Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-03-13
SCHOOL SUPERINT.ENDENT1S
REPORT.

Mr.. Moderator and Citizens of the
ToaOn of Barton, -For the school year
1892-'93 there has been maintained a
legal school in the ten school districts.
Twenty five terms of school have been
taught making a total of about six
hundred and fifty weeks. I have made
fifty-two official visits, visiting all the
districts and every term of school
with the exception of two or three
terms in districts No. 3, 10, IL and g.
Twenty seven different teachers have
been employed, not an average Of a
full term to teacher. This is the itin-
Grant system carried too far. Eff
cient teachers should be retained at
least through the school year. Not
withstanding this we have had no
poor teachers or schools in the sense
of complete failures and we have had
few first class teachers or schools in
view Of the fact that teaching is both
a science and a profession. A few
terms might as we'll have been left
untaught, and yet with rare excep-
tions teachers have shown ability and
earnestness in their work. The stand
ard is surely though slowly being rails
! ed There is no reason why this call
| ing should not keep pace with the
growth and needs of civilization. That
which surprises me most is that in
telligent men : intelligent in many
things should think that anything
and everything can teach school. When
a colt is to be trained these men select
the best horsemen they can for the
purpose. They know that the very
first lesson, the first movement, may
determine the habit and disposition
of the animal for life. And yet men
say, EsThe children are small and
young, any one can teach them" Are
children of less Importance, less under
the reign of law than horses? Teach
ers of the young stand at the fountain
head of humanity, and they should be
of the best, and know their business;
and every true citizen, philanthro-
pist, or statesman will be willing to
give ample support to the primary
schools. In speaking Of teachers it is /
we'll to remember the law of adapta-
ton A good teacher in one school |
may make poor teacher in another.
There is an eternal fitness in this mat
ter as in every other that pertains to
business or morals. We believe that I
the reforms which are coming are not |
only giving US higher grade of teach |
ers, but they will make it possible to |
utilize this principle of adaptation.
The new law which goes into effect /
the first of April will open the way for
this reform.
I have granted five"permits' during
the school year.
District No. have improved their
school building by finishing off room
for the primary department which
had outgrown it's former accommoda,
tions. Abundant water supplies have
been put in and the different rooms
have been supplied with school appa
ratus, through the efforts OF the teach
ers, and a commendable spirit shown
on the part of the school board to
whole, the school under the direction
of Prin. Wiley has made good pro-
gress; the general discipline being
much better than l have ever known.
The teachers are capable and untiring
in their efforts, and further advance
in discipline in some departments may
be hoped for and expected.
The village school at the Landing al
though changing the entire corps Of
teachers is fifty per cent better than
before it was graded. First class
teachers have been employed and
good results are apparent. Some i'm
provemeuts in matters of discipline
are needed and will be forthcoming.
Dist. No. 9, at So. Barton have thor
oughly remodeled their school build
ing, and have one now as good as new.
This school is making progress in
many ways. The true educational
spirit is growing and the people are
to be congratulated. The superiority
of the village school is marked. 1t is
the result of the Kindergarten meth
DDS, the graded system, higher grade
teachers, the interest and stimulus Of
large numbers. Too much could hard
Ly be said in favor of the work done
in the primary departments of the
two graded districts. It is believed
that by the new town system these
benefits will be more evenly distribut-
ed to the school children of the town.
There is no reason why the child of
the back district should not have as
good a chance for education as the