Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-03-04
EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION.

state convention of the friends Of education was
held at Ml1hlebury, on the 18th and l4th OF jan
uary, by wmch INC various interests OF Education
were taken under con sideration and inquiries insti-
,ued into existing defects and the means ofthcir re-
moval. The time allotted being insufficient 10 accom-
pish the objects proposed the convention adjourned to
meet at Burlington on the last Tuesday in February
| 1872
According to adjournment The Convention me, in
Burlington on Tuesday the 23d. of Feb. His Excel
ency, Governor Pane was called 10 the chair Geo.
B. Shaw was appointed Secretary and John X. Con
| verse, assistant Secretary.
| The object ofthe Convention was stated by Presi-
dent Wheeler, Chairman of the bu mess Committee
who also submitted the order Of business for the meet
ing-On motion of the Rev. Mr.. Peck, ofPoultncy,f
| was =.
Resolved That all gentlemen present, or who shall
be present. feeling interest in the subject OF educa-
ton respectful ly requested to participate IN the 90
| inns of this Convention. -
| TIL. Convention wa addressed by Prof. Geo. w.
Bcned in relation to the legislation of this state on
the subject Of education. "
but little LEGISLATION the subject THAT the Leglsa-
ure had chartered several Colleges and, Academies,
but had assumed responsible ~ except in relation
to common schools and thai even for these, mere
was nothing in The statute Book TO lead us to sup
pose that the Legislature intended to have amy other
carethan merely to prescribe the mode OF ORGANIZING
school districts and provide IN part, funds for sup
por ing he school,that whether the schools lived or
died, or whether the districts faithful not in
the expenditure Of the public money, was matter IN
respect which the Legislature took no RESPONSE
bity. Mr.B. Proceeded TO show by reference 10 facts
that the interests of primary education were suffering
very seriously for the want Of some system OF state
supervision ;-hal the principle which the public
money lrawn, opera es, too often, as bounty
on inactivity and is MT, las it ought to beg stimulus
to induce People to get their children into the school,
that Of a ndreu scholars Oh whom money s drawn
forty not unequen " get the whole bcneht-He also
ndluced facts showlngh the power of taxation un.
der the present law (Sec. Isl may be SO used as TO
shut the children of the very poor from our schools
altogether. Mr.. b. commented upon the Policy If tho
Legislature in borrowing and appropriaing the School
fund.- and also lpon the manner OF d. posing OF that
portion of he IT, ) deposit which fell 10 this State
Rev. Mr. Peck of Pouney then delivered an address
of n Y.
Mr. Peck said that in ~ York the Colleges, Ae-
ademles and common Schools, were all parts of one
great an harnonlou> system under the supervision
of a Boord OIL Regents. They have school fund,
amounting about s 800 000 the proceeds Of which
are di ubuted the schools according to the num-
Der Of holar, from to Is years of age. The bal:
lance of the requisite sun TO sustain them is assessed
upon the scholar ordng to to the attendance OF
each. Each District in order 10 receveits ruon OF
the public money must have ma nfaned school
taught by inspected tea her, at last for the term OF
, three months n. Y. not only be lows direct ana
liberia patronage upon all her schools II also assumes
responsible snpervis them; the Legis
not only provides the funds but takes special caro-
that these funds be faithfully and protably applied
In order to this, general ;lntendant OF scho IS
is an oiu,ed who devocs his whole time. He is aid
ed bv an assistant superintendent in each county,
g making GO IN all. ' cse assistant arepad salary
of s. 90 earh-so that the state pays yearly the sum
If $40 600 10 mere officers Of examln1 and inspec
= ton. BY these officers, irery or INDIRECTLY, all teach
:, ers are evanlinpd By them also all things else ore
" done tending to the well beng OF the schools. a
p1rtcn ar report made the ndant fthe
:! Condition of every hool n the state. These reports
| arc ombned into n general report hch is printed
and laid upon the table Of every Legislator and upon
that of every judicial executive officer Of the state
n Inn Y. lie academies are the nurseries for train
ing te1chers and are p1tron!zed y the state Win
y 5 re ial reference to this end.
