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

ventilation, warmth, location, and the
grounds connected with them
Information on all these points should be
embodied aud brought out, in order to a.
waken the public attention TO the necessity
of vigorous and systematic efforts for reform.
And this must be done under Legislative au-
thority, by persons competent to an inspec-
ton, and to the making Of its results intelli-
gibe and useful, as basis of future action.
Such Investigations have been the first step in
the prosecution of educational improvement
in the States OF Connecticut, Massachusetts
and New York, producing, within few
years, great and beneficial results in these
States. Will Vermont longer hesitate to fol-
low their example On you rests the respon-
sibility Of deciding this question. would
not urge the hasty and headlong efforts at
improvement Gradual progress is the law
of advance TO sound and vigorous maturity
in every thing. But there can be no adj
vance without beginning.
How shall this beginning be made is
a question for immediate consideration.
The exploration suggested, TO be Of any a.
vail, must be uniform, universal and thor
ough. To make il such, compensation is
obviously indispensable. We have once
tried il without, and failed; and without it,
we shall fail again. There must be an ei-
fciency which the responsibility of accept
ing trust with compensation, can alone Sc
cure. BY what agencies the work shall be
done, it will be for your wisdom TO deter
mine. 1t will be worthy of consideration
whether they may not be such, in part, as
shall be needed for the general supervioon
necessary to carry forward and perfect a
system of educational improvement such,
for example, as board of commissioners as
in Connecticut, or of Education os in Mas
sachuse,ts. or general Superintendent OF
\ common schools with County Superinten-
dents, as in N. York. There may be adyan-
tages worthy of consideration in the direct
and undivided responsibility of single
general SUPPLEMENTARY, while the County
Superintendent may well be supposed,
from The range given for their selection, TO
be fully competent to exercise the rigid SUI
pervsion, and make the suggestions of inn
provement indispensable to progress in the
reform.
This corresponds with the Prussian sys-
tenn Of SUPPLEMENTARY, as described by the
Secretary Of the Massachusetts Board OF
LuuCdbou w idiC tCpptt vi us WISH w
Europe, for purposes connected with educa-
ton. The kingdom, it appears from the re-
port, is divided into circles Of districts, in
each Of which there is zone or more school
commissioners or inspectors, selected from
the most talented and educated men in the
community-sucha as would be appointed
presidents or professors in colleges, or Juug-
es of the higher courts. The whole Prus-
sian system" says the author OF the report,
impressed me with deep sense Of the vast
: difference in the amount of general attain
ment and talent devoted TO the cause oil
popular education in this country or state
had ever SEEM Over all the other func-
tonaries entrusted with the execution oil
their system, is the Minister of Public JUS
| tice, who is member of the Kings Cabi-
f net. "Such has also been the case ia
; France since the late organization of their
system of public instruction."
: Under the New York system, it is the
! duty of the County Superintendent 10 visit
f the schools in their respective counties, con.
: suit with the teachers, and town superinten.
/ dents, deliver lectures on education, and en-,
deavor to awaken an increased interest or
the subject of common school education
L ntSt ldtttI iGuuioltiOio iOill u very Iu
! portant part of that system; as it is obvi
| ously vain to attempt reform unless the
, people can be brought TO take deep inter
S est in it. There must be the co-operator
5 of an enlightened public sentiment, or moth
Y ing will be done. We may legislate, ant
must legslate; but after all, little can be
effected merely by the high pressure o
E legislation. 1t must be adapted to awaken
/ and concentrate, and give effect to the ener
: gies of the community. And what canno
E Vermont accomplish in this matter if she
: shall undertake and what motives to un
n dertake, and to persevere, can be compared
V with those which are connected with thu
e vast results of the mental and moral train
$ ing of her children?
s The carrying out, aud perfecting, of al
v adequate system of educational improve
s ment WILL of course, involve ultimately,
T considerable expenditure but as the neces
sity of it shall arise, will the gradually un
: folding benefits of the system make the con
e tributions TO sustain it, easy and their bur
n den light. The expenditure on the part o
! the State, necessary to commence the sys
Q tenn, through the agency Of State Superin
e tendent, g. county Superintendent, need no
d be great-not much greater, in the languag,
j. of the report Of the committee to which
have referred, than ''the people of Vernon
f have paid annually for killing foxes"
Vermont has an enviable name abroad
d Let her maintain it, Let her emulate tn
: efforts of New York, Connecticut and Mas
S sachusetts. She ought, indeed, TO go be
g yond them. No State in the Union ha
i such material to work upon,--none tina