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

only, tlaI tlere should De OlSlIiCl SSH0O'"
in every district, but that, as soon
as the town reached to a certain popu-
lation, there should be established, at the pub
lie expense, central school for instruction IN
the higher branches, and such a law still re-
mains in their statute book. And 1t Is known
to every one,with what liberality the Legislature
of New York have extended their patronage
and aid TO all the colleges and academies, as
well as common schools. All are made the
objects of their fostering care.
! The committee would not recommend a
profuse or indiscriminate distribution of funds
to any of these institutions; but they think the
legislature should act upon the policy of help
| ing those tcho are disposed TO help Themselves
Our colleges and academies have hitherto been
wholly sustained by individual charity, and
without, as vet, q cent from the legislature,
and are all, probably, doing some good, and
exerting some beneficial influence upon the
community. But they are all languishing for
want of further aid and little addition to the
funds of each might greatly increase their Ia
cilities for instruction, and their means OF use
fulness. With the aid which has been, or may
be furnished from private sources, the leglsIa-
ture should not be satisfied, as the committee
think, until they have provided, as fast as the
necessary funds are within their control. the
means of instruction, in all branches OF science,
! to any extent, which may be desirable Tor any
class of the community. There IS no class,
which would not be elevated and rendered
more useful and happy by instruction IN the
branches, which are appropriate to the employ
ments of such class. The mechanic and the
farmer need an education in the branches,
which are Immediately connected with their
respective occupations, as well as the profess
sional man and the teacher and every man
should be so educated IS to be qualified to be
the future governors, legislators and judges OF
the State, and safe depostarles Of those high
trusts In this way the people would receive
direct and adequate compensation returning
upon them, for all the expense incurred, In the
security, which wise legislation and admins
tration of laws would furnish. If there be
Fictitious distinctions in the community, arr
sing from wealth, as perhaps there always may
be- let there be none in the means of intellectu-
! al improvement let all occupy an elevated
and equal rank, as educated and intelligent
men.
The Legislature have always manifested a
laudablc zeal in promoting the interests of
common schools; but we cannot but think,
that mistaken policy has prevailed in relation
TO the higher seminaries. If they regarded
only the interests of the former, the commit
tee think the latter also, should be fostered !;
because in the first place, they are necessary
10 provide competent teachers, and in the sec
ond place, to raise the standard of instruction,
in district schools And, in the opinion of
the committee, neither of these essential OBJ
jects can be satisfactorily attained in anv 9TH
| In Uhaf condiIio, ,ro,tI1 ba district
schools of Vermont now be, if no other teach
ers had been employed in Them but those who
had received their education in such schools
1t has been favorite plan of some TO establish
schools exclusively for the instruction of teach
| ers. The committee think that such an ex-
pertinent, separated from all other objects,
would be failure. But however that may be,
such an institution must still be of rank high
or than common schools, in order TO accom-
plish the design. The committee think 4
better plan would be to establish branch for
that kind of intruction IN part or all the high
er seminaries now established.
Besides without some standard of education
higher than that of common schools, their
standard cannot be raised there will be no
efficient and adequate inducement 10 make the
effort. Neither teacher nor scholars will ever
be induced TO look TO n standard higher than
that which is before them. Indeed, it is accor-
ding to the philosophy of the human mind,
that all efforts of this character will fall below
the established standard A.; and that, in order TO
be effective, this must be raised above what
you expect TO attain.
The committee might name, iii were not
inyidious, particular instances, in illustration
of the position they have taken. They know, !
for instance. town, in which is an academy, (
supported wholly by private liberality. 1t is /
the general expectation and practice, that all
the children in the town, who manifest de- /
sire to learn, and make sufficient progress for /
that purpose, in the district schools, shall fin .
ish their education in the academy. The high /
or attachments in this institution are Il subject /
nfconversation among parents and children;
and all the youth are aiming and calculating
to secure those higher attainments. The o.
Grafton of such an inducemcnt has been to el-
evate the standard of instruction in the dis ,
trct schools, and the standard Of intelligence
in the community; and the committee doubt
wheather there is upon the earth whole CON-
muniy of more elevated intelligence. Such
undoubtedly might be shown TO be the indu-
ence of such institutions in other places. SIM
liar. and upon larger scale, and through a
wider field. has been the influence of our COL
leges.
To conclude this part of their discussion, the
committee would ask who are those men who
make and prepare our books and systems OF
for common schools? And who
are those who are ever devising the means and
maturing the plans for elevating these instItu- '
tions. Int those who are educated in higher ,
semnaries?
II has seemed 10 be the opinion of at least
mart of the legislature, that these higher inst-