St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-03-01
CURRENT AFFAIRS.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT RE.
PORT.

Jury
Gentlemen-I herewith present my
report of the schools for the year 1857
and 50. Schools have been supported
in all the districts, as required by law.
The number of weeks schooling in each
district has varied from "a to 80. There
have been 81 terms-3 terms of e, of
z, and of 10 pupils or less. The ag-
gregate number of weeks of schooling
895. am glad to report that, taking
the schools as a whole, good work has
been done, honest effort made, and
pains taken for the improvement of the
schools. The shOrtness of some of the
terms, with the frequent changing of
teachers, have been serious drawbacks
to the greatest efficiency of the schools.
In accordance with the act of the last
legislature, the study of scientific tenn
perance has been introduced in the
schools. / cheerfully witness to the
hearty cooperation of both teachers
and scholars. There has been no dis
position on the part of either to evade
the law but on the contrary they have
shown an honest desire to carry out
both the letter and spirit, so far as pos
sibIe. 1t is too soon to form a just es-
innate of the benefit of the study. Val
liable as this instruction is, it will
prove a delusiOn if we wholly rely on
this as a safeguard against the terrible
evil of intemperance. One serious OBJ
lection to the textbooks now in use, is
their failure to give due prominence to
the evil effects of tobacco on the hu
man system. 1t is my opinion that to-
bacco is doing our young people great
er injury by far than alcohol.
There is a general feeling of dissatis-
faction with the present system of
school supervision. | believe this Opin-
ion to be well founded. The supervis-
ion is not such us the best interest of
the pupil, or of the town and of the
state, demands. That superintendent
are not wholly guiltless goes without
saying; yet it would be manifestly I'M
just to lay all the blame on them The
real difficulty lies rather i'll the system.
However honest and sincere the SUI
perintendent may be in his efforts to
improve the schools, he speedily finds
himself hampered, his best efforts
frustrated, by the faults which inhere
in the system itself. The good of our
schools, the welfare of the scholars,
imperatively require the substitution OF
the town system i'll the place of the dis
trict system.
The great superiority of the town
system over the district may be seen
by comparing the union school with
the district. In the union school we
have a practical illustration of the town
system. We may also see the princi-
pies needed to make our district schools
efficient.
|. A prudential committee of three
or five of the best citizens, chosen for
three years, by which time they would
become thoroughly cOnversant with
the needs of each district. Good
such school furniture, l. e. desks, maps,
charts, blackbOards, dictionary, and
stationery, as required.
2. Permanency of teachers, with
adequate compensation. This frequent
changing of teachers which is so gen
eral in our district schools, is one of
the most fruitful sources of injury. |
am glad to say that the general ten
deDcy is to keep the same teacher
throughout the year The wage ques-
ton undeniably has much to do with
these frequent changes. Vermont en-
Joys the unenviable honor of paying
the lowest average wages of all the
states in the union. Excepting the
graded schools, the districts average
about % weeks per year. The teachers
receive from 800 to $3.50 per year. No
wonder that as they become proficient
as teachers they ego West"
3. Grading of studies. Under the
present system this is an almost hope
less task, but under the town system
it could be done and done well.
4. Lengthening of the school year.
From 10 to III weeks represents the
average years schooling of many of
the larger pupils. They are needed at
home, on the farm, and the winter
term is all the time that they have for
school purposes. Were the school to
commence early in the fall, having a
weeks vacation Christmas time, then
continuing into February, Is weeks
schooling might be available for them.
5. The superintendent should be a
member-of the prudential committee.
Now, while his decision respecting the
course of study is final, he has no voice
in the selection of the teacher. If it
seems best to entrust him with the
course of study, surely he should have
voice in the selection of the teacher.
Now he may cancel n certificate for
cause, but he has no say as to who
shall fill the position vacated.
6. Free text books and stationery.
The arguments are legion. The gen
eral verdict of the country is more and
more in it's favor. The cost of text
books and stationery bears hard upon
many of our people. In most of our
schools will be found some pupils
whose parents are unable to provide
these things.
z. Teachers certificates should be of