Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-05-15

Old-Iime Schools.
Mr.. EDIToR:-ln your issue OF April IL.
1902, | read an article from your Barnard
correspondent, "a Word About Schools. p
And the first words are, Barnard is
suffering from a schoOlma'am famine. y
/ suppose IL is from the same person as
one OF two years ago. And he has again
stirred memories OF my boyhood and | am
one OF the youths in memory when my
native town furnished a majority Of the
teachers OF the district schools. Probab-
ly as many or more teachers as there are
schools to be taught there to-day. lie
refers TO a resolution in Woodstock town
meeting, and seems TO suggest a revision
OF school laws and possibly a
retu n to the sold District System. y
Permit me TO write OF some things of
OF former school days, as they come fresh
to my mind. The pupils were taught to
think and reason for themselves and at
the same time they acquired a reasonable
amount OF book learning, elocution, etc.
But the foundation-a thorough know
ledge OF the elementary branches by thor
ough drill, was firmly laid. How well /
remember the weekly hour of spelling
school, besides the spelling and reading
exercises each day. and the meeting
OF two schools together for a spelling con-
test. Also the neighborhood lyceum
where social, state, national, scientific and
agricultural questions were discussed by
all possible differences in opinion and
argument. In those earliest days OF my
recollection, only men took part in the
exercises. But the ladies brought their
knitting and embroidery. And we al
ways knew when there was some one
speaking worth listening to by the utmost
quiet and ceasing OF work on their part.
But later the ladies used TO furnish and
read paper for their part OF the entertain
ment There were declarations, cts, by
the SO hDtnrG and fhaN apR hKsl
their teachers to take part in debate. The
last lyceum meeting remember otattend-
ing IN Barnard was over thirty years ago
at the village now called Silver Lake |
Since the town supports good roads during
the winter, and is partially recovering
from its loss Of noble men who fell in the |
war, ana some who have gone 10 other |
places why don't the parents and those |
interested IN schools have lyceum meetings |
during the long evenings OF fall and win I
ter or Saturday afternolps2 Perhaps I
they do. There is not room enough IN /
your excellent paper Tor everything, hence /
VIII close this part OF my article by 1
suggesting question for the next lycoum /
meeting al Silver iake:-'sWhy is Barnard 1
Suffering from a Schoolma' am Famine?n /
Every school boy In his teens knew the /
political issues Of each presidential election /
as we'll as the current state issues. And \
was pretty well posted in town affairs, as
ottSM bAhto ne was active at Freeman S Il
meeting peddling votes for his favorite
c indicate
A native Nermonter about forty years
old, who has worked many years in one of
the shops in this town, said the time for
voting Tor governor would occur in Nav,
hut was not certain what day. lie adj
mitted that he seldom had voted. and then
TO please friend who wanted TO get his
friend elected, who first took his arm and
walked with him TO the polls. He thinks
there are many IN this town as ignorant
IN regard 10 politics As himself
A well-conducted lyceum would odu-
cate our young people, and many of the
older ones, 80 we should have very soon a
large number Of persons qualified 10 til all
the positions which a PROSPEROUS COM
hnhuy requires, ID. :. b.
Brattleboro, Vt, April rs. 1902.