The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-03-14
Reports of Town School Superin-
tendents.

town superintendent of schools are
chiefly conspicuous by their absence.
Either the superintendent do not re-
port, or the towns do not have their
reports printed. Referring TO those of
the towns Of Washington county that
we have seen, there are three conspicu-
Gus and meritorious exceptions to what
appears to be the general practice. In
two of the towns, it is notable cir
cumstance, the superintendent were
women, and their reports are dis
tinguished by force in writing, resolu-
ton in making recommendations
sound sense and good judgment in
the views expressed on the general |
subject of public education and on
special features of school administra-
ton. The third is by clergyman and
possesses such merit that, with the
others, it is of interest outside the To-
cality for which it was primarily in
tended.
The first of these reports is by Alma
~ A6Oudlu9 Va b1O
schools of Calais. The following ex-
tracts from this report are reproduced,
promising that the reader will see the
point of each extract and make the APP
plications without editorial enforce
mentor which each of the reporting
officials leaves no room. Writing of
the inability to re-engage certain teach
ers of experience the superintendent
says this made
ga shortage which with the disciplinary
disqualification of two others, and the
scarcity of licensed teachers, rendered
it difficult for the directors to supply
the schools. The superintendent grant
ed three permits Gall allowed a town in
one YEAR, to meet in part this scarcity.
Is it worthlessness of instruction, lack
of courage to undertake public exam
nation, or the permit system, the rea-
son why our town is not now able to
supply its demands for teachers? n X
Has our truant law become a mis-
homer? Teachers do not take pains to
inquire about and report truants, yet
we have many such, more than should
be. Would not the truant law be more
effectually executed were our select
men to choose truant officers?
Had we expert supervision, the en-
ployment OF teacher would not be 80
much of venture on the part of direc-
tors as it now is. Only experts can
detect experts. The best test for a
teacher is the school room, rather than
written examinations, which only show
what their requirements have been.
We occasionally hear voter COM
plain of the increasing expense of our
schools. This objection generally
comes from an imperfect knowledge of
the facts, laying the blame where it
does not belong. Our population is
gradually decreasing, thus lessening
our apportionment of the U. S. deposit
and Huntington funds; real estate has
deprecated; the personal property
once in the town has been invested
elsewhere; the number of schools has
not decreased in proportion; the above
facts added TO that of increased length
of school year, better schools and
school buildings, better appliances, to-
gether with added expense of free text
books, and other expenses not charge
able to the town system, warrant me in
saying that the burden is not as great
as it would be under the old system
were it obliged TO meet existing con-
ditions.
l wish every town in the State
would send representative to
the general assembly this fall who is
alive TO the needs of more efficient su-
pervision. We now have weak apol-
ogy in our town supervision which is
l1xro ,lnr 20 o4I.
cupation, owing to small remunera-
ton; consequently the supervisor can
not afford to equip and fit himself for
skilled supervision. AS the supervi-
sion, so the teacher, who cannot very
well rise above the supervision.
Is not this supervision what we now
need in order to place the schools of
Vermont on a par with those of Mas
sachusetts? Think of it.
Jessie M. Putnam, superintendent of
the Worcester schools, has, also, clear
ideas and strong convictions on the SUBJ
ject of public school administration.
Says this official:
We want teachers who are not SIM
ply hearers of lessons, but skilled child
trainers. But teachers, however well
qualified for their work, cannot alone
develop child's faculties. Co-opera-
ton on the part of the parent is need
ed. Each must do his work; and in
submitting this report l wish to cali
your attention to few of the things
which are distinctly the work of the
parent. One of these is the provision
of reading. This is a very important
factor during the formative period of a
child's life, and should be provided,
even if the child must be deprived of
some toy to secure it. Benjamin
Franklin was once asked to give a bell
to new town which had Just been
named in his honor. He responded by
sending box of books with the mes
sage that sense was always preferable
to sound, and what was true in his day
is no less 30 in ours. Good books are
to be had at present at an extremely
low cost and they should be in every