Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-03-16
BONE Department.
MIDDLEBURY SCHOOLS.
ANNUAL REPORT OF REV. A. DE r. PAL
MER. SUPERINTENDENT.

Aour superintendent mas maintained
such supervision of the schools in town,
uuring the past year, as was necessary to
keep him informed of their condition and
progress. The purpose of his visits has
oeeh to counsel the teachers and stimu-
iate and encourage both teachers and
scholars in their work. If any criticism
mas been needed, it has been given in a
klhuiy manner and as kindly received.
MY acquaintance with the schools has
peeh Pheasant and in all of them have
round some very bright and promising
chiidren who are endeavoring to do their
work faithfully, and have made very
creditable advancement. Some of these
nave already entered he higher grades
OF the Graded school, where they can
pursue their studies With increased adj
vantages. Others will probably do the
same in the near future. This is az If
should be. May the number of such be
greatly increased. Parents should slim
! ulate their children b do faithful and
thorough work in the district school bv
The promise of extelded opportunities
Tor education when the time comes.
Few towns can offer si,h educational adj
vantases as this, and yur children NAV
ENJOY tnem at small ost and be near
home' The number 4 boys and girls
from our town pressing upward through
our High school and College and out into
the world t. take honoed and influential
positions should be gretly increased.
The condition of the schools has hoen
generally good; that If some of them
very satisfactory. blieve that all the
teachers have endeaDred to do their
work faithfully. The measure of sue
cess attained has beer varied. and has
been affected by variMs circumstances
Some were young and inexperienced /;
some were not adapted to meet the pecu-
liar exigencies of the situation, but might
succeed well in different school. Some,
while maintaining good discipline, fail
in their methods of Instruction. In fact,
this is the weak point in too many teach
ers which demands special attention.
There is too much of lere routine work
and the examining prcess, as if the child
were receptacle into which knowledge
is to be poured by the;eacher. True ed
ucation is not pourlg-in, but a draw
ing-out. 1t is to teih child to think
for himself, to reason,o grasp facts and
understand their relatn to other facts.
and make practical usof them. | find,
for example, many scolars who expect
the teacher to work althe difficult prob
lens in arithmetic, andhe same problems
are worked over againnd again by diff
ferent teachers and y, the pupil never
masters them for hiDelf. The help he
needs is to be taught apply the prin-
ciples already Learned and do the work
| him ,clr.
| also find that gat amount of time
is spent in reading toary little purpose
With very few eXcepIns the reading in
our district schools i DOR.
In compliance with the requirements
of the new law PhYilogy, with special
reference to the effed # alcoholic drinks
and narcotics upon lie human system
has been taught to cry scholar in all
our schools. This sdy has been per.
sued with interest anlnuch profit to the
scholars. | am plefsd also to report
that special care of lie free textbooks
provided for this stud by the State has
been taken by them.
| regret to state tla the work in one
school has been seriolly retarded by the
neglect of parents t provide suitable
textbooks for their hildren. This is
not only an annoyans to the teacher,
but a loss to the puphnd disturbance
of the work of the wole school. Par
ents are hereby remided that the law
provides that in suel cases the school
authorities shall furnh books, the cost
of which shall be add to the tax bill
of the parent by the tiers. See Revised
Laws, chap. 81, secs. t2-l3. After this
warning, do not thirkt hardship if this
law should be rigidE nforced.
The Graded schoolwith its body OF
skilled and efficient eachers has done
thorough and credtate work-althougf
| regret to say that tn work in the High
school this year has mt been wholly sat
isfactory.
After 16 years of ernest and faithful
labor Mr.. C. d. Mead the principal OF
this school, will retirat the close of the
present year. He WILDE held in CRATE
full remembrance bymany who have
gone from under his istruction into col
lege and out into tn various walks il
life. Miss Matte Chain, preceptress il
the High school, niue to the regret OF
her pupils, chose to erer more privat'
sphere in life at the clse of the last year
We also regret to los one of the mos
successful of our dis'ct teachers, Mis-
Lottie f. Elmer, whoafter several year
of devoted service, as also retired t.
private life.
Some of the schoolhave been consid