.F.