The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1841-12-14
PEOPLES PRESS.
Tuesday Morning, Dec. ID, lS4l.
STATE CONVENTION OF THE
FRIENDS OF EDUCATION.

We invite the attention of our readers 10
the call which will be found in another column
for convention of the friends of education. #
viii be recolected that the Temperance con.
vention, which met at Montpelier during the
session of the Legislature, appointed another
convention on the subject of Temperance 10 be
held at Mddlebury on the 18th of January next.
The selection Of the day after this meeting
the 18th Of JaEuarv-for convention for the
purpose of discussing {" the educational wants
and interests of Vermont" appears 10 US to lie
exceedingly happy. The best friends Of edu.
cation and the warmest advocates of Temper
ance, will be found to constitute, in general. the
same body of men and there is no way in
which so large an assemblage of intelligent
patrons of both these interests can be secured,
as by such an arrangement of the meetings as
Will permit them both TO be attended without
the expense of two journeys
To say nothing at present on the subject of
Temperance, there never has been time when
the friends of Education in this State, were
called upon for prompt and efficient action, by
motives so pressing as those which now urge
them to take immediate measures for the ad-
vancement of this cause. The subject was
brought before the legislature in q very appro
PIRATE and interesting manner BY the Governor
and the legislature (as may be seen bv refer
ence 10 the able report of the chairman of the
committee on Education,) has placed the SUBJ
lect in such a position as to make direct ap
peal 10 the people for an expression of their
opinion and their wishes. In the discussion of
this 81 beet by the members of the legislature.
it was said that facts are what we want as The
basis of action. Facts then, let US have. The
best method of collecting facts, would undoubt.
eddy be the adoption Of such course by the
State government as would cause this 10 be
done by the operation Of Lau. But in the alb.
sence of suitable arrangements for this purpose.
Oh the part of the STATE, something may be ac-
complished by individual effort. We hope,
therefore, that those who attend the proposed
convention will come prepared, as far as posi-.
BILE, 10 exhibit the present condition of educa.
ton in their respective districts. When the
facts which have been called for shall be fully
collected and fairly stated, there is no doubt it
will be found, that while in relation to the great
producing interest of Agriculture, Vert stands
IN the first rank among the members ofour con-
federacy. in regard 10 Education, she has been
already eutstripped by several, if not many of
her sister States. Something has been done by
the state for common schools but for want of
a JudIcious appropriation of the funds devoted
to this important object, and of we'll digested
and thorough system, these schools are ina
feeble and languishing condition. Our Acad-
cmies are, if possible, in still more deplorable
state. Without any plan of study, without ad-
equate funds, and without the Indispensable
requisite of stability in regard to teachers, 1--WE
speak not of particular seminaries, but of the
Academies in genera) they are not at all fitted.
IN their present condition TO answer the pur-
pose Tor which they were designed. As 10 our
Colleges, 1t is well known, that notwithstanding
the interest which the people have shown in
them-an interest which has been testified by
many noble instances of private munifcence-
they have been long furnishing for want of
legislative aid.
If cur State is capable of taking the lead in
regard to Agriculture. why should she be left
behind in the far more important work of Edu
cation? 1t is not for want of material, but of
the best method of working it. Vermont is as
rich in mind as she is in soil, and with suitable
advantages, the products of the one will be
found to be as abundant. and as superior, as
already have been those of the other. If any
one doubts this, let him turn to the trennial
catalogues ofour Colleges, and trace their grad.