The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-05-29
To the Clergy of the State Of Vt.

d. the free States of this country, and espe-
cially in New Eng gland. The clergy have
always stood ia The most forward rank in
promoting This great cause. and on their
, jealous endeavors and agency, its adj
vRncemenl must continue, materially, 10
depend.
II cannot we think, be denied that Yer
mont, Notwithstanding her indomilabIe
spirit o! enterprise. is pursuing less ettl-
cient means 10 improve common school
education, than the other States o: Ne"
England. or The adj Acenl State of New
York. In view OF this fact. many who
anxious y aim al the moral elevation OF
our State, are grieved, aud no! q few deep
ly mortified. rhe result has been varI-
Gus conventions to devise remedy. AT
one Of these recently held at Mddlebnry,
measures were taken to awaken attention
In the commonly to this important subject
and 10 direct its zeal to I'm ausplclous re-
suit. Arrangements were made 10 secure,
! for few months, the servicesot our dis
linguished fellow citizen, Thomas II.
Palmer. ESQ.,, of Pl.tstord. This gentle
man has been long laboriug to improve
the common school system Of education,
and is, we believe, eminenty qualified TO
advance this cause in our State. AT the
meeting above mentioned, the subscribers
were appointed committee TO address the
clergy OF the different denominations in
Vermont. and 10 request them, by effective
notices, and, by such modes OF communi-
cation to their respective congregations as
they may think most proper to employ, to
prepare the way for Mr. Palmer's visits
and addresses. When notified that he
will visit your respective towns you may
reader essential aid, by efforts to secure
him audiences, and by your countenance
acd encouragement you may perhaps,glve |
tenfo!d influence 10 his addresses.
There are special reasons why the cler- |
gy are to be relied on, in all enJeavors 10 |
elevate the character ofour district schools. |
VIVA! more important and effective check,
under God, can be imposed on the bauefuI
influences of the sceptic and the fanatic,
than well educated community There
is one circumstance OF fearful moment. Of
which many. who deplore the imperfec-
tons OF our district schools, are not rroba-
bly, aware. Our children and youth are
not taught to read, in these institutions.
with concentrated attention. Thence they
read the Bible, as we'll as other valuable
books, with comparatively little proht.-
and often, after having attained the merid
ian OF life, their minds are so accustomed,
by long habit, TO wander, and they are so
nca2able of giving an undivided attention
10 any subject of reflection, that they rec
ollcct very little of VIVA. they read. and OF
course turn but small portion ofit 10 any
account. This evil it is most important
to correct in the early stages of education,
and we think Mr. Palmer will satisfy you,
if you hear him, that very much can be
accomplished, in regard 10 this, as well as
many other defects in ear y education, by
improved regulation ofour disrc. schools.
The same observation which his been
made in respect 10 reading, is also app!i-
cable to hearing. The consequence is,
that our sermons and addresses 100 gener-
ally fail OF efecting the results they are
to produce, and otherwise might
produce, because so many OF our hearers
have never been trained to the habit OF
concentrated attention. We mention these
points, as more particularly pertaining TO
The great objects which our profession is,
with Gods blessing, endcavoring TO &C.
cure.
Permit US, also, to call your attention
to other nperlec,ions in our common
school system, as it practically operates
among us. There are often great defects
in the location, construction, warming, and
ventilation OF school houses. Teachers.
100 frequently, have no! the requisite quail I
fications, and generally there is no! the
which is necessary to encour'
age and invigorate them in their ardous
labors. Il is, moreover, 10 be lamensed I
that many, even among the intelligent and I
wealthy, finding as they do, the district
schools in a neglected and low condition,
instead Of taking measures 10 elevate them !
10 what they ought to be, and thus give S
hem character and attraction, and he pow
er of being more generally beneficial, re-
sort to private schools. which though, per
haps, more select as regards the rank of
hose who compose them, are oIlen OF
quite as humble claims. By thus with.
drawing their patronage from the district
school, those institutions are thrown upon
he less wealthy classes OF the community
Tot their support, and are suffered to Ian>
guish, and sometimes TO sink into con.
empt.
You know, however, and so do the in
eligcnt part oil the community In general Il
ha, while large sum is annually raised h
n Vermont, by taxation and otherwise, Il
our common schools come vastly short
If what they might ensure, even under
he existing legal provisions, if teachers t
we're selected with more care, and were
and melted, and perhaps we c
nay say guide1, by the supervision which -