Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-16

| Our whole legislation, from the foun-
da'ion OF the government TO this time.
SHOWS the importance which has always
| oeen attached TO the interests Of education
as a means Of adding to the virtue and
happiness of the people and securing the
Pefmanency Of our Institutions. The in
'en'ion appears clearly TO have been, to
place within reach of the children Of the
numDlest citizen the advantages Of such
instruction as is necessary 10 form their
minds TO virtue and morality. and fiji them
Tor usefulness. This is right, for il is
plainly the duty Of the State to guard the
private as well as the public morals Of its
citizens. A judicious and enlightened
course OF instruction is the only effectual
way to accomplish this object Ii any
apology be necessary for urging upon
the consideration of the Legislature a
careful examination of the existing la VS.
appertalning to our schools, it is 10 be
! found IN my convictions of the nadequacy
OF their present provisions to accomplish
the greatest good.
Taking it for granted that the public is
under obligation TO educate every child in
the State, it would seem necessary that
the burden of supporting our schools-or
al least SO much Of it as is required TO de-
Tray the expense OF teachers salaries, be
placed upon those who have the ability TO
pay,-or In other words, that the defcien.
cy, after the application of the public mo-
ney, be raised by tax on the list of all
taxable property in the district. This
course has, in many places, been found
highly beneficial, and where contrary
practice prevails, it is to be feared, many
children are deprived of the advantages
which the State designed.
The present mode of distributing the
public money, in proportion to the num-
Der OF scholars between the ages of four
and eighteen, does not, apprehend, prac-
tIcalIy carry out the wise and benevolent
Intention Of the trainers Of the law. 1t is
respectfully suggested, that, if certain
part of the public funds in each town were
divided equally among the districts, and
the residue in proportion to the number
OF scholars it would enable weaker dis
tricts to employ more competent teachers,
and for longer period, and at the same
|
trlcts of greater ability.
The act of 1886, providing for deposit
ling the surplus revenue with the towns.
has received construction, in some places,
different from that intended, and caused
delay and difficulty in the distribution
| would further suggest whether some
system of direct Accountability would not
have very happy influence on the pros
perIty OF our common schools
Should the selectmen in each town. or
some other officer designated By law, be
required, under penalty. to make an an
nual report to some person authorized TO
receive the same, of the condition of the
several schools in thetown, the number of
scholars between four and eighteen years
of age, the number who have attended
school within the year, the time TEACHER
has been employed. the amount of money
} expended for services of teachers, the
amount of public money received, and The
; manner in which the balance expended
} over and above the public money has been
e raised, it would furnish much valuable in.
!, formation upon which to base future lie
Y gislaion. The want of sufficient mum
u Der Of competent and well instructed teac h
ers, is q great obstacle to the prosperity
: and usefulness of our common schools
e and it may we'll be asked, if the Legsla
: ture, as guardians OF the public welfare
s are not bound 10 adopt immediate meas
= ures to supply this deficiency
: The influence which our colleges ant
g academies have had upon the standard o
e education and manner Of instruction il
), our schools, by furnishing teachers, ha
n been favorable. But the course of instruc
II ton and study, established in those insti
tutions, is not expressly designed to pre-
IS pare teachers. nor is it suited TO call int
lie action all those capabilities and pecuia
l. qualifications so indispensably necessar
a to that employment.
10 Normal, or pattern schools, have. il
al some places, been established, where thos
L. intending 10 engage in teaching are sub
II jected to thorough course of instruclio
sr and training, expressly designed TO f
" them for that occupation. We're the br
" siness ofteaching sufficiently lucrative /
es permit young men to prepare for, and er
r. gage in it permanently, this mode woul
at ndoubtedly be entitled to the preference,
lg But 10 the present condition of society,
apprehend that the establishment of teach
is ers' seminaries, or the adoption ola suita
,ir bic and separate course of instruction
nd some of our academies. is the most leas
on bic way in whichthis object can be accon
W. plshed. In some states this mode hs
lal been successfully adopted. and as tie bel
W. efits OF system of this character must
lal generally diffused throughout the state,
RI certainly has strong claims upon our