The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-07
THE BENNINGTON GRADED
SCHOOLS

SCHOOLS.
IL the people of Bennington will visit
our schools and see our teachers perform
their work. and If they will watch the
interest and industry Of our little ones
in their school tasks, they will wake up
to the fact that teaching is profession
for which education alone is a prepare
ton to about the same ex ent that it is
preparation for the law or medicine.
As no lawyer is competent who has
not made the law study,so no teacher is
truly competent who has not made
teaching a study. 1t is coming to be the
fact that teachers must have profession
al knowledge as well as the book knowl-
edge they have been supposed to have.
Besides this, the enactment of the new
school law in regard 10 the licensing of
teachers, makes it necessary for all who
expect to teach to qualify themselves in
those branches in which candidates for
certificates must be examined.
II goes without saying that these
things impose new demand upon the
schools from whose ranks our teachers
come-a demand that these schools shall
furnish an education which these young
people can put to practical use il they
so de.ire. Right here in our own com.
munity and elsewhere throughout the
county are 10 be found many young peo-
pie who do 30 desire 10 put an education
to practical use-who desire to become
teachers. They are anxious to prepare
themselves for examination and for the
work that follows it.
The Trustees see IN this fact an oppor
kEp ~ thu nnn-raoiAant ut
tendance in the Graded school, to extend
its influence, to raise its standard of
scholarship and to increase its revenue.
To accomplish these desirable ends one
or two steps will be taken. During the
coming winter term especial attention
will be given to the instruction of all
who desire a better knowledge of the
branches in which teachers have to be
examined as we'll as some attention to
the methods which underlie the correct
teaching of these branches. The work
will be under the personal direction OF
the Superin endent who has had a large
and successful experience in showing
young people how to make their educa-
ton useful in earning living.
All members of this class will, in ad-
dition to the work named, be required
to spend five hours a week in the various
departments of the Graded school where
they may zee skillful teachers instruct
classes of 80 pupils or more in reading,
spelling, number, language, penman-
ship, etc., etc., by the most approved
methods, and where they may zee these
teachers use all the Kindergarten helps
now found in the best schools. In this
way young lady may learn in a few
months by observation, to manage and
to teach school as schools are managed
and taught by the best teachers.
This ia certainly an excellent oppor-
tunily for the young lady graduates
from the High school, who may desire
to teach; for, having them in mind. the
Board Of Trustees have declared that
such course of attention to our school
work will render them eligible for posi-
tons in the school, as the following reso.
lu'Ions, pa sed at the last Board m citing
will show:
Inasmuch as the skillful teaching Of the young
Is profession in the sense that special prepare
tion is needed by the teacher to produce the bes
results, tbs hereby resolved
| That the trustees OF the BENIN gtOn Graded
Schools will not hereafter employ any person as
| regular teacher in any department Of that insti
of preparation in normal or training school, o.
sufficient experience in the grade OF work sht
may seek here, to place her in the rank Of pro
| fessiOnal teachers.
That as between strangers and graduates from
the Bennington High School who shall have Sc
cured the professional training named, the pref
erence Of this Boarl is for the home talent.
That graduates from the High School who shall
take course Of instructions In methods anC
school management under the direction Of thu
Superintendent, and who shall qualify themselve
for primary and intermediate work by obSerya
ton for sufficient period in the rooms with ou
regular teachers, shall be regarded by this Boar
as trdined teachers, and, having secured lega
certificate, they shall be eligible to positions il
the cshool when vacancies occur.
This is substantially what our regula
teachers have been doing for SOM
months past, and all Of them who ar,
doing their duty are now making /;
study of better methods of teaching anC
qualifying themselves in this respect Il
an extent entirely unknown to the I'm
trained teacher.
1t would be manifest injustice II
the public, and an irreparable injury t
our school to hereafter employ an,
teacher who is not familiar with tn,
excellent methods now used by some o
our teachers. If parents and the public
Will NlSlL lllO SCuOOlS uuu oto w udO 10 Dc
ing done there they will at once under
stand that it can only be done by thos
who have made the work a study.
But vacancies will occur in our schoo
and teachers will be wanted to fill them
The Board very justly expresses it
preference for our own graduates an,
only asks that they shall make the worl
of our school and its teachers a study il
order to be considered for position
when vacancies occur.
1t is.the purpose of the Board to issu
circular in the near future explaining
to our own community and especial,
to the young people throughout tn
county, who desire to teach, what on
graded school can do for them.