Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-09-26
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.
II should be Thoroughly and Carefully
Tried before nny sweeping Chnnges
MHde.

II should be Thoroughly nnd Carefully
Tried before nny sweeping Chnnges
are Made.
iFrom the Orleans County Monitor
The school law Of 1888, which was the
result of much investigation and delibera.
tion previous to and at the time of its pas
sage, has been in operation considerably
less than two years. In fact, it is only Just
in general operation All the changes that
the law made and they we're much less
than some suppose-have now been effect
ed. The supervisors, on whom the general
work Of the supervision Of the schools is
placed, have been at their tasks a little
more than a year the change of school
books has been effected by the county
boards teachers have been examined and
approved by the tests provided by the state
superintendent; meetings have been held
for consultation and instruction and the
real work and business of the schools un-
der the new law is only just fairly begun.
As we hear now and then some complaint
against the law, and some threatenngs to
repeal it, we think it well for the people TO
consider the subject carefully at this time.
1t may be possible that the legislature will
be unfriendly to the law, and that some
clamor not just may make an unfair at
tack upon it, The objections against the
law, so far as we hear, are chiefly against
the efficiency of the state superintendent,
against some few Of the supervisors and
the statement that teachers wages and 9th
er expenses have increaced under it, What.
ever may have been Superintendent Palm
er's successes or failures he has doubtless
given the work careful and constant atten-
tion, and has done as well as any man of
his age and profession might be expected
to do. If he has not been as efficient as j.
5 Adams or some other men proved to be
III this capacity, his lack has nothing to do
with the real merits of the law. Some
other man better than he, if such a man
can be found, may be called TO the place
and If 1t happens in any county that the
best choice Of supervisors has not been
made this trouble can be remedied. In re
gard TO increased expenses, we take the
ground that no ordinary increase in the
wages of our teachers, provided we obtain
better schools, is a disadvantage to the
school district or to the state. Most men
who carefully consider the matter, if their
pocket books do not control their iudg
ments, will acknowledge that the small
| difference between the cost of a good teach
er and poor one, should not be considered
In the employment of the one who is to in
struct, mould the character, and make the
men and women who are under her tuition
and care for several months in the year.
Men often fail 10 realize that the period is
short in which their children are to receive
almost all of their school education. Fif.
teen years, ten years, perhaps much less
time, Is all that the child will ever have in
the schools. Whatever his education in
school books is, it must be obtained in a
| brief period. No man who has a decent
regard for the welfare of his child will
care to put him under the charge of an iu-
competent teacher, much less would he
place him under the training Of one whose
habits, character or example tend TO the
injury Of the pupil. Parents who look at
the matter properly will understand that
no teacher can be too good, that no price
Is too high to pay one who is Just adapted
to the work at hand. The precious years
of child's life must he most thoroughly
and most wisely improved, There is many
man today who is regretting the fact that
he squandered his school days, or that op
portunities forbade that he should have
made more of himself in his youth
Our observation in regard to the work
| ngs of the new law extends chiefly to two
counties. We have watched the matter in
Orleans county pretty thoroughly. Under
the inspiration of the supervisor the teach
ers of this county are making a business of
learning 10 teach they are taking educa-
tional journals, attending teachers meet
| ings reading up and learning new meth
| DDS. The pupils of the schools are study
ing harder and to better purpose if we are
/ st,l. 81 81. 1
visor met them and encouraged them to a
better effort.
Another thing that is being done which
will prove beneficial is the putting of schol
ars of uniform ages and corresponding at
tainments into the same place in the same
books. All the pupils in the county of sim
liar education will go over the same ground
by system Of county grading. A change
| of teachers will not throw the school into
confusion a change of residence will not
throw the boy out of his place There will
be working together by all teachers and
in all schools Scholars will not be every
where or nowhere, according to the ca
prices of teachers or parents
1t must he =remembered that some of the
complaints about the 'ssesi- school law are
made because it is new some are made
because certain parties, not interested in
schools because they have no scholars to
be taught, will scold because they fear an
increase in school expenses. Such men al
ways complain at everything when there is
the remotest danger that their taxes be in
creased
We believe that it will be a very unwise
move if the new law is materially changed
at this session of the legislature. Let it
have fair trial then it can be changed
if need be, to remedy defects. 1t will be a
foolish thing to overthrow a system of
school management that is proving effectu-
al and successful in most of the progressive
states of the Union Vermont does not
care to be tainted about her 'illiteracy"
and her abandoned farms at the same
time, though almost the same causes which
have tended To produce one of these evils
tend to produce the other. Let her schools
be improved and her farms will be better
loved