Connecticut western news., 1908-03-19
IMPROVEMENT IN
 COUNTRY SCHOOLS
VIEWS OF A SHARON MINISTER
He Believes in Town Supervision and the Consolidation of Districts but a0t Consolidation of Schools.
To the Editor of 1.-THE NEwS'7:

To the Editor of 1.-THE NEws'':
 An acting school visitor wishes to give to the public some impressions he has received during nearly three years of service. From what he has learned of your hearty interest in education, he thinks you may be willing to print this article in your valuable paper.
 His reason for sending the article is simple. It is the hope that. by so doing. he may help little in the improvement of our common schools. If, because of anything he may do or say, boys and girls have better opportunities for fitting themselves for the serious business of living, he will be satisfied.
 Among other impressions left upon his mind, this is very much in evidence that we need fresh supply of public spirit. There ought to be a deepening of interest in what concerns people gen. erally. Men and women should be more willing to make sacrifices, in order that affairs of the district may be con- ducted as they should be. It ought to be said that there are ill every town a few individuals of this kind. When an acting visitor meets one of them, he gets a fresh supply of courage. But, all too often, people think of the gain to them selves or to their friends. more than of anything else. if such an one is chosen committe, or if such an one is hired as teacher While the benefit to the school is not ignored, It has secondary place in their thoughts.
 Meanwhile, until that increase of public spirit comes. the best way seems to be to consolidate the school districts of any town, which is not the same as consolidating the schools. If one com mittee, consisting of at least three mem bers, were paid a reasonable sum for their services, hired the teachers and had control of educational matters gen. orally. those employed could be placed where they could do their best, because .misfits would be avoided, at least the misfits would not be so common as un- der the district system In addition to this, there could be placed in schools, teachers, who, because of their ability and experience, would be able to bning order out of chaos, and, to use a common expression. make the achools amount to something. --.H ..
 Lack of public spirit is occasionally in evidence in teacher. The good of the school is not uppermost in her thoughts. Gases are not wanting, in which the money side of the position has too much influence. Nor would it be impossible to find teacher, who thought more of the social position she occupies than of fitting her boys and girls for the future
 It goes without saying that, if a teacher does not have at heart the last ing good of her pupils, her work will not be thorough. Their progress will be superficial, unless she gives earnest attention to their needs. They may learn to do certain problems in arith- metic, because they have good memories, but even when they ought to begin to reason things out, she will not take pains to show them the why and where fore. In reeiting & history lesson, If they glve the words of the book. what more ought to be expected? The writer has, ,iR two or three instances, had the feeling that, if the teacher reasoned Atall, she reasoned in some such way as that.
 But, even when her heart is in her work. the progress of her pupils may be far from satisfactory, for many of those who are hired to instruct the young, are in need of instruction themselves That is to say they do not know how to impart knowledge. They cannot tell what they have learned. Some of them, with refreshing frankness, will tell you this. Others land somehow one cannot help thinking that these are the most needy of all) never hint that they would like the help that trained superintend- cnt might give. Such an officer is sort of travelling normal school. To those who have not had the benefit of such an institution, he or she brings knowledge of approved methods. clears up many a difficulty, gives help in puzzling cases. The teachers of this town would do much better work, if such an one were at the head of the schools, because he could supplement their knowledge of pedagogy.
 The writer does not advocate this and the consolidation of districts, because he thinks the old way IS failure. It is rare case of which it can truthfully he said that regular attendance for term