Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-01-09
Does Your District School PayP If
Not, Why Not?


pended to promote the cause of edu-
cation in this country where it is COM
pulsory that all be educated. In cit
les and large towns the matter is pref
tv carefully conducted and the money
is expended with good share of wis
dom, but the reverse is quite often
the case as regards the district
schools. A writer in the R"rol Ne'o
Yorker has some practical sugges-
tions on this subject which may he of
interest:
He SAYS: ''Is your district school
in the best condition possibles Tn
doubtedlv your fences are in good
shape, your barns safe and warm for
the winter, and your stock will re-
ceive good care : but will your chill
dren, in school, have the care they
need? Is your district educating the
best kind of American citizens!
Do your school-house grounds look
neglected? Are your privies unclean
and covered with inscriptions Is the
school-house dreary from without and
cheerless from within? Is the room
poorly heated, badly ventilated and
lighted i'm such a manner as TO hurt
your children's eyes? Is there any
system in the studies taught, and is
there change of teachers two or
three times a year! If your school
has none of these faults you are get
ting good returns for your money
If it has any of them, you are to
blame for land the sooner the faults
are remedied the more profitable will
be the investment.
1t paws to have shade trees i'm the
ward : the children enjoy them and
can do better work when they are
happy. 1t pays to keep a wooden
school-house painted, and why not
paint it some attractive color! Ii pays
to have good wood shed. 1t pays
we'll to have the privies in a good
condition. This is a very important
point, for right here starts so much
of the immortality with which district
schools can be charged. With this
arrangement YOU should have good
well of water, driven well is best.
If the school-house is heated by a
stove. have it covered by sheet-lron
Jacket and supply this with fresh air
from outside. Then provide an exit
for foul air. Take il from the floor.
1t will require a good deal Of thought
and some expense 70 do this but 1t
will pay well. Could you sit all day
and study with a hot head and cold
feet? Yet, during the winter the chill
dren i'm most district schools are eN-
pected to do this. Make the walls
attractive by making them clean
then have pictures SO that it will be
homelike. Have curtains for the
windows. If YOU are re-seating the
school-house, use single seats.
How about the course of study and
text books? Are the children allowed
to bring what books they like and is
the teacher required to teach every
thing from A b G to geometry! If
so, something is neglected. Plan a
course of study, adopt set of text
books, and above all have record OF
each child's work kept. From the
time when he first comes into the
school a record of his studies and
monthly advancement should be kept.
Then the next teacher can tell what
work has been done and where the
work should commence. This will
require extra work on the part Of the
teacher. but the board should insist
on it. 1t is done with good results
i'm all graded schools, and will save
the pupils time and prove an incen-
tive to the school.
Lastly, as regards the teacher. /
have reserved this for the last because
/ it is the most important. In the first
place, hire one teacher for the full
! wear. Nothing can be more wasteful
than constant changes. 1t takes
nearly a month for new teacher To
find his pupils out. Don't hire a man
for the winter term, simply because
he wants to earn little money and
there are troublesome boys. If the
bows can't come to school for busl-
ness, let them stay at home. A com
petent woman teacher, properly back
ed bv school board, lcan teach any
school. | say "properly backed =
don't forget that she is a teacher moi
a prize-tighter. 1t is better to have
a bright, energetic woman, who puts
heart into the work and who will take
an interest in the school, than con
stant changes, even though one tern
be taught by man during the schoo
wear. Be careful in the selection ol
a teacher. Not every one who holds
certificate is capable of teaching
your school. At least use as mucl
care in the selection of a teacher as I
stock breeder would in selecting
trainer for his choice trotting horses
Your children are thorough-breds, ,an'
need skilful handling.
"Yes," you say, "hut we elected
our officers and they will attend to al
these things" Or perhaps you ar
, an officer and don't want the trouble
Well, will it pay TO let the matte
rest? If you are an officer and no
, sure what TO do, consult with SOM