Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-08-26
WHAT WE WANT.

How much Of the practical business OF
life, do the children learn in our common
Schools What is learned that assists the
labors Of manhood In a word, what do
our Common Schools no,e teach that makes
THE MAN2 Does the young farmer in
his district school, and while he is receiving
the only education be is ever TO get, learn
any thing Of agriculture OF the nature OF
soils and manures? Any thing that teach.
es him to distinguish the different earths
ard their peculiar adaptation TO the different
grains and grass? Does he learn any thing
Of the best breeds OF Stock-of the best man
ner of raising, keeping and fa,ienng his
cattle, sheep and swine2 Is be taught that
which makes his profession useful, profitable,
or honorable2 Is not farming in too many
instances, blind Imitation; lhonghtless, un.
productive toll, the savish delving of the
hands, without the delights or the aid Of
the intellect This must be so, when there
is no science to observe, or experiments :;
when in their only education, the children
learn nothing Of their profession.
There should be an elementary work on
farming, making known the nature Of the
soils, the best methods OF recovering, invigo-
rating, and preparing them for the grains.
the different kinds Of monures and their
treatment; and also the best construction
and Architecture of farm houses, and the
most approved implements OF agricultural
husbandry The children may read this in
the schools, instead OF the thoughtess, unn.
telligible rote reading of the English Read
er, Columbian Orator, and similar works
now read, and entirely useless 10 children,
or the purposes OF after life. Why cannot
the pupils in the school, have their minds
imbued with what they can put in practice
in after life2
DO the common Schools teach the chill
dren any thing concerning their SOCIAL
RELATIONS2 their duties to their neigh
bors, to their social institutions Is the ma
ture and constitution Of their government
taught2 Or, its form of administration
Are the children taught Of the duties of pub
lie officers ? Such as the duties of School
Commissioners, Inspectors. and Trustees
the duties of County Commissioners. Col
lectors, Clerks and Supervisors: the duties
Of Sherifis, Path masters2 Is there any
thing taught Of the duties Of Referees-of
Justices Of the Peace or Jurors2 Do the
Schools teach any thing of the duties of Lee
gslators and Judges? These offices are al
open to the children, and they must one day
fill them. Should not the peoples Schools,
then, teach some or all of these important
duties? Should not the children learn some
thing of the momentous relations they will
sustain to these free institutions, to the peace
of society and to the prosperity of their fell
low citizens? However wise government
may be- its blessings depend in great mea-
sure upon the fidelity and intelligence OF
those who administer it. But is there as
much care taken to have the laws well adj
as there is 10 make good laws ?
Are our Common Schools such that they
are preparing the people for their govern
ment2 Are we taking proper care Of the
Of our civil superstructure Are
not the most of our efforts, our talking, our
writing, our reading and our scrutiny con-
corning whO shall make and administer the |
laws. when we should exert our energies in |
epery citizen for the duties which
await him. There should be a text book
for common schools on the duties of Public
officers, and the children in every school
should read it,