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<br />your committee would suggest the importance of avoiding
<br />frequent changes of teachers. Much of the time of the pu-
<br />pils is lost, and habits of carelessness are engendered by
<br />these frequent changes. In the South -East, the South, and
<br />the North schools, where the same teachers have been con-
<br />tinued in charge of their schools through the year, the bene-
<br />ficial effects were evident. Indeed it is surprising that the
<br />community have, so long, either overlooked, or borne with,
<br />the evils resulting from a frequent change of teachers. If
<br />we reflect but for a moment upon the subject, we shall per-
<br />ceive that they are very great. A teacher is employed for
<br />three months, or perhaps for even a shorter time. During
<br />this short time, he is to make himself acquainted with his
<br />pupils, of whom he has known nothing before, in regard
<br />to their capacities, their temperaments, their dispositions,
<br />and their respective stages of progress ; and then he is to
<br />carry them forward as far as possible in their studies.
<br />And while he is thus seeking an acquaintance with his
<br />pupils, he is also bringing them into a familiarity with
<br />his own modes of instruction and government. And when he
<br />leaves, another takes his place, and goes through the same
<br />process. Suppose that our merchants were under the neces-
<br />sity of changing their clerks and book-keepers once in
<br />three months ? Should we not hear the complaint, that
<br />each incumbent had only time to become qualified for the suc-
<br />cessful performance of his duties, before he left his place.
<br />Indeed, do we not often hear most bitter complaints, from
<br />our housewives, if compelled to change their help as often
<br />as once in three months ? And is the education of our
<br />children, affecting as it does the tender mind, the suscep-
<br />tible heart, the living spirit, of less importance than the
<br />merchant's books, or the matron's household arrange-
<br />ments ? Does it require less skilful treatment, or less time
<br />to become acquainted with the work and the material to
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<br />be wrought upon ? Changes will occur, full often enough,
<br />notwithstanding our utmost care to prevent them. Your
<br />committee would therefore suggest that frequent changes
<br />of teachers should be avoided, whenever they possibly
<br />can. If a devoted, thorough and successful teacher has
<br />been secured, avoid if possible a change. If it is neces-
<br />sary to employ a male in the winter and a female in the
<br />summer, it would be better, if possible, to employ the same
<br />teachers in alternation for several successive seasons, that
<br />so they may understand each other's views, strengthen
<br />each other's hands, and lend their united influence to the
<br />accomplishment of the same great end, thoroughness and
<br />accuracy in all the branches taught.
<br />As another means of securing the same end, and one,
<br />which seems to be especially important, in consequence of
<br />the frequent changes, which now occur, both among the
<br />teachers, and the members of the Superintending School
<br />Committee, your commtttee would suggest that the Pru-
<br />dential Committee -man, in each school district, purchase
<br />a blank book for the use of the school of which he has
<br />the suvervision, in which each teacher shall be required
<br />to record, at the close of his or her school, the different
<br />classes in the several studies which have been pursued,
<br />with the name of each scholar in each class, accompani-
<br />ed by a statement, in regard to each class, of the amount
<br />passed over in the study specified. As for example, it
<br />may be stated, at the close of any particular term, that
<br />such a class, composed of such and such scholars, have
<br />been carried to such a point of progress in the particular
<br />study specified ; if the study be Arithmetic, say to or
<br />through Fractions, as the case may be. This book shall
<br />be open to the inspection of the committee, at their seve-
<br />ral visits, and especially at the closing examinations. It
<br />shall be left at the close of each school term, with the Pru-
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