The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-18

e and valuable report accompanied with res {
lutions, which was accepted and the resolu-
ons referred to the business committee.
The following resolutions, after having been
modified and in some instances discussed at
ength were successfully adopted.
By Judge Kineridge,
Resolved, That the instructions inculcated
n our primary schools, in addition to proper
moral and religious culture, should be Prlnci'
,ally elementary, adapted alike to deVelope
and mature the intellect, and communicate a
thorough knowledge of the means and lnstru-
ments whereby the minds of children shall DC
prepared and assisted to make further attain
men,s in useful practical knowledge, both lit
erary and scientific.
Resolved, That we regard the prevailing
method of communicating instruction IN our |
common schools. as fundamentally wrong in
the following particulars, viz. l, the employ
ment of competent teachers; 2, the practice
of introducing into them toe great variety of
studies and 3, the attempts which are made
10 teach children branches of knowledge above |
their capacity, to the neglect of elementary |
instruction, whereby children are taught read |
ing, orthog raphy and writing, and are thus
furnished with the means Of acquiring knowl-
edge. ...
By Mr.. Merrill,
ResoEued, That any course Of policy which
throws q very large class of the most ImPor-
tant offices, civil, political and religious, ex-
clusively into the hands of the rich, Is contra
~ 10 the genius and tends 10 subvert the PrIn-
ciples Of our government.
Resolved, That TO confne the application OF
public money appropriated for instruction ex-
clusively to primary schools, IS anti-republcan
in its tendency, in as much as 1t does not ena-
BILE the poor to give even to the most enterPrl-
sing and meritorious oftheir sons the educa'
ton which must be acquired, in order success
fully to discharge many of the highest offices
in the community, or within the reach of those
who are qualified TO promote its interests.
By Prof. Smith,
Resolred, That the common schools, academies
and colleges which exist in this State, are neces
| sary parts Of system OF education which ought
10 be established and cherished in every civilized,
| aud especially in every republican community ;
and that the relations Of these institutions TO each
other and the general interests Of education, are
| such as 10 render it of the highest importance
Resolred, That OF the present time, no one Of
these institutions stands in more pressing need Of
| Improvement than the Academies, and that in
order that these Institutions may accomplish the
greatest good Of which they are capable, it is in
dispensable that higher requisites for admission,
a more extensive ard thorough course Of study, a
more liberal remuneration of teachers, and a
greater degree of Permanence IN the subjects
| taught and the modes OF instruction, shoeid DC
| in some way secured.
Resolved. That the idea which extensively
prevails. that scientific education is necessary
| only 10 those who are intended for the learned
professions is at war with the first principles Of
republicanism and highly injurious 10 all the iu-
terests of society; that il It is important TO main
tain ms 'itutions in which the small portion OF ouT
youth who are TO become Clergymen, Lawyers
| and Physicians NAV prepare themselves 10 under
stand the theory of their professions, it is atieast
| equally important TO furnish facilities by which
the future Agriculturists, Mechanics and Mer-
! chants, who constitute the great mass of cnmmu-
! pty NAV fl themselves not only Ia exercise with
skill the business Of their several vacations, but
also to fill with honcI the stations Of Influence 10
which they may be called.
| Resolved, That in order 10 give TO the great
body of the people the means of acquiring the
higher branches of an English education, it is
exceedingly desirable that in our academies, the
| Natural sciences, certain portions pf the Mathe-
maics, the application Of The PHI ciples CT science
to the arts of life, and other studies of practical
utility, should be taught in an extensive and tho
rou b manner; that 10 the accomplishment OIL
this object, il is indispensable tina. these instlu
tions should he placed on broader foundation
and furnished with more liberal endowments th7r
they now possess; and that il is the duty of the
people and the government Of the State, IL bestow
the requisite funds to provide all our youth with
the mems Of acquiring scientific and practical
! education.
| By Mr.. Clark, as modified with his consent
BY the amendments of President Wheeler Of
the Vermont University and President Labar.
ee of Middlebury College.
| Reso'red, That education is The great and fun
damenial interest of the Stale, and should be car
ed Cor by the legislature of the Stale.
| Resolved, That the various paris of the organ
zation, by which the public interest is conducted,
are alike matters of public interest that the COL
eges are constituted for the benefit of no part less
than the whole public, any more than the acadc-
| mics are, and that the academies are constituted
for the benefit of no part less than the whole pub
| lie. any more Than the common schools are, and
| that the common schools are constituted for the
benefit of the whole public, as truly as The colleges
and academies; they are parts Of one system, and
| thus parts of each other.
| RESOLVED, That while the Convention have no
| distinct plan Of their own 10 recommend, they
cannot but express the opinion, that the mutual
dependence and the reciprocal Influence of the
different parts of the system of education in this
Stale, are not as great effective as they might
be advantageousy made.
Resolued, Thai in taking care of tSe public
interest Of education, The object which our present
system contemplated in The beginning, should be
carefully inquired into, that it may be known how
| f,r n, bad 4
what other means than are now in operation in
this State are necessary to accomplish il