Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-23

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privilege at the time and in looking PdcR upon whic
they rejoice. 4-
simiiar, in regard to the previous state of III
schools, have been the results of Investigations il
Massachusetts which commenced one year Garlic
than in Connecticut. The secrctary's seconI report
made in l339, states that" the common school sys
ten Of Massachusetts had faon into state OF gene
raj unsonndncss and debility; that a great najorii,
of the school houses were not only illodapted to
courage mental effort but, In many eases, were alb
s)ut,lyperousto the health and symmetrical growtl
OF the children; that the schools were tnder sleep,
supervision; that many of the most intelligent anI
wealthy citizens had become estrangcd from the
| welfare, Sr. And moro careful investigation II
subsequent years led to tho cohpllsy that half Tho
beheill OF COMMON schools wts lo', and of codfst
hall the expense of them wasted merely if6.n ih,
single fact of unnecessary irreguari,y in the ntien
dance OF the chlldren-- that there money enough
eSpcn led IN the State for instruction in common
school studies to keep open free schools for all the
children IN the State, with good instruction they
now have, eleven months ia the year; while in fact
large part TT beng expended for private schools the
pubic schools were kept average but seven
months aud ten days--that there was an immense
waste OF iinds IN employing male teachers for the
younger children, who by propcr arrangement,
and classification, might be put under the care of fc-
male teachers Tor the year, with far greater advan-
tage to themselves and that the efficiency of the
schools for good might be ncrea sed beyond previous
conception by the general inlroducon of the best APP
pnra'us ana books, and by improved methods of
teaching and discipline.
The results of laying this information before the
people have been, perhaps, still more important and
| illl OF promise than IN Connecticut Normal schools
| Tor the education of teachers have been established
under the patronage of the State; liberal appropri-
alton has been made to encourage the establishment
OF district lbrarlcs more school houses ected
IN lsl0 than during ten years previous TO the present
| movement; better men on school committees
| the schools are more strictly superintendent; the at
tendance is regulars tn, supposed necessity for
private schools, which were supported because the
| public schools were SO poor, is in many places done
away, and the rich avail themselves of lust that in
sttucon for their children which given to the Door
because II the best that can be had; and the sys-
tenn is so arranged that every valuable suggestion
made BY any committee, no matter where situated
no matter how little known-goes TO increase the
common light. The annual school returns show the
mature opinions of some hundreds OF the best minds
a the Commonwealth men of high Intelligence, Of
enlarged views, full of philanthropy and practical OK
perience earnestly engaged IN devslng means for the
Improvement OF common schools. Their opinions,
and the facts on which they are grounded are Gun
bodied in reports which are read in open town meet
n,. accepcdas expressing the opinions of the assem-
Died cit 2ens. and then sentup TO the State board TO
become part of the common stock oifact and sunges
tun and made available for the benefit of every dis.
trict, and thus of every individual in the Common
wealth.
1t would be arrorating quite too much to the intel
llgencc and public spirit OF the people of Vermont TO
suppose our schools which are certainly not under
more efficient system of supervision and accountable
~ tlll tlUSe OF massachusetts ana Connecticut
SIX years ago, 10 be IN condition essentially better
II Will be assuming enough to 20 the supposliion
that our system Is IN as good and hcahiua state ms
theirs then was. But is clear the slightest
examinations OF the documents that an investigation
IN those States was lmperlousy demanded. Exist
nT evils were found to be absolutely intolerablc -
while to have attempted the improvement of the sys-
TEN without 4 thorough inquiry into its state would
have been to iegisntc in the dark. And who
g'ance at the results without acknowledging them 10
have been unexpectedly great and happy and such MS
would thousand times repay any community for
three or four years of the most liberal expenditure and
most aborious effort Is it a trifling matter to be
able TO say, OF the public schools of a whole town. as
we find 1t said by very intelligent committee OF
Massachusetts, THAT thcy afford as good means O!
education as money can buy q that tho "poorest
c!tzen~ may feel satisfied that, if they will send their
children puncually and regularl, to school from the
age Of four or SIX years to sixteen. they will enjoy
as good privileges the rich can obtain at any price
and will he as thoroughly educated whether on the
point of manners and morals or of studies and order
Iy hnhts, and literary progress! Z"
indeed, Your committee might appeal, in conirma-
ton OF their views, 10 the example OF one of our own
Villages.
Braueboro, East Village, is comprised within
one school district. 1t contains about 1900 inhabi-
ants, not far from 400 OF whom are from tour to cgh
teen years OF age. The average attendance at our
schools is about 800. We have five public schools
four Taught by females, the other bv male teacher
they continue through the year, with the exception
OF vtcn;Ions Amounting to two months or more.
Children are admdIcl INTO th- primary schools, those
tRH"At ny females at The nee OF tour years and re-
man there I'LL eleven years OF age, or until qualified
u enter the central schools MAT nres"der iie chare
OF mao '1acie: i'e 'iouses o we primary shois
are 'ocdiei ~ HI'e'et puts vi 'hc mag 10 nccoi
mioulte w ~ $500. " WV VS.. w.
~ 'ul"! 'o W. III a. 4, 7'o' /. 'e. VIZ oe''''t
OF 'nS E.aE'' - ''!' ''c Gu d. ''iI eHuees o
o ~ o! 'T.e ,'!'c ,'' '''',o u'''alt rom
- a. c,''e'I W vi ~ mary scHoo.s alf requiem
~ ~ '' ~, "a I 'o1, 81 y. s.Hn'cS p'cpna
~, " aaa ~ -. ns,''ns VI. "ltN,'s u, e.gEe"
~ , ~. ~, u ivy ~ 'SI u '''.9iI,y, rN'.., ~
mn ,,',t ",1 '',''''e ',,o t''u 1t ,ey
u',; Ut P'sS ,''Ito .Aa.'n my ic
~ ,' - W. Wv a,'et ra.' i'i NV"
~ a. '' VII gea' % 49, a'c
~, VIC 'e., a; suioo', "ne.nc' 'ey eau PISS SUI
''I I " u''. ~ tne eV"l'N' schop
o,oa L'I',' Il VI a'o"es ''e '"-r,' ola'cnes VI
az i'5,'9" GU nd'tP, "1c l1IsI', ino pIuucl'..n
c'''l''oo 'Ss.'teu oy st'iela, r''tee CHOSEN LOT
Va = H. az W t''o u1s",C' ~ Ieco
,e' w o}'NS 70 oa "sIu ~ te scho3's 10 point out
WI ep 80 VI Sio' ~ W p"'sa'u' al" " eiassHy INC
scn3,'ls.
ioIihtI,y We ma louV fuphc SCHOOLS taught IN
siIl'n.' ny ,et1'es, III winter by maies or pnrty ny
~ I''9 una pa'uy oy ieWaes' we haa also about
we s'',c hI'oPr OF piV'lG or select schools some
uni'r ''e charge oil mae anu some under the charge
OF u nir tlclcIS al 81 Waci are now discontinued.