Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-03-04
EDUCATTOW.'
INSTRUCTION OF TEACHERS

teaCharq
of schools, which has been subject of investipa.
ton fortwo or three of the last sessions II will
be seen that, though the report is not made with
reference to the particular contemplated insttu-
ton which suggested it, the committee expresS
entire confidence in the project itself; but recon.
mend distribution throughout the State of the
aid which shall be afforded by the Legislature =.
The Committee on Education, to whom
was referred that part of the Message of
His Excellency the Governor, delivered at
the June session, which relates to an In
stitution for the instruction of School
FeNehors and to the general suhiect of
Education, have considered the same. in
obedience to the order of the House.
The Committee need not multiplv
words for the purpose of indicating the
magnitude and Importance of the topics to
which their attention has been directed.
1t is known, that the existing systems of
common school education, have within a
few years attracted the particular notice
OF this community. Whilst for a long pe-
Rod the free schools ofthe Commonwealth
had pursued their regular, stated course
without becoming the object of Legislative
interference; and whilst the system itself
out of which they grew, had been made
the theme of praise and commentator.
both at home and abroad; it is not to be
concealed, that the opinion had often been
expressed, that the schools we're in Ian
gushing condition, and that the whole
system was in many essential particulars
defective and inefficient. A minute and
careful examination Instituted and car
ried through by successive Legislatures,
resulted at last in the enactment of GER
tain provisions, which, in the opinion OF
the Committee, have in high degree
subserved the interests of the public in
this regard, and contributed already very
much to elevate the character of the COM
mon schools. These provisions, together
with all pre-existing enactments upon the
subject, were embodied in one general
law at the last winter session. OF the
prominent features of that law, the Com.
mlttee have expressed an opinion very
fully in former report. They feel salts
tled OF the correctness of that opinion
but they believe that the course of i'm.
provement should not be suffered to stop
at this point, lest what has already been
gained be put in jeopardy. Something
more is wanting-somethi"s rDhich shall
i..ts.,vz- l.liii.,,rdf n1e and vigour into the
system, and bring the operations of it con-
stantly home to the observation of the
Legislature and of the community. Some
thing too is wanting to insure the results,
which are reasonably to be anticipated
from the enactmeuts just alluded to. The
general regulations in regard to the
schools, the regulations in regard to their
periodical examination, to the selection
of books, and to the duties of the various
committees, are all highly important.
But there are no means yet devised oil
warranting to the schools the services Of
well qualified instructors. Nor has any
plan as yet been presented to satisfy the
community, that the government Of the
Commonwealth are, what they surely
ought to be, the substantial and efficient
patrons of these valuable institutions.
The deep and intimate connection q
these institutions with the best interests,
nay, with all the interests of the publI ;
and the fact, that all which we hold dear,
even though considered but politically,
rests mainly upon them, should form a
sufficient reason for establishing and con-
stantly maintaining such patronage and
guardianship. The object contemplated
cannot, as is obviously to be seen, b sud.
denly accomplished. The accumulation
of fund for the purposes in view ! indis'
pensably necessary. And as no means Of
accommodating such fund at otce are
known to be accessible, such mems must
be resorted to as shall conduse to this
end by regular and gradual appropria'
tons.
The establishment of fdnd should
look to the support of an institution fol
the instruction of school tea,hers in each
county in the Commonwealth, and to the
distribution, annually, to all he towns, o.
such a sum for the benefit q the schools
as shall simply operate as an encourage
ment to proportionate efors on the par
of the towns. A fund whicn should be SC
large as to suffice for the support of the
whole school establishment Of the State, a;
is the case in Connecticut, would, in the
opinion of the Committee, be rather Diet.
rimental than advantageous it would
only serve to draw off from the mass o.
the community that admitting interest