The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-05-28
70 THE CLERGY OF THE STATE
OF VERMONT.
RsucreRd and D1ar brethren,

RsUcreR9 and DeGr Brethren,
The subject of Common School Education
has ever excited wal.eful interest in the free
States of this country, and especially IN New
England. The clergy have always stood IN
the most forward rank in promoting this great
canse, and on their Jealous endeavors and
ngency. its advancement must continue ma
tcrially to depend.
I, cannot, Iye think. ne denied that Yer
mont. notwithstanding her injomitahle spirit
ei enterprise, is pursuing less efficient means
10 improve Common School Education, h2n
the other States Of New-England, or the ad-
jlrent State of New York In view Of tins
fact, many who anxiously aim at the moral
elevation and honor Of our State, are grIcved'
III MT few deeply mortified. The result
has been various conventions TO devise a
rarncly, At ono of these. recently held al
Mid ilcburv, measures w're taken to awaken
attention in the community TO this important
subject. and to direct lis zeal TO al suspicious
result. Arrangene lis were made 10 secure.
for Il few months, the services OF our dISiin-
guished fellow citiizcn, Thomas II. Palmer
Esq, ofpittslorI. This gentleman has been
long laboring 10 improve the common-schooi
system of Education, and is, we believe, en-
ttidiliiEtl W Aiiio NHhSN ~
State. At the meeting above mentioned, the
subscribers wSre appointed committee 10
address The clergy of The different denomlna-
lions in Vermont, and to request them, ny
effective notices, and by such modes oil com
munication, to their respective congregations
as they may think most proper TO employ, 10
prepare the way for Mr.. Palmer's visits and
addresses. When notified that he will visit
year respective towns, you may render essen
ral aid by efforts TO secure him audiences:
and by your coIntenance and encourag enc MT
yon may, perhaps, give tcnfold influence TO
his addresses.
There are special rcasohs why the clergy
are 10 be relied on, in all cndeavors to elevate
The character ofour. District Schools. What.
moro Important and effective check. under
God, can he imposed on the baIcful influences
oi The sccptic and the fanatic than we'll
ciGcatcd community There is one circum-
stance of fearful moment, of which. many,
who dcpiorc the imDcrfections Of our District
Schools, are not probably aware. Ourchildren
nli youth are not taught to read, in these in
sttuiions, with concentrated attention. Thence
they read the Bible, rs well as other valuable
b10%', with comparatively little profit. And
often, after having attained the meridian of
lie their minds are 50 accustomed. by lone
Il '5ii, to wander. and they are so incapable Of
giving an undivided attention TO any subject
oi reflection, that they rccollect very little of
what they read, and of course turn buts small
portion of II TO any account. This evil il is
m )Si IanporfInt TO correct in the early stages
OF education, and VIC think, Mr.. Palmer will
sltiSfy you. and if you hear him, thai very
much can be accomplished, in regard TO this,
ms well rs many other defects il early educa-
ton, by improved regulations of our District
> :hoolS. The same observation, which has
been made in respect 10 reading, is also ap-
p.icIhlc TO hearing. The consequence is,
th1t our scrmoHs and addresses too generally
fa! OF eifecting the results they are calculated
u produce, and otherwise might produce.
because 50 many of our hearers have never
been trained 10 the habit of concentrated at
tcn;ion. We mention these points, as more
pertaining to the great objects.
win n orr Profession is, with Gods blessing.
C i;ieav0rin2 TO secure.
Permit Us, ;.isp, 10 call YOUR attention TO
other lnrcricciiOns in our common-school
system, as il practically operates among us.
There arc often great defects III the location,
construction, warming. and ventilation of
schonl-houscs. Teachers, too frequently.
hive not the requisite qualifications, and GEN
e'ally there is not the supervision, which is
necessary 10 encourage and inYigoiate them
III their arduous labors. Ii is, moreover. to
b. l1mcntel, that many, even among the in
teiliscnt and wealthy, finding, as they do. the
dis;rici-schoOls in Il neglected and low coudi
non, instead Of taking measures TO elevate
them TO what they ought to be, and thus give
theGl character and attraction. and the power
OF being moro generally beneficial, resort 10
private schools, which thong perhaps. more
select rs regards the rank of those who COM
Pose them, are often ofquite as humble claims.
DI thus Withdrawing their patronage from
III. distrlct-schoOls. those institutions are
thrown upon the less wealthy classes of the
co IMMUNITY for their support, and are suffered
10 anguish, and sometimes sink into CONTEMPT.
on know, however, and so DO lhe intcili-
gent part OF The community in general, that
while large suin is annually raised in Yer
mont, by rayaii0n and otherwise, our common
scfo is come vastly short of what they might
"n1nrc, even an'ler the existing legal provi-
ST ms, II teachers were selected with more
clre' and were encouraged and melted, and
perhaps we may say guided, by the supervi-
sion wh!ch should be Systematically exercised
hy hose who sustain the schools.
We commend Mr.. p. TO your courteous
aa1Chrsiian regards, and hope that his labors.
~ conneNiun with Your own efforts, and those
OF others. Tho deplore the deficiencies of our
common schools, will At least secure. rs has
been done in other States, Legislative provi-
sinn for the examination OF teachers, and a
reasonable supervision of our district schools.
Experience has proved that nothing Of this
sort can be anticipated as general result,
without the aid of public enactment.
This is sGbjec; OH which, whatever may
he the diversity Of oar religious opinions, We
snail all, We trust agree. Nothing is pro-
passed, which can POSSIBLY tcnd to the el eva-
ton or advantage Of any enc Christian dcnom-
inaiion over anOther. The benefit aimed at.
Is to be enjoyed by all the citizens of the
State, without IinitatiOn or exemption.-
There is no roam. therefore, for any jealousy
or prejudice. Ga Tins ground we can act in
harmony.
We trust TINT you viii excuse us in taking
the liberty TO address you on a sub;cctin which
we all feel common imtercst-in which the
Stability Of orr fies institutions, and the vital
i1iereS,s Of our holy religion, are so deeply
concerned car Brethren IN the Lord.
FrrTnHTa-