Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-10-03
LIE NEW SCH DOL Avn.

ton previous To and al le time of its
passage, has been in operation consider
ably less than two years. In fact, il is
only just in general operation. All the
changes that the law made and tftey
were much less than some suppose-have
now been effected. The supervisors. ou
whom the general work of the supervis-
ion of the schools is placed, have been at
their tasks little more than year; the
change of school books has been effected
by the.county boards; teachers have been
examined and approved by the tests pro-
yided by the State superintendent; meet
ings have been held for consultation and
instruction and the real work and bust
ness of the schools under the new law is
only just fairly begun.
AS we hear now and then some com
plant against the law, and some threat
enings to repeal it. we think it well for
the people to consider the subject care
fully 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 attack 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 other expenses
have increased under it. Whatever may
have been superintendent Palmer's sue
cesses or failures he has doubtless given
the work careful and constant attention,
and has done as well as any man of his
age and profession might be expected to
do. If he has not been a. efficient a. j
5. Adams or some other men proved to
be in this capacity, his lack has nothing
to do with the real merits of the law.
Some other man better than he, if such
man can Je found. ma be called to the
place; and if it happens in any county
that the best choice in supervisors has
not been made, this trouble can be rene
died. In regard to increased expenses.
we take the ground that no ordinary in
crease in the wages of our teachers. pro
vided we obtain better schools, is dis
advantage to the school district or to the
State. Most men who carefully consider
the matter, if their pocket books do not
control their Judgment. will acknowledge
that the small difference between the cost
of good teacher and poor one should
not be considered in the employment OF
the one who is to instruct, mould the
character. and make the men and women
who are under her tuition and care Toy
several months in the year. Men often
fail to realize that the period is short in
which their children are to receive almost
all of their school education. Fifteen
years, ten years. perhaps much less time.
is all that the child will ever have i'll the
schools. Whatever his education in
schoolbooks is, it must be obtained in il
brief period. No man who has decent
regard for the welfare of his child will
care to put him under the charge of an
incompetent 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 under
stand that no teacher can be too good
that no price is too high to pay one who
is lust adapted to the work at hand. The
precious wears of a child> life must be
most thoroughly and most wisely i'm
proved. There is many man today who
is regretting the fact that lie >quandereu
his school days, or that opportunities for
babe that he should have made more OF
himself in his youth.
Our observation in regard to the work
ings of the new law extend, chiefly To
two counties. We have watched the mat
ter in Orleans county pretty thoroughly.
Under the inspiration of the supervisor
the teachers of this county are making il
business of learning 10 teach; they are
taking educational journals, attending
teachers meetings. reading up and learn
ing new methods. The pupils of the
schools are studying harder and to better
purpose. if we are Judge, than they
were before the supervisor met them ana
encouraged them to better effort.
Another thing that is being done
which Will pIoNc pchcllNi'i = '''N i'--
of the scholars of uniform ages and cor
responding attachments into the same
place in the same books. All the pupils
in the county of similar education VIII
90 over the same ground by system OF
county grading. y change OF teachers
will not throw the school into confusion Z,
a change of residence will not throw IA
boy out OF his place. There will be &
working together by all teachers and ia
all schools. Scholars will not be every
where or nowhere, according TO the ca
prices of teachers or parents.
1t must be remembered that some of
the complaints about the new school law
are made because it is new; some are
made because certain parties, not inter