Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-03-18

in one of her experience and prepar-
atory opportunities, | think we have
a right to expect less superficial
way of teaching than she manifests
and one that looks more to the reason
of things. If our schools are worth
anything they learn our children tC
think for themselves, and our Older
teachers, at least, should understand
this, and let no point go unnoticed
which they have time to ask about oil
explain. Mrs. Fletcher would give
better satisfaction as a teacher if she
would condense her work and make a
more energetic use of her time.
District No. Z. The summer term
was taught by Edie Currier, [ think
the taxpayers in this district found
the school tax somewhat burdensome.
At least, in engaging Miss Currier it
was thought fit to employ cheap
teacher, and l don't think she more
than earned what they paid her. I
made two visits to this school, and
though the general opinion of the dis
trict was one of dissatisfaction, | do
not want to see wrong done the
girl by entirely condemning her. 1t
was her first experience; she was but
16 years old, and she was homesick
in that old barn down by the brook.
No boy or girl is capable of teaching
any kind of a school until II years
of age, and L think Is years would
be better. 1t is a piece of consum-
mate folly for parents to encourage
them until they arrive to years of
discretion. It's but another instance
of the blind leading the blind. How
can child-teachers be expected to ex-
hibit thorough methods or command
that respect on the part of pupils so
necessary in the school-room. The
fall term was taught by Miss Jennie
Bryant. l visited this. school once,
found it we'll organized and believe it
gave general satisfaction.
District No. 8. Miss Carrie Day
taught this school both in summer
and fall. I made one visit each term,
and, considering the fact that the ac-
commodations are scanty, | should
say she maintained very orderly
school. She took much pains in the
work and / think was generally liked.
The winter term was taught by ). A.
Hunt of WestmOre. [ made the
school two visits. The second visit
| made was in consequence of dis
turbance and misunderstanding oc-
casioned by the attempted expulsion
of a scholar from school. Before
leaving, | am pleased to say that |
saw the difficulty adjusted, conces-
sions having been made by both sides,
and | now understand there was no
disturbance in the closing three weeks.
In way of comment, I would say, l
have no doubt the scholars were at
fault in the first instance, and that
there was a persistent effort to annoy
the teacher. But | believe that Mr..
Hunt was unfortunate, if not unwise,
in choosing the method he did to
points which he made necessarily
committed him to course which
might work injustice. | consider him
a good teacher, but not well bal
anced disciplinarian.
In closing, | would congratulate
you on a satisfactory school year.
There have been no pronounced diff
fcultles, and though there is much
chance for better work in the future,
] think the instances are few where
there has not been quite little i'm
provement under the old district sys-
TEN. However, there is great neces-
sity for more hearty cooperation on
the part of parents. One or two reg
listers show some thing wrong some
where in exhibiting great number
of tardy marks. | think that parents
might in a great measure overcome
this difficulty. Again, it would in
all instances help teachers, if when
parents desire to criticise they would
do so privately. The questioning of
teachers actions before pupils can dc
but very little good, and must obvi-
ously cast disrespect upon authority
In making my school report, [ make
a report of the status and progress
of the community. The question OF
our common schools is one most i'm
portant to us all. 1t is a question OF
the home circle, of the church, and
of our republican institutions. What
we were as scholars, in most instanc-
es, we are to-day as men and women
The educational sentiment which is
manifested at the fireside and carried
on in the home circle is the same as
that which teachers take with then
into the school-room, and which ex
hibits itself under a new form in the
efforts Of scholars to solve problems
and memorize the lessons of the day
Hence it is, gentlemen, that it seems
to me, in urging an increased anc
awakening interest in all that pertains
to the educational welfare of GU
children, / present the claims Of ;
live question one that stands first
and embraces and engulfs all othe
questions in political economy. I
concerns the well-being of our repub
lie more intimately than the question
| IF tariff or Of nrOhi hilton If stand