Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-09-05

cents. Yet this is the "big boor
for the tax payers" OF which mention
is made. And probably nineteenth.
of those same men who are bowling
about paying seven cents extra fol
the education OF their children, as
often as minstrel troupe or magic.
lantern show comes along, will go,
taking with them their children,
from the youngest to the oldest,
and pay from s so to sl.0O to swell
the pocket book of some worthless
faker, too indolent to follow a
reputable pursuit, and 60 home
with great repose of mind TO consid.
er their judlcious expenditure of
their money. If such would forego
the extreme pleasure of only one
such entertainment, with the money
so saved they could pay their por'
ton of the extra expense of the la "
ard buy their children books be.
sides. Towns were paying from
$50 to 800, to town superintendent,
who in a majority of cases never
made their influence upon the schools
felt In the least; not, but that
many of them were capable business
men, but because they did not take
any interest in school matters, and
would not take the time from their
own business. They granted GER
tihcates for the asking, spent few
days visiting schools each term, and
presented their bills to the town.
If we have a useless expenditure of
money in paying the supervisors,
certainly we had a worse than
useless expenditure in the amounts
paid the town superintendent.
Because an article costs more it
does not necessarily follow that it is
more expensive. Some things are
dear at any price. What we want
Is superior article and if we get it
we are willing to pay forit. Because
The supervisor found time to visit a
certain school only once during a
term, he is compared to a wooden
supervisor. What host of wooden
superintendent we must have had,
and, yet, the fact was overlooked.
Grant that one is no better than the
other in that respect. How much
time did the superintendent spend
in the organization, training, and
instruction of teachers? How
many of them were capable to per,
form these duties or took the trouble
to qualify themselves? l care not
whether a particular school was
visited or not at the present stage
of affairs. If your supervisor
spent the same time you would
have given to hearing Rotations in
that school to instructing some
young teacher how to conduct a
class in reading he has accomplished
more good than he could hope to in
twice thirty minutes by the other
method. The supervision should
commence with the teachers. If
they carry into their work the
preparation and enthusiasm they
ought, the schools may safely be
entrusted to their care one term at
least. 1t is in this line that super.
vlsors will accomplish the most
good at the present time, and &
know that they have already made
their influence felt and none have
perhaps more so than your able
supervisor i'll Essex County.
l have been q teacher in the
schools of Orange and Essex Coun-
ties for the past five years and |
know that there has never before in
that time been so much enthusiasm
among teachers, when they took SO
much interest in their own prepare.
ton, when so many educational
papers were taken and standard
works on teaching read, when
they felt SO anxious to do their
best, when teaching seemed in 50
TAR way to merit the name of
profession, as at the present time.
10 what is this to be attributed, if
not to the school law of 1888 and
under that the efforts of the super.
visors. Certainly something has
aroused teachers from their lethargy
and if their efforts are encourao ed
instead of being hampered by the
groans and whines of chronic
grumblers who think more of their
purse than of the rising generation,
Vermont will in the near future
take and hold rank with her sister
States in her educational interests.
The members OF the County
Board arc attacked for nhann;,