Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-11-15

MEssRs. f.. p WALTON & Sons: - Gentlemen:
In looking over your Daily Journal of I'd of No
vember, | noticed your remarks on education in
pnrt of which you refer TO the report of the
committee on that subject Your views Of the
importance Of facts, son which 10 base just and
enlightened discussion, are important and nppro-
PIRATE. For this reason, was gralifed with them,
as well as because they afford me an opportunity
TO make a remark or Two, which it did not seem
proper for the committee to make in their report.
The great importance Of statistics, in order TO ma
lure any proper system of education, did not es
cape the deliberate consideration Of the commit
tee. But their conviction, whether right or
wrong, was decided hat any attempt TO obtain
them, n, the present time, through cny legislative
provision, would be wholly abortve. 1t is posi-
be TINT some permanent plan for the purpose of
carrying out an established system, might be made
effective. But, SO far | know, no statistics for
any such purpose as the present, were ever collec
ted to any extent in thus State, by legislative drec-
ton. At the session of 1888, the united commit
tees Of the Senate and House of Representatives,
having strong desire to mid in establishing some
better system OF education but believing the Leg
isature was not, at that time, in circumstances TO
mature and Adopt any such plan, and knowing,
also, the necessity Of facts Tor the purpose. prepar-
ed n plan for Obtaining, through the Secretary Of
State, all the fncts which might he thought mate
al, and accompanied it with report the plan
wns readily adopted by the legislature-but no one
fact was ever Obtained hy means OF 1t. ii is not
now my purpose 10 state the reasons why there
was then such total fnilure, nor why the commit
lee believed that any other plan, the present year,
would also tail. Ii is enough for my present pur-
pose to say, that such WAS their settled conviction;
and it was for this reason tlrat no plan was propo-
sed by them for that purpose. And all this say
for the purpose Of adding also that the business
can and ought to he done and may much better
be DONE by the individual enterprise Oi the friends
OF education.
Let there be called n convention oSdil the friends
Of education who are willing TO make the sacri-
fee in which every literary institution should be
represented. When assembled, let them adopt n
plan for collecting the information needed; and
then let them adjourn to meet alter The statistics
are collected. In the meun time, let the subject
be fully discussed in all The papers. Aud when
again met, and having the facts and Arguments be-
fore them, lei the convention mature n system, -
simple economical and practicable, which shall
place Vermont in her proper position among the
States; and let them go up TO the Legislature with
their statistics and their system Of education, and
! trust they will not be repused.
Other plans may be better, and perhaps n small
Ter number than so general n convention, might
ndopt arrangements for collecting information
But whatever be the plan, ii will cost some labor
and some sacrifice, and will show how much la
hor and sacrifice the friends of education are vii
ling to assume for so important an object. But il
will not cost so much perhaps to obtain The requi-
site information, as may be at first supposed. The
friends OF each literary institution will be willing
10 make the necessary statement of its condition
and wants and il cannot be a very great labor fol
two three persons in each county to visit every
town, for the purpose of obtaining the requisite
information relating to common schools. The
most material information may be Obtained from
the town clerk and treasurer And for all exrt
labor and expense let funds he raised by snbscrp-
ton. OEE OF THE COMMITTEE.