The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-01-22
vppM0NT sC4OoL HOUSES.

Now that the new school law Is no
longer in force, we must make the best
of bad matter. The new law, although
of short duration, will have a perma-
nent good effect, in the fact that it has
aroused the teachers throughout the
State to the necessity of the times, riz.:
that it is competent teachers who are
wanted and not those who assume they
can keep school" and by some means
obtained license, though in some cases
it was mystery how they did it,
Many of the country school houses are
devoid of any of the requirements to sue
cessful teaching, even of the actual
necessities for cleanliness and comfort.
A teacher dislikes to make demands
upon district that will affect the pocket
books. for nothing will bring down so
great wrath upon her defenceleSs head
as to do this. If some officer was APP
pointed to ascertain the requisites of
the school-room and have them there
the first dag of school, it would be a de-
cided benefit to the condition of the
average country schOolhouse. Twill now
enumerate articles which | provided
while teaching a country school: Web
ster's Unabridged Dictionary, large maps
of the United States, also a large map of
Vermont and New Hampshire, reading
and number charts for primary classes, a
two-foOt rule for measuring, blackboard
eraser, (rags had been previously used)
dust pan and buster, wOodbOx and tongs.
SCRAP basket, wash basin and towel. |
also prevailed upon the committee to
arrange window on opposite sides of
the room, so that the upper sash could
be opened for ventilation, there being no
provision made for this important detail
of the school room.
frequently use the current hewspa.
pers, which are grand educators, partic.
ularly in reading, geography, etc; in
fact, / deem a newspaper the prime
necessity of the school room. Itappears
to me a good idea for Il school to sub
scribe for paper, especially country
school, where the pupils do not have nc.
cess to library or reading room, as in
town: and strange as it may seem, nc
papers are ever seen in some homes
| When a scholar is able to read from his
reader quite well, he will make very bad
work of reading from newspaper some.
| times, but that is corrected by frequent
use of the newspaper, besides creating q
taste for good reading, no small item,
assure you. Besides all these a teacher
needs a globe, thermometer and as many
of the articles enumerated, in the study
of arithmetic especially, as possible. IL
fact, all the real tangible appliances
practicable to aid in the daily tasks, per
haps not to use at every lesson, but il
case of emergency, when explanation
fails to accomplish the desired result.
once used the water pail as practical
illustration of problem, where explana
ton appeared of little benefit the result
was very satisfactory to myself, as wei
as pupils. The principle was compre
hended and retained and applied in solv
ing other problems involving the SAINT
principle. know the numerous table,
are much more easily and permanently
remembered if pupil can measure and
weigh, ETC., in reality.
Then aftOr these things have been pro.
vded, the teacher should make frequent
use of them and not wholly ignore them
as | ascertained some teachers had done
with regard to the most excellent points
in some of the text books. At the close
of my teaching left the school house a,
destitute as | found it, and the district
have now provided some of the article,
enumerated. - c. 7. w., in ST. Aiban,