The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-22
Hero shall the Press the Peoples rights MAINTAIN,
Unawed by influence and unbrbed by gain
Here patriot Truth her glorious precepts draw,
Pledged to Religion, Liberty, and Law
Gaga g@azgST g8Ya& ga
ESDAY JANU AIRY %, 1889.

| Common ScHooLs. We would commend to the
attention of parents especially, the Report of Mr.
Swift made in the Senate of Vermont, at It's late
session. and published the first page of this day
paper Without deciding upon the merits of the
points maintained by the Report, we believe the
agitation of the subject will excite investigation
which will lead to beneficial results. Our common
school system unquestonably is much less useful
to the public than il should be; and its mper-
fections, it is encouraging to perceive, are exciting
the public mind in most of the Northern and some
of the Western States; and Vermont should not be
datory in adopting any plan which may be devils
ed for the good Of her citizens in extending the
blessings of general education. These schools
con stitute the corner stone of republican nsti
tutons, and on which they alone permanently
nd securely rest; and interpose effectual bar
rier to the growth Of blighting arstocracy among
u.s. which could wall of separation and build
up exclusive privileges in the Same community
Ignorance is weakness, and readily yields to the
overpowering demands of intelligence or wealth
An arisocracy, founded upon superior lnteiilgenee
is not much less be avoided than an arstocracy
founded upon weaith-either of them steals power
from the many, and inequalities influence in a
publican form of government to the INJURY OF Inc
manv The evil is to be remedied in perfecting
our common schools. Here the poor if they duly
appreciate the advantages, learn their natural and
proper rights; and acquire enough of intellectual
ammunition and energy to enable them to maintain
and defend them. Intellect is here brought out,
which, in competition with patrimony and its usual
concomitants, Incidence and inerness, in the great
struggle for predominance, is more often successful
than repulsed.
A course of conduct, oflate origin, is pursued by
portion of our people, in some places, highly in
furious TO the interests Of our district schools
Some there are, in community, who appear to
think that nothing can be learned at these schools;
and, generally possessing the means, they send
their children to private schools in preference TO
them BY this course they directly discoun,enanee
district schools, and diminish the interest of com
muuity in them. Hence, incompetent or indiffer-
ent teachers oflener find employment than they
would if more interest felt in the usefulness
of the schools. The effect is disastrous to those
who do attend. 1t is then, conceive, the duty
of all contribute not only by paying their assess
ments, but by their approx alton, to elevate the
character Of common schools; and in doing they
elevate community in the scale OF moral excel.
lence, and in intellectual attainments
Ata late school Convention in Msssachus
DANIEL WEBSTER remarked that "if he had as ma
ny boys had old Pryan, he would send them TO
the District school. There is sound philosophy
embraced in this remark. 1t touches the ri ght
place. And, coming from the greatest man in the
nation in intellectual powers, 1t administers whole
some rebuke to all who to lead their children
in the paths early trod by him, and in which
nearly every distinguished man in the nation com
menced his upward caieer.