The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-28

rive as much benefit from those institutions as
those of the middling and poorer classes. The
sons of the rich are often sent to college, be-
cause their parents can educate them without
any sacrifice, while they may not have the tai
ents or habits to derive much advantage from
their education. Their habits of indulgence
at home often disqualify them TO be industrious
and efficient students, unless they happen to
have an uncommon Thirst for knowledge; and
they often turn out TO be inefficient and useless
members of society But the sons OF men IN
Strengthened circumstances, who are forced to
spend their childhood and youth in active Ia
Dor, acquire such habits Of industry and such
of constitution, that no obstacles in Their course
of education can ob3trCct their progress IN lear
mag, oil delay their course toward distinction
in the community. Although there are un-
doubtedly exceptions, these are generally, a
mong educated men, the most efficient and
useful
In one of our colleges. with which the COM
mittec are more intimately acquainted,-and
the same is supposed 10 be true in the Others
great majority of the students, who have been
educated, have been the sons OF men, who were
not able to meet the expenses of their educa
ton. Some have been forced to rely exclu-
svely, and others mo. or less, upon their own
personal efforts and have thus struggled with
poverty through their whole course. And it Is
in this class, that are generally found the most
successful scholars, and the most distinguished
and efficient men. When thus educated, their
rank and influence are not fixed by The power
ty, through which they have passed but by
the power of cultivated intellect, which every
where commands respect.
! If there is any thing which changes tho
different levels in society, which wealth is sup
{ posed to establish, and sets at naught and an
initiates all such factitions, it is system
which furnishes the means of an elevated ed
ucation 10 the enterprising poor as well as tho
rich. If there is degradation in poverty, in
any case, such degradation cannot attach 10
an educated man, however poor.
The committee are aware, that heretofore
the legislature have had the control of TO
funds, but such as were forced by direct taxa
ton, from tie pockets of the ctizens; and this
has operated, at least in part, to prevent any
liberal aid to our higher Summaries. They
think they see in the late act CT Congress, or
dering a distribution among the states CT the
! proceeds of the public lands, an opportunity
for the legislature to commence a system OF
patronage of these Institutions.
! The committee forbear TO propose any plan
| for the action of the legislature, at the present
session, for the reason that no money can be
received from the source mentioned, until
near the time when the legislature will again
! assemble; but especially because there should
I be more time for discussion and deliberation
| in the legislature and in the community, and
for maturing suitable plan, than the present
session can afford. In the mean time, it is
the hope of the committee, that the subject
may be brought before the minds of the peo-
| pie, and fully discussed.
If the committee were at this time to pro.
pose any plan, it would be in part, that tho
present state school fund should be abolished,
and the debt of the State paid. This being
abolished, part of our share of the public
lands should be distributed among the distrcr
schools, and the remainder should be divided
among the colleges and higher seminaries
Some friends of internal improvement NAV
wish TO appropriate part, at least, Of this fund
20 that object; and others may have other f.
vortc objects. The committee are not enc
mics to internal improvements or any other
beneficial enterprise; but they arc decidedly
Of opinion, that all these should be CONSIDERED
secondary TO the greater object Of providing 1
system of instruction, which shall elevate our
citizens, as intellectual and r-.oral men.
For the purpose of accomplishing more e.
fectually their OBJ ject in making the report.
the committee recommend the adoption oftho
accompanying resolution.
SAML SWIFT, for Committee
Reso 7red. That the foregoing report re
published in all the newspapers, in which the
public acts are printed, and that discussions OF
l., toI IL
the friends Of education and Of the State.