Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-07-26
OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM.


Bratteboro East Village, is comprised with
in one school district. It contains about | 500
inhabitants, not far from 400 of whom are from
Tour to eighteen years of age. The average
attendance at our schools is about 500. We
have public schools, taught by females, the
other by male teacher. They continue thro'
the year, with the exception of vacations a.
mounting to two months or more. Children
are admitted into the primary schools, those
taught by females, at the age of four years,
and remain there till eleven years Of age, or I'M
til qualified to enter the Central School, that
under the charge OF male teacher. The
houses for the primary schools are located in
different parts of the Village to accommodate
the children in every section of the district
The building for the Central school is near the
centre of the Village, so that the children at
The extremes OF the district are but little more
than mile distant from il. The children in
the primary schools are required to go through
prescribed course of studies preparatory 10
the Central school. On arriving at eleven
years OF age, II they can pass satisfactory ex-
animation, they are admitted into the Central
school; if they cannot then pass satisfactory
examination, they remain in the primary schools
Iillthey can. All however on arriving at four
teen years of age are admitted into the Cen
trail school, whether they can pass satsiacto-
~ examination or not. In the Central school,
besides the common branches, the higher branch
es Of an English education are taught. The
Prudential Committee, assisted by a Special
Committee chosen for the purpose, are author
lied by the district to recommend the books to
be used in the schools, to point out the course
of studies to be pursued, and to classify the
scholars The examination for Abundance in
to the Central school takes place twice year,
or at the close of each term, as the condition
Of the schools seem TO require. Those of FOUR
Ipan Of ra admitted In the Central
school at the commencement or middle Of each
term. This system has been in operation near
" wear, and so far gives great satisfaction.
Formerly we had four public Schools taught
in summer by females, in winter by males, or
partly by males and partly by females. We
had also about the same number OF private or
select schools, some under the charge Of male
and some under the charge of female teachers,
ali of which are now discontinued. There was
under that system, or rather no-system, con-
slant change of teachers, and of course fire.
ouent change of books, of the course OF stud
les, and of modes of instruction and discipline.
The interest of parents was distracted, each
naturally caring most for the school where his
children were instructed; inv;dious distinctions
were crested, money was wasted, no good NOR
al influences were exerted, and little was done
even for the intellect. The evils of that no.
system became so glaring that the whole village
REFORM
The advantages Of our present system are
found to be important. Ii is Democratic. All
our children are brought together. The chill
dren of the poor and of the rich stand side by
side, and merit alone decides the rank of each
The expenses are paid by the property OF the
district, SO that the children OF the poor have
equal advantages OF education with those OF
the wealthy The influence, the talents, and
the pecuniarv resources of the Village, are con-
centrated on the system OF popular education;
and this affords one subject Of common inter
est for all sects all classes, and all partles and
does not a little to smooth down the asperities
of feeling, and to harmonize diversites of con-
flicting interests Employing our teachers Tor
a longer period, they become attached to us;
we take greater personal interest IN them; we
begin to learn their social Importance IN socle-
": to regard their station as the first in the
community; and their influence, next to that OF
parents, as having the greatest bearing on the
character and destiny of the young: by nav
ing a course Of studies pointed out Tor our chill
dren, SO that they can advance regularly IRON
branch to branch, they make much more rapid
progress than formerly, obtain the same amount
of knowledge in a much shorter period, ana ac-
uuire far better education III the same length
of time. But perhaps the greatest benefit
which is produced by our school system, is the
moral influence it exerts. We already per
ceive decided improvement in the manners
and conduct of the pupils OF all our schools
much Of which we attribute TO The lntroduc'
ton of singing as a part of The exercises. The
instructor Of the Central school has taken great
pains to interest his pupils in enobing and ele'
waiting pursuits. He has turned their attention
10 the study Of Geology, Mineralogy, Chemls
try, to the cultivation and care OF ornament! Ia
trees. &c. which occupies their thoughts while
out of school, and inspires them with purer anc
hipber desires and aims. BY the strict orde
and method introduced into the schools, by thu
punctuaity and promptness required, ana ~
The propriety of conduct enforced, much ha
already been done by all our teachers, for thu
promotion of good manners and good morals
II is thought by good judges that the addition
nj value, which our present system OF educa
ton has given to the property OF the Vhagee
ia more than enough to counterbalance the nd
ditionaI expenses incurred; so that wealth.
man. even though he may have no children Il
educate. is better off in pecuniary point o
view than lie was before; while he cannot pu
he gratfed in having portion oil MS propert.
devoted 10 so noble an object as the moral an
intellectual training of the young. IL is our IN
stitutions of learning, religion, and government
that give to property its value; and hence IL is
that Intelligent and philanthropic men OF prop
ertv are ready to give of their abundance 10
the sunport of these institutions, well KNOWN
that they will receive ample returns, both !
necuniary gain and heartfelt satisfaction. !
Short we ali feel that the tax we now pay io
she support Of our schools Is light and tnfline
compared with the benefits which we are re
ceivinc ia an intellectual, moral and pecuniar
point Of view. .nD,coN Rpow \
September, 1912
P.S.-Since the above was written, our ocho
system has been thoroughly tested by the ADDITION
al experience of nearly two years, ana mas anSNF