The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-11-08
COMMUNICATION.
For the Peoples Press.
No. ii.

No. ii.
Mr. EDIToR,-In my last. / endeavored
by few remarks, to direct the attention of
the village to its true condition, with regard
10 the facilities il possesses, for educating
the mass of its youthful population. Pre-
Stunning that have the attention, let US pro-
coed forthwith 10 I" the facts" These, BY
universal consent, speak louder than words
or arguments.
The village, it is supposed, embraces
within its limits more Than 1000 inhabitants.
This population is divided into what is term
ed two school DISTRICTS" Each of these
districts is provided with a school building,
such as il is, and has what are called schools
in each. portion of The year. 1t appears
from the records, that each district continued
school during about eight months of last year.
This II would seem is about an average, in
respect to time for several past years. The
expense of district schools, to both districts
for each year, is probably about $3.50. The
number of scholars in both districts, which
draw public money, is about 600. During
about four months in winter, there are pro-
vided sometimes, two male and three female
teachers affording each teacher, if all that
draw public money attented, more than l20
scholars. In summer, during the same
length of time, three female teachers-giv-
ing 10 each more than 200 scholars. In
winter when The greatest number of teach.
ers ore employed, one district affords about
ninety and the other about eighty. making in
all about ITO scholars. In summer, about
forty in one district and sirty in the other,
making about 100 scholars. The buildings
erected for the accommodation of the two
districts might possibly be improved so as
TO accommodate 200, about one third Of the
whole number. At present they will not
properly accommodate that number. The
whole accommod atoms .hen, consist Of fire
small rooms, making one apartment for 100
also teacher is sometimes afforded for
each room and sometimes not.
These are the provisions made for the pub
lie instruction OF the 900 hundred scholars
of your village. LIST. Not room enough
even for all 10 be seated 10 say nothing of
quality of location of the rooms. I'd. Four
months in year one teacher 10 100 schol-
ars. the remainder of The year, either no
school at all, or one teacher TO more than
200 scholars. Sd. Not vestige Of Ap.
paralus or Library. 4th. An expenditure
Of about rs cents annually 10 each schol.
ar
With these advantages, think there
need be no fears entertained, that the rising
generation of your village will be too intel
iigent. Instead Of each generation becom
ing wiser, according 10 the sold adage. y
| think the adage will soon be reversed
and not only reversed, but also at rapid
rate, and its influence will be felt too in all
of your dearest interests Instead of the
neat quiet village, noted for lis intelligence,
refinement and religion, the delightful home
of the student and the man Of science and
letters, we shall see place characterized
for street brawls ard riots, the haunt of loaf
ers. blackegs, and horde of illiterate
drones, from which industry, Literature and
Science, will flee as from The wilds of how
ling wilderness. And ii requires no eye of
prophet TO foresee this result, provided
that things are allowed 10 60 on at the same
rate and in the same direction. as they have
done for few years past. Let this be the
case and lchabod will soon be written upon
the whole. population, hostile 10 the lit
erary Institutions Of the place, will be in pos.
session OF the business and ,1eaM of the
village ana these Institutions in that event,
must sooner or later close their doors forev-
er.
But saws one this Sin fact" is not fair
view of the picture. We have select schools,
an Academy and Seminary. True; but as
they cannot but slightly affect the mass, how
long do you think they could exist, where
ignorance reigns triumphant, and no desire
exists in the minds of the inhabitants 10 have
it Otherwise Let US look at the matter
more closely and view the picture from an
other position. We have the Seminary,
Academy and sometimes four select schools.
These do not average. of scholars from the
Two districts above specified, more than
twenty each. These schools would contain
then in all l25 scholars. Suppose then.
that all the schools above mentioned we're
10 successful operation at the same time
(which is seldom the case and certainly not
ofteper than once year, and you will have
in all the schools about 900 scholars, some
less than one half of the whole that draw
public money. This must be acceeded to
be the best view of the picture. Nowl ask
what must be the appearance of the picture
in its most common and especially in its
most uufaporable aspect. Can we make it
appear in any other light, than that there is
a large mass of youthful population growing
up in your village, that do not attend school
at all and are thus far growing up barba.
,iansl And that there is still a larger class
which attend but littlei And that only
few belonging TO the wealthiest families
have even decent advantages The advar-
tages are only decent for the most wealthy
portion of community and nothing at all. for
The poorer class. because they have not the
means of attending any except the distric:
schools, and the poorest class are Utmost