The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-09-02
Our Country Schools.
by j. W. NEWTON.

fellows, and while there are many adj
vantages arising from this, there are
also great disadvantages connected
with it. One of the greatest is con-
nected with the schools. 1t may be
stated as a general principle that, within
certain limits, the more children you
can get into one building the better
school you will have. There are doubt
less exceptions. There are poor schools
in town and there are good schools in
farm districts; but, as rule, think you
will fnd the best schools in Vermont
are in the large towns. In nearly all
the village districts of the state you will
find graded schools; you will find teach
ers hired by the year; you will find
wall-maps and globes and other aids in
the school-room. More money is raised
for education, better teachers are hired,
there are more weeks OF school than in
the outlying districts. 1t would seem,
therefore, that the school problem is
mainly confined TO the farming districts.
1t would also seem that if way could
be devised by which the children scat
tered about in the farming districts
could be collected in large numbers at
some central point, one of the most
difficult parts of the problem would be
solved. If hundred children live
within half a mile of the school. house,
it is easy enough getting them to it;
but if the hundred children are scat
tered over territory five or six miles
across it, how can you get them to one
school-house? Either the parents or
the town or state must carry them. The
parents often cannot do it; and if the
town or state will not, then we must
continue to have small schools con-
Quoted in the old way. Some improve
ments are being gradually introduced,
others are knocking at the door. We
need great many changes for the bet
ter in our school system; but, first and
foremost, public opinion needs to be
enlisted on the right side of school i'm
provement.
How shall this be done? Just as al
most everything nowadays is done.
Form a school improvement associa-
ton. One or two or dozen men and
women working in an aimless, desul-
tory way can do very little; but let
them organize and work on definite
and ell.arranged lines, and they can
accomplish wonders. Suppose we had
such an organization here in Vermont,
how could it 60 to work to enlist public
opinion in the country districts in favor
of good schools? There are two prin-
cipal ways, and several minor ones.
The press of Vermont eXerts power
full influence, and everybody, almost,
reads one or more state papers. Brief,
pointed articles on school improvement,
inserted in the papers, would exert a
powerful influence in molding public
opinion. There is no way in which
the people of this state can be 80 quickly
and easily reached and appealed to and
influenced on the school question as
through the press.
Another method is by lectures and
addresses. An organized association
could do much in this way. The fact
is, many of the people of this state dc
not know what progress the world is
making in education. They have never
known anything better than the old
way. Now and then one goes to some
place where there are tirst-class schools
with all the modern improvements, and
gets an inkling of what is going on in
the educational world; but the mass
have no idea of the wonderful strides
which school methods are making
Such an organization could do much
good by aiding young teachers. We
have abundant material for first-class
teachers; but, as things are, there i:
very little to encourage young teachers
to go on and make business of teach
ing. If there is any one thing tha
needs to be specially impressed upor
our people, it is that teaching schoo
requires special training; and one Of
our greatest educational needs here il
Vermont is trained teachers. But sup
pose teacher spends her time and
money getting ready to teach, how sci
dom does farming district secure he
servicesl They imagine they canno
afford to pay good teacher for goot
work, so they select as teacher som,
, young person who has never had bi
of training for the work, and let tn,
trained teacher go to the town or out o
the state. With unframed teacher
! and new teacher every term, wha
I improvement can be hoped for? An,
suppose the committee hires trane,
teacher, unless public opinion is EN-
! listed on her side, she will find it up
| hill work getting things out of old ruts
8 Then we need trained superinten
I dents or supervisors. A training
t school for town superintendent woul
:. do vast amount of good. If we nee
I teachers who understand their work
e much more do we need superintendent
: who understand theirs. And then hov
d much good such an organization coul
b do when the legislature is in session
s by laboring to secure the enactment c
d wise laws. There are many other way
0 in which such an association might
: much good. There are many men an
women in towns and villages of tn
n state who could unite in such worl
: and there are considerable number i
g the country districts who could ais
lend hand. Time and labor must b
e given to this work without stint, if W
e are to have better country schools. On
a other suggestion. 1t is good plan fC
1t those interested in school improvement
" to take some good educational periot
g ical. There are many such, some
g which are of doubtful value, and som
s. are very helpful. Common Scho'
a. 4