Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-09-23
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.


within one school district. Ii contains
about 1900 inhabitants, not far from 400 of
whom are from four to eighteen years of
age. The average attendance at our schools
is about 300. We have s public schools,
4 taught by females, the other by male
teacher. They continue through the year,
with the exception of vacations amounting
to two months or more. Children are adj.
mltted into the primary schools, those taught
by females, at the age of four years, and re-
main there till eleven years of age, or until
qualified to enter the Central School, that
under the charge Of a male teacher. The
houses for the primary schools are located
in different parts Of the Village to accom-
modate the children in every section of the
district. The building for the Central
school is near the centre Of the Village, so
that the children at the extremes of the dis
trict are but little more than mile distant
from it. The children in the primary
schools are required to go through pre-.
scribed course Of studies preparatory to the
Central School. On arriving at eleven
years Of age, if they can pass a satisfactory
examination, they are admitted into the
Central school; if they cannot then pass
satisfactory examination, they remain in the
primary schools till they can. All however
or arriving at fourteen years OF age are adj
mtted into the Central school, whether
they can pass satisfactory examination or
not. In the Central school, besides the
common branches, the higher branches Of
an English education are taught. The Pru-
dental Committee, assisted by a Special
Committee chosen for the purpose, are au-
,horzed by the district to recommend the
books to be used in the schools, to point out
the course of studies to be pursued, and to
classify the scholars. The examination for
admittance into the Central school takes
place twice a year, or at the close of each
term, as the condition Of the schools seems
TO require. Those of fourteen years of age
are admitted to the Central school at the
commencement or middle of each term
This system has been in operation nearly
year, and SO far gives great satisfaction.
Formerly we had four public schools,
taught in summer by females, in winter by
males, or partly by males and partly by fe-
males. We had also about the same num-
Der of private or select schools, some under
the charge of male and some under the
charge of female teachers, all of which are
now discontinued. There was under that
system, or rather no-system, constan,
change of teachers, and of course frequen,
change of books, of the course Of studies,
and of modes Of instruction and discipline.
The interest of parents was distracted, each
naturally caring most for the school where his
children were instructed; invdious dis
o., al
no good moral influences were exerted, and
little was done even for the intellect. The
evils Of that no-syslem became so glaring
that the whole village rose almost to man
and resolved to have a reform.
The advantages of our present system are
found to be important. 1t is Democratic
All our children are brought together
The children of the poor and of the rich
stand side by side, and merit alone decides
the rank of each The expenses are paid
by the property of the district, so that the
children of the poor have equal advantages
of education with those of the wealthy
The influence, the talents, and the pecunary
resources of the Village, are concentrated
on the system of popular education; and
this affords one subject of common interest
for all sects, all classes, and all parties, and
does not a little to smooth down the asperi.
ties of feeling, and to harmonize diyersities
of conflicting interests. Employing our
teachers for longer period, they become
attached to us we take a greater personal
interest in them; we begin to learn their
social importance in society; to regard their
station as the first in the community and
their influence, next TO that of parents, as
having the greatest bearing on the charac-
ter and destiny of the young. By having
course of studies pointed out for our chill
dren, so that they can advance regularly
from branch to branch, they make much
more rapid progress than formerly, obtain
the same amount of knowledge in a much
shorter period, and acquire far better edu.
cation in the same length of time But per-
haps the greatest benefit which is produced
by our school system, is the moral influence
it exerts We already perceive a decided
improvement in the manners and conduct Of
the pupils of all our schools, much of which
we attribute to the introduction of singing
as part of the daily exercises. The in
structor of the Central school has taken
great pains to interest his pupils in ennob-
ling and elevating pursuits He has turned
their attention to the study of Geology, Min
eralogy, Chemistry, to the cultivation and
care of Ornamental trees, &c. which occu-
pies their thoughts while out of school, and
inspires them with purcr and higher desires
and aims. BY the strict order and method
introduced into the schools, by the punctu-
atty and promptness required, and by the
propriety of conduct enforced, much has al
ready been done by all our teachers, for the
promotion of good manners and good NOR.