Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-03-19
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES REPORT OF
SCHOOLS IN BARTON.

SUPERINTENDENT" REPORT OF
SCHOOLS IN BARTON.
Mr.. Moderator, Citizens, Teachers and
Scholars:
Seven schools have been maintain
ed in the last year under the town
system Two less than the year be-
fore. have spent nineteen days Wis
iting these schools. Dictionaries and
charts have been supplied by the di-
rectors where needed.
Most of the school houses are in
good condition. I have spent three
and three fourths days at the Acade-
my school in this village. This school
1 found to be in excellent condition.
The interest taken both by the teach
ers and the parents is remarkable and
highly commendable, and the good
results are seen in high standard of
school work.
The school at the Landing has not
fourished under the present system
of education. The new law threw us
from a fine graded school into the
town district. The standard of the
school in regard to the higher studies
and the grading has not been kept
up The educational demand and
need has not been met, and much dis
satisfaction is expressed. Some curse
the law and others think the trouble
elsewhere 1t is not for me to locate
the cause; but it is a cause for regret
that this school should in so short a
time lose so much of its former pres
tige, and it is the duty of all to inquire
as to the cause and find a way out of
the present difficulties. 1 think that
the dicipline, as to order in and about
the school rooms, has been better than
in former years, and much good work
has been done in the school.
The school at South Barton has
made rapid advancement in the last
year, owing largely to the efficient Ia
bors of the teacher in grading the
school.
tenn of schools has in one year
wrought no radical changes for good
or ill with the exception before men
toned. The teachers employed have
been of about the average grade The
attendance and discipline hardly up
to other years; owing no doubt to
the distrust and opposition OF many
to the new law. The criticisms of the
TO hx1r tho
children and the bad influence was
apparent in a lack of attendance and
general lawlessness among many
scholars. 1 have not the figures to
show what the aggregate attendance
for all the schools has been, but this
has been manifest, that large num-
Der of scholars have not attended
school the required number of weeks
1901, and the registers are black with
tardy marks.
There has however been no serious
trouble in any of the schools, and the
people, as a rule, think have been
willing to give the new law fair
trial. 1 believe that most parents
wish to have we'll bred and intelli-
gent children.
Being an ardent believer in this new
system, and accepting a fattering
election as school director, which Of
flee with regrets / had to resign on
account of more important and press
ing work, have naturally sought to
find the good points in the law, that
your child might have the benefit Of
them-if any.
The principle of the law is right.
First it gives opportunity for the en-
ployment of teachers better known
to the directors than to committee,
as of old, less chance for favoritism,
and less likelihood Of as flequeht
changes, all of which under the old
system were detrimental to many
school The enlargement Of some
seho OILS by the dropping of others is
in the 1.-The Of better schools in the
end. The smallest schools are the
eostliest, and the most Inefficient
Consolidation is economy. It is a
costly education at "Si879'' per
scholar and not SO good by twenty
per cent as that given in another
school for s$11.74.'' (See report of
school directors)
During the latter part Of my term
of Office have given course of ex-
aminations that might at least have
proofs, of what all educators know, viz,
that the children of the schools under
the old district system are far behind
intevery point of learning the larger
and graded school. i selected five ques
fiono i,, r;tbuootio 6yo IN Goorropbu