The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-28
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION.
In HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, }
October 81, IS4l.

dred copies be printed for the use of the House.
| The Committee on Education, to whom
was referred so much of the Governors mes
sage as relates to the subject of education, SUBJ
NIT their report, as follows:
Although the committee are not for the rea-
sons hereafter suggested, prepared to propose,
at the present session, any definite plan for
the carrying into effect their own views, they
consider themselves called upon to respond to
the very sound and appropriate views contain
ed In the Executive message at the present
session, as well as those of a similar character,
which have been urged upon, the Legislature in
former years.
The subject of education is, in the opinion
oil the committee, paramount to all others which
can call for the consideration of the Legisla.
ture of Vermont. A native citizen of this
State, who had, several years ago, emigrated
and taken up his residence abroad, after re.
cent visit to his early home, remarked in SUBJ
stance,-that Vermont seemed to have no
great object, like every other State, at which
the legislature and people are aiming that
from her inland position she could not be ex-
pected to excel in commercial enterprise and
wealth. she might excel all others in her sys-
TENS of education, and in having better ed
ucated people; and that to such an object she
should direct her energies. What higher dis
tinction can the Legislature covet for their
State, than that she has the best system of edu-
cation & the best educated people IN the Unionl
! There are no where more suitable materials
to be wrought, by the influence of education,
into intelligent and efficient men, than the har.
dy, entcrprising youth of this State. Her sons,
and those educated in her institutions, are now
occupying distinguished places in almost eve-
! ry State in the Union; holding seats in their
legislative halls, or representing them in the
halls of Congress, presiding over their courts
Of justice or their literary institutions, or hon.
oring themselves and their native State in the
discharge of professional duties, as ministers Of
the gospel, lawyers or physicians. And it has
been frequent remark ofintelligent men. well
acquainted with the subject, in relation at least
TO one of our literary institutons,-that 10 in
stitution, with such limited means, has sent
forth into the world so many efficient and use
full men. By a wise system of education in
all its branches and departments, encouraged
and fostered by liberal legislation, moi only the
people of Vermont may become the most en-
lightened peoplein the country,b the streams,
which are annually issuing and spreading over
wider fields abroad, may carry with them a
still more benefcent influence.
! Undoubtedly, the district schools should re-
ceive the first d most anxious care of the leg
islaturc, as being first in importance. 1t is
in these, that the great body of our children
and youth receive their only instruction. And
it must be gratifying to all the friends of edu
cation, that these schools have shared so large
ly already the patronage Of the legislature
But something besides money is needed to
make them what they ought 10 be, as the chief
source of instruction to the young. Ii is the
opinion of the best informed men, that great
profusion of public pecuniary patronage is in
lurous rather than beneficial because, while
it dispenses with all individual contributions,
as compensation for the advantages received
it deprives them of all individual supervision
and care from those who should be the most
interested TO foster them. The maxim that
shat is little valued, which, costs little," ap-
plies with great force to these Institutions
The experience of some States, it is well IN
derstood, confirms this view The commit
tee would not, however, be understood to cx-
press the belief, that the schools in this State
have vet received from the Legislature as much
towns, the public funds, together with what is
required by law TO be raised, are quite as much
as is beneficial.
What, in The opinion Of the committee, is
more needed at the present time, is some bet
ter system of supervision, some measures for
furnishing. more generally, competent teach
ers, and for raising the standard of instruction.
Indeed, without these, much of the money,
which has been already appropriated, is was
ted to no beneficial purpose. The best meas
ures to promote these important Objects in the
opinion of the committee, should be a subject
of most anxious attention and inquiry by the !
Legislature.
Although the committee have said that the /
district schools are first in importance. and
should be first to receive the patronage Of the |
legislature, they are not, as the committee /
think, the only institutions which are entitled /
to the legislative regard, when the Legislature .
NAV have in their power the means at aiding /
them. The committee think the Legislature I
should regard themselves as the patrons of all
the literary institutions, which they may think
proper 10 establish, Will the legislature, will
the people of the State, be satisfied to have no
other literary institution among them but CON-
mon shoots and no means of furnishing to
the youth of the State higher education than
the mere rudiments of learning which are
taught in these schools Or would they repu-
diate alike the the duty and the honor, and
force upon benevolent Individuals both the
honor and the duty, of sustaining the higher
for the benefit of the State, by
charity and sacrifices? Such has
not been the policy or sense of duty of any
other legislature. The legislature of every
other state have afforded pecuniary aid, in
some form, to the higher seniinaries; and have