Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-10-17

20 q NtEoFs pti lufuiNiTd v nu Arnuuni OF
taov ee e., Grins t,f almost sns sisfion. nci
iuyaitipg iuc mcc,ssiis oi professional skiA
/ fof 10 success.
30 noi uHtcrra'ue the b rie, ss'riNsri~-
Tbsy must bc slsiaiue established upon
solid fsun3siinns- plsr cd bcsoud ito reach
II cmbaffssstne 81 and usnt No adequate
stseu A. sjacsiu'n can be- susis aimed ~iiioui
them They are imyarani. bot only % train
instructors. ard III men ior the learned prl-
fysslons bat 60 mainisia high standard ui
edarauou m a community. They are Ike
ihe sun shining Ia his strength. and commu
nicsune hch &hea, tothe bodies by Witch be
: surrounded But II we would sus'aiu them
ie, ~ cievsie tie standard 81 common edit
cfilon. for in proportion as thai u done viii
I've higher institutions be mote Vsiupl, aud
mote literally psitonized and endowed.
"a BE there vii 30 throughout ihe cpmwg.
rt,. greatly ~. ess,ag lhisst ior the water
Ihsi comes from these d cpeI and puret foun.
tsins
The great dcsidcraiUm In regard 70 com
mon cduc alton Is, IrpTorcd mcef5 II icach-
ing .-modes by which the hitherto eloat waste
IT ume may he avOided--ihe mlnd simula
Ted To- scutity--irsiued to habits Of sclf-re-
,ing effort, and learned to go alone as 1t
,as,. bee ihioe upon ~ ow o. resources amid
Time arts not the sluggish and inefficient
movements OF false methods of teaching. il
tears our chidten rapidly onward to man
boost, prepared of unpicpared ior the great
dU.ics vi lite. But a. We double the power
OF human energy by new processes IN agri-
couture aud The mechanic arts, so We may
double the value for the allotted time Tor ed
ucatiUn. We are eager tn avail ourselves OF
The augmented power TO gain wealth through
the wonderful discoveries and Improvements
OF this age. Rail Roads augment Inc value
OF every Thug they touch or approach. and
we are therefore awake TO their importance:
bot are there not more wonderful dcvelope
menls 10 be made OF intellectual wealth by
improved modes OF education Shall other
Improvements 90 on, while this sands sill !
Are the mind and heart OF people of less |
importance than the materials Of wealth in
ne earth they lnhabi, Shall we carefully |
improve the breeds Of our animals while we
neglect the improvement Of man II he is
esteemed public benefscior who makes two
blades of grass grow where one grew before,
I is he not greater. who devises means for
doubling The productive power Of the miro
OF a people
And now is presented the great inquiry
llv what means shall the rec led reforms be
effected in the management and instruction !,
of our common schools : This is PRACTICAL
", a difficult question. The FIST thing TO be
done. evidently is, TO ascertain tile present "
conditions OF our schools in regard to the "
precise defects in the modes of instruction, f
the character Of The books used and the gen. ;,
cral standard Of qualification of teache,s. 4
Though we have doubtless many good ~
teachers there is, in general manifest de- p
iciency in this respect. Nor should this g
surprise US. II would rather be surprising III
I. under our present sys,em-il system it liz
an be called-the standard of qualification vi
I'd not fall far below what il should be- N
'eaching is, generally, bu. temporary re-
ort, either To obtain the means OF an educa-
on, or o! emba'kinp in other pursuits. 1t c'
inuld be EToiGSSi0A MS honorable as it is Pf
ssponsible. There will be good teachers q
hen we shall malIrc common school sys- is
m which shall create demand for, and fur III
sh the means OF rewarding them. or
There should be, furthermore, an exami-
alton into the condition Of our school hous -;
), in reference to their size seating, venti.a- v
IN, warmth, location, and the grounds con- :
7cte1 with them. II;
Information on all these points should be hi
nbodied and brough, ont, in order to ava 81
"a the public aucalion to the necessity of M
gaous and systemauc efforts for reform II,
nd this must be done under legislative au- nj
lori,y, by persons competent 10 inspection, /:
nd to the making its results Ineligible and !"
elul, as basis OF future action. Such in Ill
estiea,lons have been the first step in the 81
rosecution OF educational improvement in CT
re States Of Connecticut, Mass achusetts and n,
Jew York, producing within few years al
reat and beneficial results in these States. :,
VII Vermont longer estate To follow their u
xampief On you rests the responsibility .
{ deciding this question would not urge g
DO has,y and headlong efforts at improve u
lrni Gradual progress is the law Of adj II
ance 10 SQUAD aadvigorols maturity in every al
hing. But there can he no advance without 81
beginning. ia
How shall this beginning be made is a 8,
ueslion for immediate consideration. The
xplora,ion suggested, to be Of any avail, y
aus, be uniform, universal and thorough -
70 make il such, compensation is obviously "
We have once tried i, with. 9
ui and failed; and without il, we shall fail ST
gain. There must be an efficiency which ei
he responsibility OF accepting a trust with d,
compensation, can alone secure. BY what
gencles the work shall lie done, il will be for
our wisdom TO determine, 1t Will be wor- y,
by Of consideration whether they may not OIL
e such, in part, as shall be needed for the CT
General supeU sion necessary IN carry for ei
ward and perfect system Of educational inn
'royemeni; suth, Tor example, as a board OF n
commissioners, as in Connecticut, or OF Ed Il;
IcaIlon, as in Massachusetts, Oh general =,
Superintendent OF Common Schools, with y
>nunty SCperintendents, as in New York. !"
There may be advantages worthy of consd- 81
ration ia the direct and undivided response d
'uiy OF single general SUPPLEMENTARY. al
While the County Supern,endenis may well h,
e supposed, HON tie range given for their ii
selection, 10 ue fully crmpeleni to exercise !,
he riRid Supervision, and make The sueees. u
lions OF improvement indispensable to pro
gress 10 tie reform. c
This corresponds somewhat with the b
II lLn...ar. Il 4 !