Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1842-01-26
ED q C A to-
From, the. Middlebury Peoples Press.
I. STATE CONVENTION
!. or THE FRIENDS OF EDUCATioN.

l.
i Agreeably to previous notice given I'M
the papers. a highly respectable assem-.
blage o. the friends OF education, from vari.
Gus paris ofthe sa,e. convened al Middle.
bury on the 18Th inst at 2 o'clock p M.
Hon. WILLIAM g. KIrrRtDGE1
Iof Fair Haven, was called 10 the chair.
Hon. HARVEY BELL Of Mddlebury,
Secretary.
The chairman stated the objects of the
Iconvention, and it, connexion with one
formerly assembled at Brandon.
Voted, That all persons present, or here
after coming in, may participate in the de-
alterations OF the convention.
/ On motion Of Prof. Twining of Middle.
bury college, committee to prepare bust
ness :or The convention, and 10 whom all
resolutions should be referred. was ap-
pointed, viz.
Prof TSlning. Hon. E. n. Briggs Of
Brandon, E. J. Hlllock Of Casllelon.
Charles Adams. Esq. OF Burlington. and
the Rev. Jesse L. Peck.
! Mrssrs. Hon. w. &. Kiurdge, II. w.
|C. Clarke. Esq. Of Brandon, Rev. DR..
Merrill. ofMlddiebury. Prof. Albert Smith
Of Midllebury College, Pfof Twining. and
Hon. E. ~. Briggs, each introduced res
olutious which were referred 10 The bust
ness committee, who eventually reported
them all back for the action OF the eonven-
ltion.
Thomas A. Palmer Of PillsforG, chair
man Of committee on Normal Schools,
appointed Ut former meeting at Bran
don, made an able and valuable repor: ac.
companied with resolutions, which was
accepted and the resolutions referred 10
the business committee.
| The following resolutions, after having
been modified and ia some instances dis
cussed at length were successfully adopt
ed
j By Judge Khiridge,
4 ReSolUed, That the instructions incalcat.
Jed in our primary schools, in addition TO
proper moral and religious culture, should
be principally elementary. edap,ed alike
10 develope and mature the intellect, and
communicate thorough knowledge OF
THE means and instruments whereby the
minds ofchildrenl shall be prepared and
assisted tc. make further ailainmenls in
useful practical knowledge, both literary
and scientific.
: Resolred, That we regard the prevail
ing method OF communicating instruction
N our common schools, rs fundamentally
wrong in The following particulars. viz.
l, The employment of incompel teach.
ers; 2, tue practice OF introducing into
u them TOO great variety Of studies; and
. 8, the attempts which are made to teach
children. branches Of knowledge above
their capacity, TO the neglecl of element
larry instruction., whereby children are
taught reading, photography and writing.
Q land IRE thus furnished with the mems of
acquiring knowledge.
p By Mr.. Merrill.
ResoLred, That any course OF policy
q which throws a very large class Of The
most important offices, civil. political and
! religious, exclusively into the hands Of
: The rich, is contrary to the genius and
t~nds 10 subver. the principles Of uur CIV.
X lernment. ~ ssa
ResoLced, That to confne the applica
. ton of public money Appropriated for 10
slruciion exclusively to primary schools
re is auti-republicad ia its tendency, In a
much US j, does not enable the poor 1;
nm give even 10 the most eHierprising ant
rnprnorious OF their sons the education
;. which must be acquired. in order success
4 fully 70 discharge many Of the highest OF
fees Ia the community. or within th
= reach. oflhose who are qualified TO pro
mote its interests.
9 By Prof. Smith.
Rtsotred. That the common school,
IT. academies and colleges which exist in thi
State. are necessary parts nj system {
er- education which ought 10 be esiablishe
aud cherished 10 every civilized. and e.
TO pecially ia every republican community
and that the relations Of these institution
alb 10 each other and The general interests |
education, are such as 10 render i Of Il
highest importance that they should a
ing be ia fourishing condition.
Z 4Resoired. That at the present time.
", one of these institutions. stands IN mo
oks pressing need OF improvement than q
Academies. and that in order that the
institutions may accomplish The create
good of which they are capable, IL is ind
pensable that higher requisites for adm
Esion, a more extensive and ihorop,
course OF study, more liberal remuneI
,ion OF teachers. and greater degree
s perm.nrnce in the subjects taught and /
/, modes sof instruction, should be il sol
cad, way secured.
!. Resolced, That the idea which ext,
si&elv prevaiIs. that scientific educnli
I;>necessarv only 70 those who are intel
ID for The learned professions, e ct =
rave. with the irst principles q !epnollcapl