The Republican journal., 1888-03-22
Country Schools.

BOARD OF EDUCATION PLAN TO IMPROVE
THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.
The Massachusetts state board of education
mas given special attention, through its secre-
tary and agents, through personal investigation
and extended written and oral inquiries. to tie
condition of the schools in those towns far re-
moved from cities and commercial towns, and
as result they devote large part of their
special report to this subject and ask for ,ecial
legislation upon this matter, the only subject
upon which they recommend legislation. The
following is an extract from the report of the
board which is now being published, and which
will soon be ready for distribution:
For the best good of the poor and weak
schools. some more continuous influence and
work are needful. and the board has again to
speak of what appears to be the best practicable
remedy for the present state of things. 1t is to |
he found in skilled teaching and skilled super
vision. 1t is almost invariably the that,
when a competent SUPERINTENDENT is appoint
ed. the schools at once improve; and the board
desires to express to the Legislature its most
earnest conviction that the interests of etlnca-
ton demand some legislation by means of
which the schools of the poorer towns shall be
rescued and brought into the line Of progress. |
Here it is largely question of money: but to
spend wisely for such a purpose brings an /
ample return The board has. from time to
time, submitted plais for supervision made /
possible for the small and poor towns of the /
state. and Will he ready to do 50 again when /
such help is desired But it is committed to no
special plan. Feeling the need OF action in the /
matter, and desiring TO promote it in an. way
possible. the board presents the belief that the |
way to meet the need NAV he found Withou. in |
terfering with local rights, AND without i3npos- |
ing undue pccliniary burdens on any onv.
"First-The state Of Massachusetts unter-
takes to give to every child within her borders /
Il good common school education. The scope /
of this is we'll defined by statute. and comprises !
such a course Of training AS shall seEd forth .
the children furnished with clear knowledge !
of the elementary English studies able to use |
their minds in the experience Of evtryda. life
and trained in moral, and manners.
''Second-ln not small Number OF our
towns are schools so poor is to be hardly Wor-
thy TO be counted As parts OF the school stem
of a rich and intelligent community. y visit
to such schools shows that but few OF the above
mentioned requirements are met. The salaries
paid TO teachers are too small 10 command those
who have bad much opportunity for gaining:
knowledge, or any training in the best methods (
of impariing what They know. Often these
teachers are taken from some poorly equipped.
ungraded school. where there is 40 attempt
even al giving a full grammar course. ana are
PIT at once in charge of goodly number OF
scholars upon whom they must practise and
try experiments. at The cost of the pupils. We
often tlid the best spirit and most earnest r.;-
dcaNor Oh the part of these Young. lltr',iicl
teachers. and eur >ympath. is called cut in
their behalf. Bot Il much deeper sympathy j.
demanded for the children in such schools.
They are losing The Precious time. ali too snort,
Of their school life. and they 20 out into tEe
world t. meet its varied problems ignorant
and unframed to Il ptai'i. degree. Now. Ia Il
skilled supervisor take charge of >t,gt! schools,
and at once he sees how. by iatirnt endeavor
and oversight. he may make the best Use of
these Young. willing, but mex ieririred tt;.,'-
cr>. His whole time and strength are 1T the
service of the schools. Whatever is good in
them he will foster. and whatever is poor and
weak he will try to mend. We do net fear 10
say that skilled SuperN i>0r. giving his whole
time 10 the schools Of 4 little group 0: neigh
boring towns. would il one year make Il change
for the better III our poorest schools that wouId
hc simply mary eiou-. and this clan4c wGuld of
itself work other changes. Public sentiment
RESPONDS TO efforts that show good results: tie
towns pride in It's schools is aroused: taNatIoM
is no longer the grinding burden thai ii was; il
becomes to an encouraging extent the payment
Of money for the best sor; of return: sch0o,
committees have their low-townspeople on
their side, helping Instead Of thWarting them
in their best efforts for the schools. AMI teach
ers feel the change and find their burdens light
ehed. The very atmosphere of the town SEEMS
improved.
'Third-l'he chief and limo>t the only OIL
>tacle i'll the way of this reform is the money
that it will cost: but We believe this would not
prove the hughear ii sometimes seems. The
sum needed to try the experiment il i'll itself
small. and. gathered by tax laid upon lie
property of rich and prosperous state. would
be almost uhneticed.