The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-09
For the Caledonan,
TO THE CLERGY OF THE STATE OF YER


MONT.
Rererend and Dear Brethren, The joct Of Com
mon School Education has excited wnle(ul in
in the free States Of this country and especial
iy in New England The Clergy have stood always
on the most forward ranb, in promoting this great
cause and their jealous endeaVors and agency, lis
advancement must continue, materially, TO depend.
1t cannot, we Think be denied that Vermont, not
wilhstanding her indomable spirit of enterprise, is
pursuing less efficient TO improve Common
School Education, than the other States of New Eng.
land or the adiacen: State of New York. In view Of
this fact, many who nnSiously aim at the moral eevn
ton and honor our State, are grieved and not a
few deeply mortified. The result has been various
conventions to devise remedy. At one of these,
recently held Middiobury, measures were taken to
awaken attention in the community to this important
subject, and to direct its zeal to auspic Gus result
Arrangements made TO secure for n few months,
the service Of distinguished fellow citzeE Thorn
rs II. Palmer, Esq of Pittsford. This gentleman
has been long laboring to improve the common school
system of Educnlion and is, we believe, eminenty
qualified to advance this cause in our State. AT the
meeting above mentioned. the subscribers were APP
pointed committee, to address the clergy OF the d
ferent denominations in Vermont, and to request
them, by effective notices, and, by such modes Of
communication to their respective congregations
they may think most proper TO employo prepare the
way for Mr. Palmer's visits and addresses When
notified that he will visit your respective towns. you
may render essential aid by efforts to secure him
dences, and by your countenance and encourage
ment you may, perhaps, give ten Told influence TO
his addresses
There are special reasons why the clergy are TO be
relied upon, in all endeavors to elevate the character
of our Dis riot Schools. What important and
effective check, under God, can be imposed ON the
balefu influences Of the sceptc and the fanatic, than
Il well educated community There is one crcum-
stance Of fearful moment Of which many, who de-
plore the delecons Of our District Schools, are
not probably Our children and youth are not
taught to read, in these institutions, with concentrate
Ell attention Thence they read the Bible well as
other valuable books with comparatively little profit
And often, after having attained the meridian Of life,
their minds are accustomed, by long habit
der, and they incapable giving an undivided
attention any subject of reflection, that they reco
ec very little of what they read, and of course turn
but a small portion of it any account This evil it
ia important to correctin the early stages Of ed
ucation and think, MIR Palmer will satisfy you, If
you hear him, that very much can be accomplished,
in regard to this, as well as many other defects in
early education, by improved regulation of our Dis
trici Schools. The same observation which has been
made in respect to reading is also applicable TO hear
ing. The consequence is. that our sermons and ad
dresses too generally ( of efecting the results they
are calculated to produce, and otherwise might pro-
duce, because many of hearers have never
been trained the habit oc concentrated attention.
We mention these points more particularly pertain
ing to the great Obj ccts which our profession is, with
Gods blessing, endeavoring to secure.
Permit US, also, TO call your attention TO other i'm
perfections in common-schoo system, as It prac-
tically operates among US There are often great de
fects ia the location construction, warming and
tation Of school-houses. Teachers, too frequently,
have the requisite qualifications, and generally
there is not the supervision, which is necessary to en-
courage and avigorate them in their arduous abors.
1t is, moreover, TO be lamented that many, even a
mong the intelligent and wealthy, finding as they do,
the district schools in neglected and low condition,
instead of taking measures elevate them to what
they ought to be, and thus give them character and
attraction, and the power of being more generally
beneficial, resort to private schools which hough per-
haps more select as regards the rank Of those who
compose them, often Of quite as humble CLAIMS.
BY thus Withdrawing their patronage from the district
schools those institutions thrown on the less
wealthy classes Of the community for their support,
and are suffered to anguish, and sometimes sink into
contempt
You know however, and 80 do the intelligent part
of the community in general, that while large sum
is annually raised in Vermont, by taxation and other
wise, common schools come vastly short OF what
they might ensure, under the existing legal pro-
visions, if tenchers selected with more and
encouraged and melted, and perhaps we may
say guided by the supervision which should be sys
tematcaly exercised by those who sustain the
schools.
We commend Mr. P. to your courteous and Chris
tan regards and hope thnt his abors, in connexion
with your efforts and those of others who de-
pore the deficiencies Of our common schools, will at
least secure has been done in other States, legs
Iave provision FOR the examination of teachers, and
a reasonable supervision Of our district schools Ex-
perence has proved that nothing Of this sort be
anticipated general result, without the aid Of
u public enactment.
This is n subject on which, whatever may be the
diversity of our religious opinions, shall all, we
trust, agree. Nothing is proposed that possibly
tend to the elevation advantage Of any Chris
tian denomination another. The benefit aimed
at be enjoyed by all the citizens Of the State
without limitation, exemption. There is room
therefore, for any jealousy or prejudice. On this
ground act in harmony.
We trust that you will excuse US in taking the lib
erty to address you subject in which all feel
a common intcrest-n which the stability of our free
institutions and the vital interests of our holy reg-
ion, are SO deeply concerned.
Your Brethren in the Lord.
THOMAS A. merrill, 80
Senior Pastor of the Congregational Church.
JOSEPH F. PHILLIPS,
Rector of 81. Stephens Church.
AARON Angler,