The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-22
NNESCELLANEO as.
REPOR ON EDUCATION.
In SENATE. Oct. 80,

rial of Addison Brown and others, praying for
an alteration Of the existing law for the support
of common schools; also a resolution relating to
the appointment ola board Of com nissioners;
also, resolution with regard TO a Teachers
Seminary, and memorial from the trustees OF
Caledonia Co. Grammar School and of the
Newbury Seminary, with regard to the distribu
ton of the school fund to Colleges and academies,
respectfully report:
That they agree with the memoralists in
sidering common schools as the great bulwarks
of our free institutions. While the usurped
,horties and antquated abuses ofthe old world
are sustained chiefly by the Ignorance and deg
radiation of the aborng classes the sole hope of
our western republics is the intelligence and vir
tue of the people. The government is their
government, and will derive it's character from
that of the individuals who constitute it. While
the scoolmaster is abroad in every school dis
trict, we need no standing army to preserve us
from internal connections; we shall suffer no IN .
trigues of the artfui demngogue, the usurpa
lions of ambitious leaders. Every citizen of
this state will understand and appreciate the
dignity of his position and RIGHTEOUSNESS on the
one hand and implicit obedience on the other,
will receive their merited rebuke. These are
principles which have been we'll under stood and
acted upon by the people Of this State. They
have displayed IiberaIty in voting money to
their common schools which has done and
will continue to do, them honor. But in the
opinion OF your committee something is want
ing besides the hestowment of money, to give
that character to these schools which their
importance de nands. The usefulness Of these
institutions depends very much on the character
of the instructors When the teacher and the
pupils are assembled within the naked walls of
a schooIhouse, without books apparatus, ii
must be evident that the direction, shape, and
character which is to be given to the plastic
materials upon which he is to display his SIX i'll,
depend entirely upon himself 10 the best in
formed, the instruction of the youthful intellect,
and fhaf r,f t1sDIr f.hn nfnr
is delicate task; and when we consider low
many undertake this duty without any previous
preparation how little knowledge is dssemina
ted upon this subject, and what variety of views
are entertained upon 1t, your committee are no,
surprised that the legislature are SO earnestly
and repeatedly petitoned upon this subiec
Other states, which have at a Inter period adop
ted the system of common schools, have seen
these evils and endeavored to apply remedy.
Some have employed agents at cons !erabie
expense to collect information, and all have
established something like an uniform system
10y which qualified teachers are secured, unifor-
unity in books obtained, n method OF receiving
returns by which information may be obtained
of the progress of education in different parts OF
the state, and important facts made known TO
the whole people. In this manner spirit of
inquiry is kept up. and an interest in the success
of common schools is generally telt
The evils complained Of in the memorials re-
ferred to the committee are want OF system
of books by succeeding teachers-the use Of
books not adapted TO the age and understand
ing OF childrrn-the different modes of discl.
pline adopted, frequently operating very nnfa-
vorabiy on their moral characteristic frequent
change of teacters--thejr incompetency-fhe
bad location and i'll construction OF school
,houses-and a want ofsuitable books and appa-
ratus.
Your committee unite with the memorials in
the belief that these evils exist, and agree also
with them that 1t is the duty of the Legislature to
afford all reasonable facilities for removing them;
but your committee believe there would be in
superable difficulties in pointing out by law,
course of studies which should be universally
adopted, or i'm authorizing board OF commits
sioners to do the same. return to the sys'en
of commissioners in each town tor the SELECTION
OF school books and the examination of teachers,
has been presented to their consideration But
although they can see many advantages winch
might result from such board, they do not
consider it expedient to ask the Legislature to re-
enact law lately repealed. The standard
of education in these schools, must after ALL de-
pend very much on the wants and information
Of the parents who sustain them. If they believe
that nothing is necessary in the teacher but
COOK muscular Developments sufficient 10 re-
strain and subdue the refractory, & II knowledge
of the common rudirnents Of education such
one will he employed. They will not be induced
TO pay their money to secure the services of an
accomplished teacher who would at the same
time, cultivate the intellectual and moral facul-
ties or immortal beings committed to his charge.
But the advantages of intellectual and moral
culture have only to he known to be duly appre-
ciated; and if not to be obtained for himself, no
parent is SO rude but that he desires them for
his children.
Your committee, therefore, believe that the
best method of elevating the character of COM
mon schools and removing the evils complained
of is by diffusing information on this subject
among the people and thus exciting spirit of
inquiry. This information cannot be diftused
until it has been collected. They have, there
fore, proposed method by which information
with regard to the schools in this state may be
collected and submitted to the people 1t is in
this way alone, that they hope to produce uni