Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-09-25

For the Waterman and Journal.
The Orange County Common School Associa-
ton held meeting at Thetford, on Wednesday
the 18th, agreeably to notice. The meeting was
opened at o'clock, P. NJ, Hon. Simeon Short,
President, in the Chair, Dr. ]. r. Morse, Secreta-
ry, being absent, Hiram Circuit was appointed Sec
rotary pro tenn. Rev. E. G. Babcock, DR.. Worces-
ter and II. Circuit were appointed committee
resolutions. After listening to the report of said
committee, voted, to hear the address of Hon.
Judge Ilebard of Randolph, who had previously
been invited to address the meeting His address
replete with interest, and well adapted both to
the occasion and the times. After speaking of pop
uar ignorance as the only sure support of Mon
archy and oppression, Judge II. alluded TO our own
government as having been reared and supported
by the fostering hand of Education spoke of the
ea'l y history of our common schools; of the i'm
po, nnce attached to them by our Pilgrim Fathers,
the guardians of liberty of the alarming de-
gree Of ignorance that prevails at the present time
in many parts of our country, and of the great
need of a more efficient system of Education, not
only at the West, but even in Vermont. He next
proceeded to specify some of the defects in our
common schools.
]. There is by far too little interest on the part
of parents. Many Of them seem to feel more anx-
ious about how much money they shall leave their
children, than what kind of children they shall
leave the world.
3. Our school houses are badly constructed and
4
not too barren and desolate to be cultivated or &C.
cupicd, can be Afforded for school house.
3. We employ many unqualified Teachers and
as a consequence, our schools are badly governed
and instructed They are managed with very -r--
tie uniformity and system. We need the aid of
law to regulate our schools, and more of willing
ness on the part of districts to employ and p1y
competent Teachers
a. Parents should be more faithful to instruct
their children at home; should teach them TO APP
ply their knowledge to the business of life.
5. There should be in every school district
Library for the use of the scholars and parents OF
that district.
These detects the speaker regarded as great and
date and perseverng efforts TO improve and ee-
vate our schools.
After the address was pronounced, the following
resolutions were called up, discussed and adopted:
ReSotped, That in our opinion, large proper
ton OF our district school houses in Vermont are
not suitable for the purposes of education, and that
we deem il important that the friends of common
schools should direct their attention especially to
this defect.
Resolved, That too little attention is paid to the
character and qualifications of those selected for
Teachers of our common schools; that there is gen
orally too little disposition to remunerac them for
their services, and that consequence of these
evils, we employ many Teachers that are not quail
flied for their important vocation, and induce those
who are qualified to leave the State that they may
find employment with proper compensation.
Resolped, That too little care is exercised in the
selection and use of our school books, and too ma
ny studies are introduced and that conse-
quence classes are multiplied and confusion intro
due ed until our common schools are rendered com
parotiyely useless.