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

Fec-y.d, FOR the use Of tho General Assembly
ieaas2i ordered thati be inid on the table am
Secretary.
= E.A. sTANsBUR1,v Asst s.ey.
Z, Inc Committee appointed by His Excclcncy the
governor, Ia conformity with Resolution adopted
oy the Leg laturc on the 81 Of Nov 1871 "to report
s'ch pan or plans as may be most cxpcdien and u.
. vmoa 10 carry INTO practical effect the views and
sgr'uons contained III the Report of the Commit
sia'ure the toowinc:--
The report to which yonr committee oro referred
oy lie resolution under which they act begins with
reference to the Executive Message showing vorv
nnppy agreement between the Executive and the Lea.
stature IN regard TO the general principles and OBJ
lccts t'at ought TO he kept in view in all public acts
.oucn.ns 'nc viai interests of education; and on
comparing the two documents is gratifying 10 frd
aos. principles AMI objects SO definitely fixed an
90 distinctly recognized. The appointment of your
COMMITTEES, and the assignments OF its duties inli
mates clearly enough TINT, in the opinion of the Leg.
stature, the tmc for deinitlvc action has arrived
wnen We ought, to enter with all proper diligence I'm.
on course OF measures which shall result in the es-
tsolithnicns OF complete system Of education for the
The leading principles recognized in the report, and
ey the legislature ii adopting it, arc 49,
Ihettho cduca'Ion Of the people is interest sec
esd Ia Importance 10 no other which the hand of
government touches and indeed paramount to ,hcm
That such system OF education in nits branches
."d uepa 'lren,s ought 10 De encouraged by liberal
legislation, as shall render the people OF Vermont not
inferior 70 any other in intellectual and moral cul.
tura and
That to accomplish hi, not only oush, district
SCHOOLS 10 receir. the anyCUs OF the Legislature
bit academies AMI colleges should also receive the
ps'rsnage OF the STATE and that nil classes ofschoos
anc bsr'ina7ies ehoHG be provided for ard rerGln-
!si a. 70 u.,tc them in one complete system, and
give them tie creates. possible efficiency for the ,loya.
ue1 o!tho whole people
fe:, ahoug: these principles are SO distinctly re-
ecsn,ci rs tue basis o. ali cOaenlral ted ton your
committee hive lti; themselves somewhat e!nbar,as-
sed BY doubts respecting the nature and extent the
plan o! pans TO. carrying into practical eject the
news 81 ne Legislature tia, sht be expe ted from
them, Tncni"iry arose whether they should at
tempt TO prepare an outline OF complete system Of
saIcsiion 10! the State, embracing all the details Of
pecunlary aid, Of regulation, SUPERVISION and account,
ability for All classes Of achaos requisite 10 complete
s'asm or whether the end of OFT appointment would
~ b"bc'cT attained, if leaving that in great meas
are untouched we were merely 10 suggest some init.
iatory rleaslree,-o plan for entering rightly upon
sven course OF Improvement MS shall promise uii-
nidiey Is secure all that the report cJntenpiates
Several c9ns.iera;.ons have led your committee 10
adopt the latter course.
IN the !tst place the Report dsslnlcs IS certain the
snly oossassion Of ample funds for tho immediate
prosecution Of any iid!cous plan which the I.cgisa-
fise, III its wisdon, might adopt. 1t was expected
that the State, beioee this time would have received
something rom the proceeds Of the public lands and
that those lands would constitute rermnnent source
OF revenue appiiceblet lie PURPOSES of cduca,lon-
U,l.-
TINS expectation evidently had very great inl-
ence upon the course adopted br the Legislature las,
year But thus iarlt has been disappointed and the
history OF the past year does encourage the belief
that would be wise safe 10 make it the bass Of
future action in regard TO vital an interest Nor
have your COMMITTEES been able to devise any plan for
supplying .i3 place CT tie funds alluded TO- which
they could rely upon IS likely at present, 10 com
mand general assent. anu thus constitute slr, cle-
moni IN the system which they might recommend.
