The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-11-13
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.

EDUCATION. 1t is truly gratifying TO those
who are friendly to the happiness of mankind,
to witness the increasing interest, which is felt in
New England in relation to the subject of pub
lie education. The effort of Massachusetts 10
improve the common schools is worthy of all
praise, and we are glad to see, attracting the
attention of other States.
At the Convention held in Hanover Plym-
outh County, last month, the proceedings were
of the most interesting character. An address
was delivered by MIR Mann in the morning, and
in the afternoon an animated discussion was
carried on upon the subject of establishing "A
Normal school in Plymouth County. Among
the gentlemen who addressed the meeting were
Rev. Mr. Brooks of bingham, Rober' Rantoul,
Jun, Rev. MIR. Pntman Of RoXbury, John Quin,
cy Adams, Daniel Webster, and Rev. DR.. Thos.
Robbins. The following is an abstract of the
remarks of Daniel Webster, from the bingham
Patriot.
"Dnniel Webster said, he felt the resolution
before the meeting to he of vital importance TO
the welfare of the community. The Ultimate
aim was to elevate and improve the primary
schools and to secure competent instruction to
every child which should be born. No object is
grcater than this; and the means, the form and
agents are eaCn ana all HpOTidll. eApitSS-
ed his obligation to town schools and paid trl-
butte to their worth, considering them the foun-
dalton of our social and political system. The
town schools need impro veinent; Tor II they are
no better now than when he attended them, they
are insufficient to the wants OF the present day.
They have t lately been overlooked by men
who should have considered them. He reloic'
ed at the noble efforts here made of late and
hoped they might be crowned with entire snc-
cess. Our schools have not looked beneath the
superfces. The reading is often mere parrot
reading. every paren: sees this. Everything is
by roIe; words without ideas. Another defect
is, the great multiplicity of books. Parents have
thought there must be learning where there were
so many books. This is an evil instead OF a good.
Ii has become the fashion to teach every iliing
through the press. Conversation so valued IN
ancient Greece, is overlooked and neglected;
whereas it is the richest source OF culture. we
teach too much by manuals; too little by direct
intercourse with the pupils mind; we have too
much OF words too little of things. Take any OF
the common departments, how little do we real
ly know of the practical detail, say geology. 1t
is taught by books, it should be taught by eX-
cursions i'm the fields. So of other things. We
begin with the abstracts and know little OF the
detail of facts; we deal in generals and go not
TO particulars; we begin with the representatives
leaving out the constituents. Teachers should
teach things. 1t is n reproach that the public
schools are no superior to the private lf,said he,
hal as many sons as old Pram, | would send
them to the public schools. The private schools
have in jured, in this respect, the public; they
them. They who should be in
them are withdrawn; and like so many uniform
taken out ofthe general militia, those
behind are none the better. This plan of Nor
NAL school in Plymouth County, is designed to
elevate our common schools and thus to carry
on the noble ideas ofour pilgrim fathers. There
is growing need that this he done He consld-
oroJ tho cost very SliUht. Ii cannot come INTO
an expanded mind as an objection. If it be an
experiment, it is a noble one and should be
tried. He here went through with the items ot
expenses, the loaning Of the sum, the trustees,
SC. he saw nosdefect in the scheme. He closed
with expressing his good wishes for the speedy
and permanent elevation OF our town schools 10
the point demanded by the advancing coha'''oh
of society.
a aarodllctire PoinLoe. VIC noticed some