The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-16

aO TIE FRIENDS OF IMPROVEMENTS ED
UCATION THROUGHOUT TIE STATE OF
VERMONT.
AZ Iato convention held in Mlddebury 10 devise
means for improving our District Schools, various
measures were adopted for arousing and giving
proper direction to public sentiment on this impor-
tant subject. Among others was requested to pro-
euro authentic information respecting the schoo-laws
of tho free States, and especially Of New England,
and TO publish such Information as widely possible
through tho newspapers. The object OF this course
was to show, how far Vermont, which had once stoOd
Foremost in regard TO common school education had
now fallen into the rear, and thus prove the
sity of immediate legislative action, ir we would have
our youth stand even on equal footing with their
competitors for independece, influence, and useful
ness. have performed tho first part ofthe required
duty have opened correspondence with official
characters and others, in Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York, and Ohio, all Of whom have kindly and prompt
iy complied with the request of the convention, some
by furnishing me with their school laws in pamphlet
form, others by procuring and forwarding transcripts
from their Revised Statutes.
II was nay Intention to have laid the information
before the public in the rordS Of The Statutes of tho
respective States But, by arranging in this fom the
length tho article great interpose a
rous obstacle both TO readers and printers ! there
fore determined merely 10 present the substance OF
the information through The newspapers and to con-
fine myself at present to the important points Of J.
Examination of Teachers; . Surperiniendence and
Regulation OF Schools; g. Uniformity in Books, by
Selection of the Improbable and Iurtrul. | shall
be happy to afford an opportunity, 10 such gentle
men as may desire il, TO examine more infinitely thu
statutes which have collected, in tour which
shal! shortly take through the principal towns of the
State.
l. Examination Of Teachers. No teacher in aay
of the States enumerated, il allowed TO commence
public school, until he she has exhibited salts
factory evidence, TO the proper committee of good
character, and Undergone a strict examination, as well
TO ability to teach, as to literary qualifications. In
Of the states, the act of Communicating to teach
withouta certificate from the committee ia made
penal offence. In several States. the certificate may
at any time be withdraw should the school prove
unproftable' Every where a preliminary exanina-
tim is indispensable, excepting in
VERMONT, Where no examination of teachers
trhaieUer is provided for By iau, and where with u
few exceptions, such thing is dream, OF
IL. piSttation, Superintendent, Regulation of
The Schools. In all the enumerated States more or
less strict aud frequent visitation, superintendencs
and regulation Of tho schools is required by law ln
New Hampshire alone there is seeming exception to
this rule. There, any town, assembled in meet.
ing Dtay vote to dispense with the services oc the
experimenting School Committee so far as relntos 10
the animation and inspection of schools" But the
value of such examination has been too strongly felt
throughout the State 10 allow to such an exception
more than nominal importance. Unfortunately, how
ever the cases in which towns have awaited them
selves Of the multiplying clause precisely those in
which it is INJURIOUS to their interests For
it may generally be taken rule that strict super
intondence is valued by the community in a direct
ratio 10 the efficiency of the schools. But while all
the States around have been Thus careful Of the vital
interests Of their youth, how is ii with US
Ia VERMONT, the law makes no provision tOhat-
eusr for these important points, and, with very few
exceptions, there is no such thing known here as ex-
animation superinendence OF schools.
Ill. Uniformity Of Books-Seiectioa ofthe profit
able, Exclusion ofhe Improbable or Hurifui. In
Ohio and New York, the statute make il the duty of
ala.a
school books best adapted for the course Of studies
In Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, and Connecticut the law enioins the commit
to direct what books shall be used.
VERMONT here again stands alone. Her law
neither commands or Guthori7es either direction or
recommendation The consequence Babe-lke
confusion Of books; good, bad and Indifferent inds-
crminately ming ed in almost every school, bidding
defiance to classification, order, method In a
school visited during the past winter, owing the
diversity Of books most Of which, though good in
themselves, wholly unsuited to the capacity of
the child the largest reading class consisted of t,co
children. And thus the time, both Of instructor and
pupils, was completely FILTERED away. In such
situation, tho best teacher would be powerlcss.
10 all the States enumerated the important duties
of which have spoken, devolve on n committee
distinct from that which selects the teacher and man
ages the prudential matters of the school, The lat
ter committae furnishes the wherewithaI the former
sees tina, it is carefully and prolfiiably used The
latter provides teacher; but he cannot stir a step
till he has exhibited his proficiency, and given evi.
dance of his moral character to the former. In the
New England States, the power OF the superinten-
dents is confined to the oDnS by which they ap.
pointed. In New York and Ohio there are countv
as we'll toVn superintendens, an arrangement
found to be highly profitable, since it has a power
full tendency to bring oil the schools under the SUI
pervson ofthe former officer up the highest grade
that of the best Of the county.
Allow me TO close with few simple questions in
tmately connected with the facts above stated Is
there no danger, then,I would ask that Vermont will
be flooded with lazy, incompetent, dssoute pretend
ers to the name of teacher, who, though unable to
pass the ordeal required in their State will road
lily procure schools here, il the acagcs asked are suf-
ttciently iow2 There is something in this than
a mere surmise. II is becoming well known in the
border towns of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and
New York. that teachers neither examined
nor looked after and not few have already avaied
themselves of a state Of affairs which places the best
and worst exactly level On the other hand will
our respectable and intelligent teachers to be
cassed with this rejected scum from abroad, or will
they go where their talents will be known and prop
erly appreciated And finally, shall we fold our
80 @. Nu,