The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-06-11

the proper committee, oil a moral character
and undergone strict examination, as wei
as 10 ability 10 teach, as TO literary qualifica-
tons. In some of the States, the act OF com
mencing TO teach without certificate from
the committee is made apenal offence. In
several States, the certificate may at any
time be Withdrawn, should the school prove
improbable. Every where a preliminary
examination is indispensable, excepting in
VERMONT, trheIe no examination o.
teachers rhdterer is provided for by Tau, and
where, with a few exceptions, such thing is
never dreamt Of.
ii. Visitation, Superintendence, and
Regulation of Schools. In all the enumera-
ted States, more or less strict and frequent
visitation, superintendent, and regulation oil
the schools is required by law. In New
Hampshire alone there is a seeming excep-
ton 10 this rule. There, any town, assem-
bled in town meeting may vote to dispense
with the services, OF the Experimenting
School committee so far as relates 10 the ex-
animation and inspection Of schools But
the value of such examination has been too
strongly felt throughout the State TO allow
to such an exception more than nominal i'm
portanee. Unfortunately, however, the cas-
es in which towns hare awaited themselves of
the multiplying clause, are precisely those in
which it is the most injurious to their true in
terests. For il may generallybe taken as a
rule, that strict superintendent is valued by
the community in direct ratio 10 the eff
cheney of the schools. But, while all the
States around have been thus careful of the
vital interests Of their youth, how is it with
us2
In VERMONT, the law makes no prOris-
ion lchaterer for these important points, and,
with verylew exceptions, there is no such
thing here as examination or superinten-
dence OF schools.
III. Uniformity of Books-Selection Of
the Profitable. and Exclusion Of The I'm
profitable or HrtfM. In Ohio and New
York, the statutes make it the duty of the
TO determine and recommend
the school books best adapted for the course
Of studies. In Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connect
cut the law enjoins the committee to direct
what books shall be used
VERMONT here again stands alone.
Her law neither commands nor authorizes
either direction or recommendation. The
is a Babel-like confusion Of
books; good, bad, and Indifferent indiscrim-
inately mingled in almost every school, bid
ding defiance 10 classification, order, or meth
I'd. In school visit during the past winter,
owing TO the diversity of books, most of which,
though good in themselves, were wholly I'M
suited TO the capacity of the child, the ldrg-
EST reading-class consisted Of tno children.
And thus the time, OF both instructor and pu-
pills, was completely FILTERED away. In such
situation, the best teacher would be pow
erless.
In all the States enumerated, the impor-
ant duties Of which have spoken devolve
On committee distinct from that which Sc
ects the teacher and manages the pruden-
ial matters of the school. The latter COM
nittee furnishes tie withdrawal; the former
;ees thatit is carefully and profitably used.
The latter provides a teacher; but he cannot
'tir step until he has exhibited his prof.
;iency, and given evidence of his moral char
lcter to the lolmer. In the New England
States, the power of the superintendent Is
confined 10 the tOlrns by which they are APP
pointed. In New York and Ohio, there are
;Ounty as well as tol5n superintendent, an
found TO be highly profitable,
'ince it has powerful tendency to bring all
he schools under the supervision ofthe for
ner officer up TO the highest grade that OF
he best in the county.
Allow me to close with few simple ques-
ions intimately connected with the facts above |
stated. Is there no DANGER then, would
lsk, that Vermont will be flooded with lazy, |
Incompetent, dissolute pretenders 10 the
lame of teacher, who, though unable 10 pass
he ordeal required in their own State, will
eadily procure schools here, if the Tdges |
tsked are sufficiently LOlr? There is some |
hing more in this than a mere surmise. Ii
S becoming well known in the border towns |
# New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New |
ork, that orr teachers are neither exam
ned nor looked after; and not few have
Ilready availed themselves ola state Of aft !
Iirs which places the best and the worst ex-
clly on level. On the other hand, will |
ur respectable and intelligent teachers con-
ent TO be classed with the rejected scum
rom abroad or will they go where their tai
nts will be thoroughly known and properly
appreciated? And finally, shall we fold our
ands and patiently submit TO state oil
Kings which has an inevitable tendency TO
rive off the best teachers, and fill our schools
nth those who dare not even offer their SER
ices where they are known ?-Will this be
ding justice to the rising generation Will
ley thus be fitted for an honorable rivalry
nth the youth of other States Is it right I
hat through our negligence their first move
lents in lie should be thus hampered?
surely such questions rs these admit Of but
ne answer. Let us unite, then, in calling
pom our legislature for an immediate and
borough reform as will raise up ourschools
D the level of those the States around US,
nd thus enableust TO share in the progressive
movement of the age.
THOMAS H. PALMER
for disseminating Information
respecting SchooI-Ldrs.
Piltsiord, VT. May 10, 1915.
~ Editors of Newspapers throughout
ne State Of Vermont are requested, by the
Iiddlebury Convention, 10 give the above
n early insertionin their columns.
II rather the