The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-11-04

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schools of instruction for teachers.
AS TO the iirst-supervision. Says
Examiner Boyce of Addison ouny:
"NIore efficient supervision - supervision
that shall s1perUise-is the prime necessity of
our schools. This can be best obtained by
some method whereby towns can combine
and engage a skilled superintendent at a
fixed salary"
5 vs. Examiner Taylor of Caledonia
county:
Intelligent supervision is prime requ-
site TO good schools 1t is not sufficient that
the superintendent is an educated man; he
must be an educator. He must be skilled
In his profession and thoroughly alive to
the best interests of the public schools. In
the ordinary affairs of life, men select for
the supervision of any business only such
as have special knowledge and skill in that
particular business. How is it in educa-
tional matters? Are the superintendent
who are to frame the educational policy Of
the state, as a rule, skilled in the work of
educaton2 If not, is the present system of
supervision founded in reason and common
sense?"
Examiner Allen, of Chittenden
county, touches this matter from
another, and very important and prac-
tical, side. He Gays:
at seems to me that an examiner is
hampered in the execution Of the duties OF
his Office by not being able to see the work
done by teachers in their schools. 1t is
obvious that some candidates who pass an
excellent examination are lacking in quail
tiles that go to make first-class teacher;
while others who may not be so glib in their
answers have the requirements that would
enable them to do good work in the school
room. Il is my honest belief that expert
supervision would give us better schools
and teachers, and would in great measure
do away with the injustice sometimes COM
planned of by superintendent and school
directors
Just as emphatic and forceful discus.
sions of this subject could be extracted
from the report of each examiner, and
we commend these reports to the
thoughtful perusal of every person in
terested, and every person that ought
to be interested, in the vital subject of
public education.
AS to the intimately-related matter of
summer schools of instruction for
teachers, Examiner Rustedt of Frank
lin county says of the first summer
school held in that county in 1895:
"The school was looked upon as an expert
ment, and many teachers did not attend, as
they did not appreciate the benefits to be
derived from it. A large number of school
directors and superintendents from Frank
lin and Grand Isle counties were in attend
ance. That drill of ten days by compe-
tent instructors is of great benefit to the
teachers of the county is no longer a ques.
ton here. The demand for another session
of summer school was such that arrange
ments. have been made to hold q session in
this county in July of the present year"
Examiner Beebe of Lamoille speaks
decisively of the practical benefits re-
sulting from the sessions of the La
mobile County Summer School, and
says of the institution in general:
81 think the summer school has become
potent factor in the advancement of edu-
cation in this state, and that the money
heretofore expended for institute work can
be more proftably used for the mainte-
nance of these schools in such parts of the
state as will bring the facilities of the school
witt n the easy access of all teachers"
Two summer schools have been held
n Orleans county, which were largely
attended by teachers and visitors OF
these schools Examiner Andrews saws:
" The best instructors within our means
We're secured. Our teachers have had an
opportunity, at small expense, to hear ex-
pert men and women lecture upon various
subjects in courses of study, and to see
them exhibit the best methods of presenting
these subjects to pupils"
Upon these two subjects, expert SUI
pervision and summer schools of in
struction, State Superintendent Stone
dwells at length. Every reason given
by the examiners for supplementing
the town system and the free-text- book
reforms with these two institutions is
strongly reinforced. There is no APP
peal from the conclusions of the super
intendent and the examiners. Here is
a picked body of men-educated, expe-
rienced and practical in matters per-
tanning to public instruction, chosen
with direct reference to their special
qualifications for special duty-who
agree as to the necessity and wisdom OF
skilled supervision of the schools, and
drill and instruction for the teachers.
They simply ask that the state shall do
for the schools, for the cornerstone of
republican government, what it does
for the military arm of that govern
ment. The militia is properly sub
jected 10 skilled supervision, and ex-
pert inspection, and sum of money