The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-12-04
From cte Vermont Watcitmdn,
COMMON SCHOOLS IN VERMONT.


By far the most important subjec
which falls uuder the guardianship of ou
state government is that of the education
ofthe sons and daughters of Vermont
There are some who feel this truth-whc
are therefore anxious for the establish
ment of an efficient, thorough and econ
omical system of common shool educa'
ton for the state-and who have labored'
and who will labor, for such system
Such men are to be looked for among the
most intelligent, the most truly Patriotic,
and the best of our people: the friends OF
education in the widest extent and 10 the
highest practicable degree, are always
found among such men. But there Is
GOOD reason why every citizen OF Yer
mont should give pre-eminent Importance
to this subject, as well as those men who
have long done so, and always will doso.
As mattsr of ecOnomy-or mere dollars
and cents-of tares,-this subject of a
system of Education is more important
than any other. The wages paid to mas
tiers and mistresses of the common schools
in Vermont amount annually to far more
than Ill the expenses of the State Govern
ment Think of it, taxpayers; think
whether wise ccOnomy,-as well as the IN
terests of your children, and of the state
and the nation and the world in which
they are to play part,-does not require
that this matter shall be faithfully atten-
ded to by the people, and especially by
their servants. The fact which we have
mentioned, with other interesting statisti-
cal facts, was brought out by the returns
made under the act of last year, and COM
municated to the Legislature by Gov. Slade.
We give the message, and an abstract of
the returns; and we hope that thus the
important bearing of these statistical facts
may be seen and felt, so as to ensure COM
plete returns from every town in the
state next year. 1t is only by such facts
that the Importance of the subject can be
brought home to aH,-and this is the first
step towards attaining the desired end-a
good system Education. When the peo-
pie feel the Importance of good system,
they will demand it, and the best services
ofour best men will not be asked in vain.
Gov. Slade derives high credit for his zeal
and services upon this subject; and this
we would also extend to the
gentlemen in both Houses who had this
subject in charge and reported the bill at
the late session. However unfortunate
the bill itself was, or however it may be
regarded by the people, matters little any
man who bestows his talent and lime and
labor for SO noble an end, deserves the
the respect and the thanks Of the people.
The failure of the bill, under the circum-
stances, should not be prejudicial to it,
and we trust will not be. Indeed, preju-
dice of any kind is out ofplace upon such
a subject
The following is the communication Of
Gov. sIade, with the Reorganization of the
statistical returns:
To the House Of Representatives.:
Iuausal;t herewith for the use ofthe
General Assembly, the returns of statistics
Of Common Schools which have been trans
nitted TO me by town clerks, in pursuance Of
al act relating to Common Schools, ap
proved November l. 1873. have prepared
N abstract which / also send herewith.
+ rom the recapitulation at the close oft, it
will be seen that returns have been made
from only $50 towns; that there are, in
those towns, 1909 school districts; that they
contained in 1913, 25,e74 families, 64,950
children between the ages of4 ard 16, and
81, eos children who attended school in said
year; tina; schools were taught by male teach
crs. 1856 months, and. by female teachers,
69s7 81 months; that there was paid to the
former for wages, S51 ,06775, and to the lat
ter S33, Cos 50; amounting TO SS4,673; and
that there had been received by those dis
tricts. within said year, of public money, the
sum of S60,690 81
1t results fron these data, that 10 per cent.
of ,he children between and le, did not at
tend the common schools--(a portion of these
doubtless attended .seect schools;) that the
average monthly wages Of the male teachers
YVES 5I3 II, and Of the female reachersS4 so;
that the average number of months taught
in each districtby teachers Ct both sexes, was
six, and the average number of children that
attended school in each district, %; and
tina, the amount paid teachers was equal to
E 81 to each scholar taught.
Ii furthermore appears that the population
of the towns from which returns have been
received, was, in iS4O 1913, 253; and that the
amount paid to teachers other than those of
select schools, in the whole state, assuming
the returns received. and the population in
the towns returned. and the population of the
state, as the basis of the calculation, is Sl2S,
600 per annum.
WILLIAM SLADE.
Executive CHAMBER
October 30, 1874,