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138
of teachers for a new supply of books of erery kind, and no
more will the shelves of our store-keepers groan under the
loads of discarded Text-Books. Happily, we may add, no
longer will our children be compelled to turn back with the
advent of every n«w pedagogue to learn from a new book
what they had a dozen times before almost learned from
others. Oh Sisyphus ! oh Tantalus! how light and fanciful
were your labors to the realities borne by the boys and girls
of Kent!
The popular appreciation of the great work of educating
the children of our County ia, I fear, much too low. This
is indicated by the restiveness under a rate of taxation far
inadequate to the necessities of the case, and by the forlorn
and dismal aspect of most of the houses in which the im-
portant work is to be done.
Yel there are hopeful signs of a better feeling. Wherever
I have gone in my visits to the schools, I hare met with kind-
ness and a generous hospitality; and in the absence of any
levy in advance for my compensation, this was to me, and to
the system, a very important consideration; and for it I de-
sire to tender to all these friends my sincere and hearty
thanks. May they in after years see this " bread cast upon
the waters " return in blessings an hundred fold.
Few cases of disorder in the schools, or questions relative
to discipline, have come before the Commissioners.
The schools are all opened by reading a portion of the
sacred Scriptures, and in some few the Lord's Prayer is re-
peated audibly by teacher and pupils in addition to the
Scripture lesson.
I am inclined to think that a healthy moral tone and, a
high sense of honor pervade our schools generally; the
teachers treating their pupils as embryo ladies and gentle-
men, and inculcating " respectful and modest demeanors,
simplicity, purity and truthfulness in thought and speech
The want of regular attendance is severely felt as an evil.
of great magnitude; the remedy for it, if any, is not in the
hands of School Boards or their employees. It is in the
hearts of parents.
Nothing has been done in regard to the establishment of a
High School, having no suitable buildings nor funds appli-
cable to the erection of such.
HOWARD MEEKS,
President Board.
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