State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-08-23
For the State Journal
REMARKS UPON TIE STATE OF
AMERICAN EDUCATION. No. 5.

~ NJ EhlSAN EDOCh 1ON. NJ o'
Admitting that books shall have been
improved to tue extent of their susccp-
tibilty, yet without the aid OF explanatory
instruction, they would be found altogether
Inadequate to the accomplishment of their
object. tits not sufficient that the child is
sent to school to acquire information, or that
il is in possession OF the ordidary means Of
its olnplishment, but it should he known
to have acquired il and the acquisition of
no individual day should be permitted to
pass uneXamined, nor unrewarded by its
appropriate commentator. How many Of
those whose education is already finished,
can recollect solitary instance, during their
course of common school instruction, in
which they were annoyed with single in
quiry after the deiinitinn of word or the
meaning of q sentence.
Up to the present moment, am constrain-
ed to believe that teachers, generally, nre
not only, neglectful of their duty, hut Il q
they are incompetent to its fuIfillment. This
is capital defect which, while it continues,
must render all attempts to facilitate early
instruction nearly abortive.
1t should be repeated, therefore, that too
much importance cannot be attached to the
manufacture of teachers, nor too much pat
ronage bestowed on those who shall have
attained the requisite qualifications.
A late attempt has been made by our leg
islature, in imitation ofthe long established
and unsuccessful precedent of a sister state,
to improve the character and utility of our
common schools, by the constitution of q
board of censors or committee of eXamina-
ton, to inspect and decide upon the quail ii-
tons of teachers, which has been in its
operation, luminous commentary upon
Don Quixote's rencontre with the wind mill.
( What signifies the organization of u board
of censors, constituted, in many Instances,
of persons top illiterate to instruct n child
in the acquisition of the alphabet, or
admitting, what ut present is most undisput-
ably inadmissible, the competency OF the
boards throughout the state, while, ofthose
who would offer themselves as teachers,
nine out ten, upon the fairest examination,
would deserve to be rejected? IL this I'M
fortunate disproportion Of competency at
tach to teachers, aud what think admissi-
/ BILE, much greater to the bourds of oXanli-
ners, what but total failure, can be reason-
ably expected, from the operation of the act
alluded to?
Economy, also, which has been long
proyerba in New England, has been, upon
this subject, most rhameiully neglected.
Cheapness, rather than proficiency, has
been, TOO generally, the criterion of the
teachers eligibility, which, TO the employer,
very well accords with the adoption of the
penny razor which was acknowledged, not
only, TO shave, but to shave most horribly.
1t may he, pertinenlly asked whether that
portion ofthe lifetime of an individual usil
ally expended at u common school, is of so
i little value, in the construction of human
character that it may be squaniered with
impunity, or whether the child, which s,
perhaps, not unfrequently the case, should
he driven, reluc anty, TO school, merely, 10
avoid its annoyance at home? Is is not 10 he
regretted that millions have been annually
expended in the encouragement of indo-
lence, roguery, and pedantry, or that two
hundred years should have elapsed will
little more than the shadow of Improvement
in the mode of educating children, in this
land of yankees and inventions
| But facts are chiefs that Wilma ding.
An DOWN be disputed"
Examine child, in regard TO its classica
requirements, who has obtained the reputn
lion ola first rate scholar, you will doubt
less find him able To spell and pronounce
unhesitatngIy, words whose unchrlstlRi
length and jaw. dslocating obiquities would
make Dutchman s,utter, whilst no is al
together unable to define those ofthe mos
simple import. lie will repeat 10 you, wit
: verbal precision, whole chapters, and, eve
: books otthe sacred scriptures without beinl
} able to explain the practical application Of