Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-18

'nese can be most cffectualIy secured ~"
The patriots. who estabhshedSnr,
eminent and framed the const, f.1.6 CIV
State, evidently relied upon ih.< Tue
ton Of useful knowledge us the mos st,.;
en-. means to prevent the commission n s .%0r
and lead 10 the practice Of virtue An" .e
the earliest acts ofthc State were ,hosa ng
tablishing, providing for, and pa,ron;.;
common schools. This policy has lug
steadily pursued TO the present time y Tu
eral reservations were made for ib,s, "a ao,
encouragement in all grants Of hnd m. a'u
The State government. In nddt;o, s"ue'
income Of the public lands ,snaa y 'us
from time 10 lime for this object. town. ..e
required TO raise and expend large snm W." 70
money. A further addition to these ms.s y
was made by applying the income ~ ss ~
surplus revenue oftbe United State. a.. ..e
ted with the towns in 1886. i''f'
Our whole legislation. from the fou,A.
lion OF the government 10 this Tim. 49,
the importance which has always b.,a
tached to the interests of educa,;or ~
means Of adding to the virtue and bapon..'
OF the people and securing the prr,pa r.,''s
Of our institutions. The intention anns.,.
clearly TO have been, to place within ts,ss
OF the children Of the humbIcst ei,;ysn -
advantages Of such instruction as i MAJ"
sary 10 form their minds TO virtue and ma,
atty. and fil them for usefulness Tb;s !,
right, foCit is plainly the duty of the S,,,.
to guard the private as well as the puhl;,
morals OF its ciIizeus. A judicious and on.
lighirned course OF instruction is The oni.
eifeciual way 10 accomplish this oLiee, il
any apology be necessary for urging uoon
the consideration OF the Legislature a care.
ful examination olthe existing laws amer.
tanning TO our schools, il is 10 be fopnd IN
my convictions Of The inadequacy Of their
present provisions 10 accomplish The rre,l.
est good
Taking il for granted that the public !,
under obligation TO educate every child in the
State. Il wonld seem necessary tba, the bur.
den OF supporting our schools-or a, lea,, %
much ofit as is required to defray the expep,e
ofieachers salaries. be placed upon Ibose
who have the ability TO pay.-or in obe,
words. that the deficiency, after the aoDl;.
cation Of the public money be raised by a
tax on the lisl Of all taxable property ia The
district This course has. in MANY place,
been found highly beneficial, and where a
contrary practice prevails, il is 10 be feared.
many children are deprived OF the adsap,a.
ges which the State designed.
The present mode ofdistributing the publc
money. in proportion 10 the number Of sehoI.
ars between the ages Of four and eighteen,
does not. spprehend. practically carry out
the wise and benevolent intention Of The
trainers Of the law. Il is respectfully sue.
gesied. that, liza certain part OF The public
funds in each town were divided equally
among The districts. and the residue in plc.
portion 10 the number of scholars, il would
enable weaker districts to employ more com.
petent TEACHERS. and for a longer period. and
at the same time tend 10 frugaliiy and teOuo.
my in districts Of greater ability. 81
The act Of 1896, providing for deposiiDg
the surplus revenue with the towns, has re.
ceived construction, in some places, differ.
eni from that intended. and caused delay
and difficulty in the distribution. would
further suggest whether some system Of d.
rect accountability would not have very
happy influence on the prosperity Of our
common schools.
Should the selecimen in each town, or
some other officer designated by law, ber.
qnifed, under penalty. 10 make on annual
report to some person authorized 10 receive
the same. Of the condition Of the several
schools in the town, the number Of scholars
between four and eighteen years ofage. The
number who have attended school within
the year, the time a teacher has been en-
ployed. the amount OF money expended lor
services OF teachers, the amount OF public
money received. and the manner IN whieh
the balance expended over and above Inc
public money has been raised. il would iur'
nish much valuable information upon which
to. base future Legislation. The want OF
sufficient number Of competent and well w.
s,ructed teachers, is a great obstacle to the
prosperity and usefulness OF our common
schools. and il may well be asked. u The
Legislature. as guardians ofthe public wei
fare, are not bound To adopt immediate meas
uies TO supply this deficiency.
The influence which our colleges and
academies have had upon the standard OIL
education and manner OF instruction 10 our
schools, BY furnishing teachers. has been
favorable. Blu, the course OF instruction
and study. established in those 'nslhuilOO''
is no,expressly designed 10 prepare teachers,
nor is il suited TO call into action all inose
capabilities and peculiar qualifications 50 IN
necessary to that employment
Normal, OF pattern schools. have 10 solA'
places. been established, where those i',sa'
ding to engage in teaching are suo)ee'eu y
a thorough course Of instruction and 'iau
ing. expressly designed 10 q them i0i 'a''
occupation. Were the business Of Teaching
q, f6.;.n,l,, ,,.,.,;,s N hermit Young men 70