Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-10-25

is the discipline of the mind and heart--de-
velopeing their capacities, strengthening
their powers, and turning them to practical
usefulness Our children should be learned
to think-to discriminatory feel the con-
scious power of cultivated intellect, and the
purifying, and elevating influence Of chris
tian principle. And this education should
be universal, reaching the humble howell as
well as the spacious mansion, and thus
bringing out the children of the poor and
the rich, to drink together at the enlarged
fountains Of knowledge which we should
open for all.
To accomplish the purpose Of educating
this whole people, in manner suited to
sustain our free institutions, we obviously
need more elevated standard of common
school instruction. There is too wide a
chasm between liberal and common ed
ucation. The higher should not be brought
down, but the lower raised Great political
responsibilities rest on our people, involving
the necessity of high state of general in
telligence. They are to Judge not only of
the personal qualifications Of candidates for
office, but of the character and tendency of
measures, and the force and bearing of
great principles. They must be able TO COR
rect errors offact, detect false reasoning, and
put demagogues TO silence.
And the road to distinction must be made
broader. We want in high public stations
more men who have been trained to maturi.
ty amid the scenes of ordinary life. Indus
try, patience, perseverance, common sense,
sympathy for the laboring classes, contempt
for the mere distinction of office, and love
of the noble objects it gives the power to
accomplIsh-these are among the fruits of
an intellectual and moral training amidst
the labors and trials of common life The
mass Of mind, as it comes up to maturity,
may, by proper system of education, be
disciplined to a vigor, and furnished with
an amount of knowledge, fitting for almost
any station, not involving the necessity OF
professional skill for its success.
do not undervalue the higher seminaries.
They must be sustained established upon
solid foundations-placed beyond the reach
of embarrassment and want No adequate
, system of education can be sustained with.
out them. They are important not only to
train instructors, and fit men for the learned
professions, but TO maintain high standard
f of education in community. They are
/ like the sun shining in his strength, and
communicating light and heat TO the bodies
by which he is surrounded. But il we
would sustain them, let us elevate the stand
ard of common education. for in proportion
as that is done, will the high institutions be
, more valued, and more literally patronized
I and endowed while there will be, through
! out the community, greatly increasing
> thirst for the water that comes from these
: deeper and purer fountains.
: The great desideratum in regard to com.
= mon education is, Improved modes Of teach.
ing modes by which the hitherto great
$ waste of time NAV be avoided-the MIND
stimulated 10 activity--trained to habits o.
/ self-relying effort, and learned to ego alone,
as it shall be thrown upon its resources
, amid the labors and responsibilities Of prac
teal life. Time waits not the sluggish ant
= inefficient movements of false methods o
teaching. 1t bears our children rapidly on
e ward to manhood, prepared or unprepareo
: for the great duties Of life. But as we doub
e lie the power of human energy by new pro
e cesses in agriculture and the mechanic arts
so may we double the value of the allotted
. time for education. We are eager to avail
I ourselves of the augmented power TO gair
I wealth through the wonderful discoveries
: and improvements Of this age. Rail road
q augment the value of every thing thel
: touch or approach, and we are, therefore
: awake to their importance; but are there
not more wonderful developemenis to b,
made Of intellectual wealth by improved
: modes of education? Shall other improve
9 ments 90 on, while this stands still? Ar,
: the mind and heart Of people of less i'm
r portance than the materials of the wealth il
4 the earth they inhabit? Shall we CAREFUL
v improve the breeds of our animals while W,
= neglect the improvement of man If he i
! esteemed a public beneiactor who make
i two blades of grass grow where one grew
l. before, is not he greater, who devise
e means for doubling the productive powe
o of the mind of people.
S And now is presented the great inquiry
e By what means shall the needed reforms b.
effected in the management and instruction
n of our common schools? This is, practi
= cally, difficult question. The first thin
i to be done evidently is, TO ascertain tn
4 present condition of our schools in regar'
Q TO the precise defects in the modes Of in
# struction, the character Of the books used
!. and the general standard of qualification O
teachers.
n Though we have doubtless many goo
v teachers, there is. in general a manifest de
i'll ficiency in this respect. Nor should thi
o surprise US. II would rather be surprisin
e if, under our present system--if system
n can be called-the standard Of qualification
q did not fall far below what it should be-
o Teaching is, generally, but temporary re
e sort, either to obtain the means of an edu
,fl cafinn or of emharkin0 in other pursuits