Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-14
EDUCATION.
From The Burlington Free Press. g.
EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION.

was held at Mddebnry, on tue 18th aud l4Ih Of
January, by which the various interests OF Edn-
cation were taken under consideration, aud in
quires Instituted into existing dc fects aud the
means of the removal. The lime allotted being
insufficient to accomplish the objects proposed,
the convention adjourned to meet at Burlington
on the last Tuesday in February 1912
According to adjournment the Convention met
in Burlington on Tuesday the 23,l of Feb His
EXcelleHcy, Governor Paine was called to the
chair, Geo. Ii. Shaw was appointed Secretary and
John *. Converse, assistant Secretary.
The object of the Convention was stated by
President Wheeler, Chairman of the Business
Committee, who also submitted the order of bus
mess for the meeting. On motion of the Rev.
Mr.. Peck, of Poultney, it was
RESOLVED, That all gentlemen present, or who
shall be present, feeling an interest in The subject
OF education, are respectfully requested TO parc
lpnte in the dongs Of this Convention.
The Convention was addressed l,y Prof Geo.
w. Benedict in relation to The legislation of this
state Oh the subject of education.
Prof Benedict said ilIat in Vermont there had
been but little legislation on the subject that the
Legislature had chartered several Colleges and
Academies, but had assumed no responsibility ex-
cept in relation to common schools; and that even
for these, there was nokng in the statute Book
to lead lis to suppose they intended to have any
other care than merely 10 prescribe tie mode of
organizing school districts and provide, in uart
funds for supporting the school, - that whether
the schools lived or died, or whether the districts
were faithful or not in the expenditure Of the pub.
TIC money, was Il matter IA respect to which the
Legislature took no responsibility. Mr. b. pro-
ceeded to show by reference 10 facts that the in
terests OF primary education were suffering very
seriously Tor The want of some system of slate SUI
PerVlsion that the principle OIL which the public
money lis now' drawn, operates, too often, as n
bounty on inactivity and is not, las it ought TO be-
stimulus TO induce People to get their children
into The school, that Of II hundred scholars on
whom money is drawn, forty not unlrequently vel
the whole'beneft. He also adduced lncts show
ing that the power of taxation under The present
law Sec. Isl may be so used to shut out the
children OF the very poor rom our schools alto
gelher. MIR. B. commented upon The Policy of
the Legislature in borrowing add uppropraiug
the school fund.- and also upon the nannor OF dis
posing of that portion of the u. >. deposit, which
fell to this State.
Rev. MIR. Peck Of Poulney then delivered IN
address explaining the system OF common schools
in the stale of \. Y.
Mr.. Peck sud that in n. Y. the Colleges. Acad-
emcs and common Schools, were all parts ofoue
great aud harmonious system under the supervis-
ion Of Board OF u Regents. They have a
school fund, amounting to about s 100000, The
proceeds of which are distributed TO the schools
according 10 the number of scholars from to 10
years OF age. The balance Of the requisite sum
to sustain them is assessed upon the scholar nc
cording TO attendance Of each. Each District in
order TO receive it's portion Of the public money
must have maintained II school taught by an in
specled teacher, at least for the term of three
months. n. Y. not only bestows direct aud lib.
eral patronage upon all her schools: 1t also as
sumeS IA responsible supervision over them the
Legislature not only provides the funds, hut takes
special care that these funds he faithfully and
probably applied. In order 10 ,hi', general su.
perintendent of schools is appointed who devotes
his whole time. He is aided by assistant SUI
perindent in each county, making 60 ina |. These
assistants are paid n salary OF $500 each, $50 that
the state pays yearly the sum of $4,000 10 mere
officers of examination and inspection. BY these
officers drecty or indirectly, all teachers are ex
amined BY them also all things else are done
tending TO the well beng of the schools. A par
tcunr report is made 10 the superntdent of the
condition OF every school in the state. These re-
ports are combined INFO general reporl which is
printed and laid upon the table of every legislator
and upon that of every Judicial or executive Oil.
Ger OF the state.
In n. y. the Academies are The nurseries for
training teachers and are patronzed by the state
with special reference TO this end.
Mr.. T. went at length into the details of The n
Y system,
Tie convention now adjourned ill 9 O'Clock
L. Nj. Al the opening Of the meeting in the af-
ternoon, the convention WINS addressed in an in
teresiing and able mnnner by Mr.. Calvin Pease of
Montpelier, "upon the prevailing system of Aca-
demcal education" 1t would be difficult to do
justice TO the address of Mr.. Pease, by attempt
ing an analysis. We hope the leading points, ut
least may he given 10 the pablo through the
Press
President Wheeler nexi addressed the conyen.
ton upon The system oil Education in Mass Mr.
Wheeler said, that The systems of Education in
New England aud New York originated in Mass
that it was there we must look for The germ and
principle OF them all. The system of Mass did
not spring from the feeling OF ignorance lit was
commenced by men Of the widest education
whose minds had been disciplined in the hest in :
siutions OF the old world by men, such MS
never existed IN the commencement OF any other
nation They were men who united the highest
learning with the plety and zeal of martyrs In
about fifteen years alter landing at Plymouth,
these men set about founding II university. They
also instituted primary schools The education
OF the youth one of the first subjects that en-.
gagged the attention OF the Legislature. As early
as l642 law was enacted requiring the select
men Of every town "no, to suffer such barbarian
Ism IN any family, as that the parents and mas
lers should not endeayor to teach, by themselves
ana others their children aud servants read the
English tongue and to know The capital laws"-
shillings.
Previous TO 1868 the schools of Massachusetts
were sustained by towns acting in their municjpal
capacity. The present district system under state
patronage, began about 1889, since which time II
has been SO perfected that the primary schools of
lass. are now the best schools in the state Thew
are supported by money derived LIST from the in
come Of school funds, 81 from direct taxation.-
The state hes fund Of about 100000, arising