Again, 1t was the expectation of lie Legislature
"a nj h, 49, ~ 4
trac. and be SO thoroughly discussed in the news.
papers, az TO prepare the public mind for dcfnitive
scHon. For this purpose the publication of the Re
port co-ey,ensvey with TIE laws was ordered and
discussion invited But your Committee regret to saw
thai tine subject seems not TO have awakened any
genera and deep interest; and that instead of tie
general ana oarnes: discussion in all quarters which
It's paramount. importance deserves, almost nothing
has been sad about it in the newspapers and only
by single writer i. one Of them, believe has anv
thing Ike general view Of it-much less thorough
discuss !o!-3een attempted. These facls-to what
ever cause th;Y may be attributed -crrianly do not
mf'aiei.!o, ne &C immunity We are ready 10 adopt
dsin'gey and in all us extent. plan OF State eAuca.
non sue. as the Legislature contemplated uIi.
mate object.
Besiies were n 80 elections to the immediate
settlement and adoption OF complete State system
otedrcatIon removed your comnltte acknowledge
that IN few months which have elapsed since Their
appointment, they have not been able 10 satisfy them
selves IN regard to all the questions involved in such
system. Ever IN regard 10 COMMON schools, sew
efai questions OF very grca. importance still remain
matters 0. experiment and discussion in States that
hare devoted % tle sih,ect far more attention than
ourselves In regard 10 these there experience does
ns' yet furnish results on which we confidently
rely in all respects: while in regard to the nroper re-
laon offs: h,Jls nai seaI mares of dIieintp grades
20 each oher, and OF the government TO ALL they give
US s!l less al n the way either experience or PLAN
On mo "1oe, 'he, !ore, uT committee have
thought That they should hest Ut I the wishes of the
Legislature by declining the attempt 10 ropor, com
ple!e system Of cd :caon tor the State and limiting
themselves 10 the huablcr task OF suggesting such
preparatory measures as are or immediate importance
rappilv these preparatory measures are very clearly
Indicated by our own condition, and by the experience
81 our sister s.acs
in looking at our own condition we find that,
while education IS acknowledged to lie the paramount
interest OF the state and while the amount Of funds
expended IA IS immense, there is hardly the shad
o" o. supervision and accountability IN regard to it..
third part OF oil the Inhabitants of the State are
connected, rs teachers and pupils, with our schools,
every year and that two in the very bedding time Of
LIE, when every thing that touches me intellect or the
affections exerts mighty energy in fixing the per-
manent character OF the individual, and thus Of the
COMMUNITY. Ii the mora! influence ola school bad
II the instruction is erroneous or de!ecilycif the
schoo!-room and its arrangement are unpleasant and
unheathy-the effect is seen in the impair ed physical
energies, the undove'oped and unstored minds and
the depriyed morals and manners Of those who at
tend II. Thus the very life and energy-he ENJOY
nsni. the honor, the ,we!-being of the whole com
reHse investment Of capital and aanIl oxpsnlit-
are We have several hundred thousand dol ars
invested in schon. houses; and the schools are kept
uo a. an eynense CT many hundreds OF thousands
annually, besides Al! this expenditure the I.egisa.
!urs cre.'es ssnctons and in some measure fc5,i.
!aes But ne remarked beio,o, tn, whole ia e!t
without supervision or Accountability. We do not
know how the Nonay ia expended, or with wha. re.
suits We have not even inquired what the results
osht to be- or n's e any provision for learning what
,hey arc Az S,nla, we provide the funds, and
leave them, and aImos, every thin. else in tine rres-
p'n'ele hands Of the teachers cad schoo! commit
tees Of the ditieren; districts
No other department Of the public Service is viii.
insy lett thus without supervision or control Every
where else It is place TO require accountability for
the uss Of funds AMI the discharge Of duties. Every
where else W. would take due measures 10 know
how our Legislation works, and to learn whether the
results tina, might Justly be expected are secured by
our expenditures. Why, your committee would ask
should this gre,est Of all interests greatest OF
oil expenditures, be made an exception WHY
should not the whole subject be submitted To thor.
ough annual examination and revision, by means OF
system Of accountability reaching every agent,
every committee, aud every teachsr7 why should
weno' nnnun y consult these agents, and gather up