The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-02-19
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN

though doing good work, can do bet
ter that on many points of the school
law citizens are not so well inform
ed as they ought to be that the work
of school boards is not so wisely or
economically attended to as the i'm
portant interests intrusted to directors
demand that not a few of the town
superintendents, while recognizing
the fact that the results attained by
the average teacher are not common
surate with the money paid for the
support of the public schools, are un-
able to make the improvements that
they would like to make, and that
free discussion of the questions that
arise every year in school administra-
ton will be of general interest and
promote the welfare of all concerned.
Among the topics that will be taken
up for discussion in this column may
be mentioned the school funds of the
State-the United States deposit
money, the Huntington fund, the
moneys received from the rent of
school lands, and the design and effect
of the eight per cent State school
tax. All will be considered III due
time. The many and veXing questions
that perpleX school boards, such as the
use and abuse of permits, the problem
of transportation, of where and how
! the needed supplies can best be pur-
chased, including the duties of teach
ers in giving notice of certificate held,
making out registers and caring for
books and other school property-these
and many other things too numerous
! to mention" will be discussed by
those having experience in such mat
tiers.
1t must be remembered that, in
school affairs, each town is unit,
and that the very things that are to be
settled in some towns the coming year
may have been satisfactorily adjusted
in some other town last year. Could
those having such matters in charge
in one locality have the benefit of the
experience of the same officials in an
other, time could be saved and posi-
bly, some costly experiments avoided.
With this brief statement of the OBJ
jcets that are hoped for, the Watch
man invites any and all who are in
terested in the welfare Of the schools
and teachers to use this column as
means of giving and receiving help
all along the line. If any one has a
good thing, let others know what it
is. If disputed point arises, let 9TH
give you light on it. Let superin-
tendents write of good and bad meth
DDS of teaching observed in schools.
And in all things be brief and to the
point.
One of the greatest crimes anyone
can commit, says well known work
er, is to rob a child of his school days.
| EnarN no OF tn n
week or two, or month, after school
begins, and thus greatly discourage
and handicap him when he does begin.
If there is anything in the world that
a man can afford to make sacrifice
for, it is the education of his children.
They don't need your money. A boy
is better off to earn his own money,
but what he needs is good training
and schooling and there is but one
time to get it-while he is young
Wyoming Journal.
1.-THE children are the hope of the
nation, the hope of the race, the
hope of the future Philosophy de-
clared it thousands of years ago.
Christianity has reaffirmed it and our
social, moral, and economic welfare
impregnably rests on this postulate. "
In sermon recently published in the
Boston Transcript the Rev. Edward
Cummings makes stirring appeal to
the people of Boston to save the chill.
dren. He says: eff you would free
our city, our State, our nation, ouI
civilization from the terrible burden
of the millions upon millions of trib-
ute money yearly paid to ignorance
and crime, work for the public schools.
eff you would do the first, the most
imperative, the most patriotic duty to
this beloved country, work for the
public schools.
"If you would minister to the great.
est needs of humanity and do most tC
hasten the coming of the kingdom of
heaven for which you pray, work fol
the public schools. If you would save
the world, save the children, rescue
the public schools. Until you have
seen for yourselves that your children
are surrounded by the best influences
possible and that those to whom they
are entrusted are efficient and trust
worthy you have no right to rest or
repose. "
This discourse was intended for the
people of the city of Boston, but it is
| appllcaDle TO Otner communities.
Mothers and fathers of Vermont, what
are you doing personally for the pub
lie schools-for your own children and
those with whom they associate?
Have you thought of the problems
that confront those who have so much
of the care of your children in the
public schools, and have you contrib.
uted your word of sympathy and en-
couragement
Miss Harvey was tired and nearly
discouraged; the busy little brains
had been all day deyising new mis-
K chief and the active hands and feet
had kept her nerves on the rack till
she thought she should be glad when
school was dismissed
When a small boy brought her note
she took il rosipnQdlV WOndarinu if il