Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-08-18
From thc Vermont Mercury.
STATE CHOOL FUN ID.
NO. 9.

10 the possession OF fundS, LOT the perpetual
support of all their civil literary, moral and
religious institutions to such an extent as
- 10 leave them, for these purposes, nothing to
be desired in very brief period, that gen.
- Grafton would cease to be either civilized,
literary, moral or religious. These institu-
tons are altogether inert and lifeless, except
as they are kept in being by mental energy.
If to this pethory Of funded wealth be added
fulness Of bread, and its concomitant album
dance of idIeness, there will have been ac-
cumuated all the materials necessary for
the utter extinction of civilized society,"
Take away the dread Of want, and the ex-
citement to activity is wanting, and man be-
.e,. comes drone in natures hive. No man
will labor for the sake of labor. The abb
sence of want will occasion the want of all
things, a state consequent to condition OF
idleness or ease. Where there is no want
there can be little society; multitude of
human beings may subsist in proximity TO
each other, but in nothing will they excel
the tenants Of the mud-walled dwellings of
an African forest. Man is to an important
extent what necessity makes him. Remove
, the fear Of want and the stimulus of desire
:! and the handspring of mans activity has
run down. He feels no necessity to accu-
mulate, nor will he toll for what he does not
desire What is true in general, all other
things being equal, will be found in limit
ed extent TO be so in particulars. Should
the facilities of education ever become so
abundant as to free the public mind from
solicitude on the subject, its important inter-
ests will thenceforward become neglected.
A proper medium is to be preferred; point
at an equal remove from restitution and
abundance Our present method of sup
porting schools would seem to be well adapt
ed to secure the great object to be attained.
The surplus revenue deposited in the towns
of this State, added TO the moderate tax re-
20 quired by the law TO be raised, with school
houses and other appurtenances, already at
command, secures the means of acquiring
the elements of common school education,
if not TO its most desirable extent, yet far
beyond the means enjoyed by our ancestors,
and to point not exceeded in any of the
States. And yet these ancestors in their
destituton supplied the means Of their own
education and laid the foundations of the
institutions of the country. The want Of
the means OF education and improvement
cannot therefore be urged as reason why
the present and succeeding generations may
not emulate and excel their fathers. In ,
point Of means we are greatly in advance Of 4,
them, while in regard to the estimation of :.
the great objects 20 be secured by these
means we fall behind them. The possess ,
sion Of wealth, and the enjoyment Of ease ,
and luxury and the re6nements Of society,
seems in us to engross those energies of the ,
mind, which our ancestors employed in lay
ing the foundations Of society The occa-
sion seldom now occurs to develope the
manly and heroic qualities which we're COM
mon in the days of our fathers. We see not
such instances Of prvaton, of destituton,
of fortitude and indomitable perseverance, ,
Cor we live in the midst of abundance we i
have little occasion for fortitude and perse- !
n, verance for our wants are easily and quick !
ly supplied. The occasion is wanting to {
call out that stretch of mental effort or ply
steal exertion, which were common sixty i
years ago. At this rate of improvement or |
deterioration, the next generation will be-
come effeminate, If not slothfu and vicious I
In our superintendent benevoence and
care for the future, we shall place posterty
in the position of the wealthy prodigal who &
lives but to squander the hard earnings of
an ndulgent parent. In that case the kind
ness of the father would have been much {
better consulted, by leaving the son cast
wholly upon his own resources. 1t may be
so in regard to the interests Of posterity.
How is it, that with all the lights of expe-
rience and education, added to all the faci-
tiles furnished to their hand by the ripened
and matured institution of the country, the
succeeding generations of men will not be
in a condition to educate themselves to any ,
desirable extentl The history of the past
casts its light on the future and dissipates all q
solicitude on the subject. If with all the
advantages Of their institutions, posterty !
cannot gather the harvest, which their faith 8
ers have sowed, they will have become de-
generate sons indeed. {
Is it then to be desired, that the present !
generation of men be taxed to accumulate c
fund, which should it escape all the dangers (
10 which il will be exposed, and descend to t
posterity, would be of doubtful utility? In 2
deciding the probable influence of such c
fund on the interests of education, expert I
ence comes to our aid. 1t is admitted we t
think beyond controversy that in Connecti- \
cut, where schools are supported by means e
of fund, and without such a contribution I
by the people as will induce them to make :
the most Of their money, instruction has ,
been much less efficient, than where the $
whole expense has been met by tax This
is precisely what was to be expected. That {
which costs us nothing we value at nothing
That which is common and always at hand, I
is like the idle winds which no man regards
To the youth who has always lived with
in the sound of the college-going bell, rural
sciences have charm not to be found i'm the