The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-02-12
For the Spirit Of The Age.
TO THE COMMON SCHOOL CONVENTION,

Jaielv assembled at Brandon, Rutland Co., w.
GrNrLEMEN:-The undersigned, citizens OF
Springfield, Windsor county, have noticed with
deep interest the call Of Convention OF the friends
of Education in the State of Vermont, and had
hoped to have been able TO have attended or to
have been represented in said meeting But fear
ing that they may not be able 10 ENJOY this prlvl-
lcgc they wish, in behalf themselves, the neigh
bors and the community TO which they belong, to
present few suggestions respecting the evils now
incidcn, 10 our public school syslem-and the
remedies which have occurred TO them as best
adapted to our present condition. They trust that
YOUR deliberations will be directed to such reforms
as will be available to US all, and that report OF
your proceedings, and their results, will be publish
ed for the benefit of all the inhabitants of our State
The importance Of this subject to the religious and
moral, domestic and social welfare of our people,
needs only 10 be referred to. Its connection will,
the value of our property, products and labor
with the Improvement of society, the stability Of
our political Institutions, the permanence of our
common liberties and the responsibility and inhu-
ence of our Sta,e-are obvious at glance. The
first difficulty to be overcome, is the tnsensibIhty
of our communities to these great truths; the err
roneous impression that money withheld from the
support of Education, is money saved. THIS I'M
pression, we fear lies at the foundation of that in
difference aud iaaciiriiy which have so extensive
~ peryaded our respective communities in relation
TO common school reform and improvement, and
needs to be thoroughly cradicated. The tendency
of sound Education 10 augment the capacities oil
our sens and daughters, not only TO perform all thu
higher duties of life, but to produce and acquire
WEALTH, needs only to he seen by all to be Tell
by all, as powerful indueement to an immediate
and thorough change Of sentiment and action III
reference to this interest.
We conceive that another evil TO De overcome
is the irregulari,y of our present school SYSTEM by
which. after several months attendance at school,
in mos, OF our districts, these schools are closed
and the children turned at large TO forget the little
they had learned from its few weeks oil instruction
The constant change Of teachers Is another evil the
same gentlemen or lady being seldom employed
second time TO instruct the same school, ny Tho
opera,on of these ast-named usages, much OF the
short time allowed to our children to go to schoo
is spent in becoming known TO their Instructors ant
in learning the peculiarites pertaining to the dlsc'
pline of each. The frequent changes in the books
used is incidental TO this constant change OF teach
ers; and is not only source Of much pecunmr!
expense to parents, but of superficial attainment
by the pupils. of that instruction and Information
which faithful study Of almost any school boo'
cannot Gail TO impart to an attentive scholar I'M
TOO frequent neglect by parents TO visit the school
and TO sustain and aid the teacher in his govern
mcnt and instruction of their children, Is, we lear
another drawback upon the improvement which al
might derive from that discipline, and those habit
Of study and observation, only to be secured b
efficient family and school government. Tho pro
n miscuous assembling Of scholars of different age
= and widely differing attanments, we look upon
another evil, which initiates greatly against tn
progress Of all.