=, MI p. went at length into til. details Of the n. y.
u system. ~
Athe open OF the meeting in the afternoon the con-
e venon was addressed III interesting and able man
nrr BY Mr. Calvin Pcase Of Montpelier, upon me
y prevailing system of Acad-mlCaI educatlon wono
U he difficult to do Justice the address of Mr.. Pease,
: bv attempting an auaysis.-We hone, he leading
l. points nj eas, mag BE- given to the Public through
" President Wheeler next addressed The convention
Is upon the .vstom OF Education in Mass. Mr.. Wheeler
said tha, the systems Of Education in '. lnganG
must look for the and prnc lie of them nj
The system Of Mass did no; s ring from the iesl.re
~ Of ignorance lit commenced by of the
widest education, whose minds had been disciplined
a in the best institutions of the oil world by men
" such as never existed in the commencoment Of any
: other nation. They were men who united the high
in est lea ming with the Piey AMI zeal of martyrs. In
about fifteen years after landing at Plymo rh, these
nan set shout 70 ndIng university. They also IN
n, stitued Primary schools The education of the y.u
Ct was Of the first subject that engaged he aucn
is non of the Legislature As early as l642, law wa
n enacted requiring me seeC-llen oil every town mo
IN to safer h bsrbnriansml IN any family as that III
M parens and sho d endeayor teach b,
Us lheusevr and others, their Chi dren and servants 4
read ihCEuglsh tongue and 10 know the car al
ni The penalty for every such neglect wns twenty shl
en- lings
Previous to 1868 the schools # Massachusetts wer
sustained by towns acting IN their municipal capacity
+" The presen district system under state patronage
IL, began about 1889 since which time il has been per
ferieI, TINT The primary schoo of Mass, now III
+ best schools in the state. They supported b
7 money derived Isl from the income Of school funds
2nh fr m direct tnxNtnn. The state has fund 0
bt about 500 OC0 arising fom the sale cfards in Main
. and from money due rom the CnIed States for mil
IL arv services AID from other sources. The neon
an If this fund is distributed in such way to Undue
the People to have their children in The school. Eac
III Is also required 10 raise sl25 for each ndivdua
residing in the town, between and l6 years of age
II any Town rai,s less it foricit- It's portion
ds the public fund. Thenmouni actually raised y, eac
town yearly, by tax, is about $50 10 each schola
Y, instead of 81 IS
n The state has also assumed strict supervision or
N e. the schools The Legislature mp int secretary
f. lucatiln who co lee is and dluses anformnon
m respect to schools and no yearly lays before III
W Leg la,ure report, showing minulely the condno
. of every school in the commonwealth.
80 Three schools have been established IN Mass. (,
w the preparation Of Teachers ore for Pennies and Nv
for both sexes Mr. w. stated her iacrs illustrariy
' of the Mass system and is operation, which the Sec
90 retarie= have not room TO present NJ length.
Mr. Peck Introduced a series OF Reso uiIons who
I'D sup orted by remarks these were laid on The tab
90 for further cons dtraton.
w Professor Twning of Middehury was then lsiene
70 in an dress on the means of exciting interest an
M action on he subject of education, among the pcopl
W. Prof Twnngin very iorlble manner, set forth N
- fact that the people unGeryaue education and are M
90 winr to er,n that time, property and effort that al
20 REQUISITE That flcs and light mus, be dhIsed uni
,, the public mind shall he brought TO rehect-that
I've secure wise and efic nj legislation IN behalf OF o.
l. hpols we must apply to the people, who are III
IA source Of power. Mr.. iwinng. nj the close OF his az
t'u dress offered series Of resolutions which were lal
lc- on the table for consideration
IN W1flDp