Litchfield enquirer., 1845-01-02
Fsem1 he .A1arperd ~. Ia.r,.aa AZ pee. Ia. |.
y - PUBLICATION. fl1se 90.

/ f-., From the Hartford JouaGL Dee. Ia nj
,s.r.r. sat-7s EDUCATION. sl7ss sI5a0 9 ~
It will be recollected that the last General AS
semby instituted Commission TO act upon this
subject, and report to the next General assembly
The committee for this purpose appointed BY his
EXcellency the Governor, are John T. Norton,
Esq, and T. w Stewart, Esq of Hartford county :
VIM T. Russell, Esq.,, Of New Haven Rev. Sam
ue Nichols, of Greenfield, Hon. C fiarles w. Rock-
we'll, OF Norwich, Hon Seth P. Beers, of Itch
field, Hon. Edward Eidredge, of Pomfret, Profess
| sor John johnson, of Middletown, and Lorin p
Waldo Esq, Of Totiand At a meeting Of this
committee held on Wednesday, last, in the Cover.
nor's room at the State House, there were present
| Messrs Norton, Stuart, Nichols, Beers, and john
son. The meeting was called to order by its
chairman, Mr.. Norton, and T. w. Stuart was APP
On motion, Messfs. Norton and Beers were APP
pointed committee TO report suitable list Of in
fterrogatores TO be proposed to the various School
Societies, as contemplated IN the resolutions of the
General Assembly. sSnct interrogatories were re-
ported, and were adopted BY the Committee.
! hOnmotion, the Secretary was directed to prepare
Circular to be printed, and to be addressed signed
by said Secretary, to the School Visitors and Clerks
Of the various School Societies Of the State, COM
municatng to them the resolutions of the General
Assembly on the subject Of Education, and the in
ferrogatories prepared and requesting reply from
Them by the 1st Of April next. " , ~
I On motion, voted, that the proceedings cf this
meeting together wifi the report Of the Joint
Standing Committee on Education, and the resoln-
tions thereupon Of the last General Assembly, be
published in the Journals Of this city e .'@4 =
After consulting some time upon the. subject
with which it is charged, the COMMITTEES adjourned
to meet at such time in April next, as shall be de-
signated BY the Chairman, at the Governors Poom
in this city, then and there. to receive returns
from the various School Societies, and to consum,
! mate the purpose for which this Committee IS
raised '''7' ''' l.. w, STUART, Secretary 81
Here follow the Report Of the Joint Standing
Committee on Education, and the Resolutions
thereapon Of. the last General Assembly T..
4gsi oar ,pcos REPORT avs3 NJ l-- .ss4a a
| The Joint Standing Committee on, Education to
,cs0,n acos referred that, part of his Erceiiency
q the Governors Message relating to Education,
beg leave to report. ri. ai ..sni Gt.l s'i' AZ !
Ii is made the special duty of the Joint Stand
ing Committee on Education, by rule OF this AS
sembly to report the condition Of Common Schools
and of Education generally in the State.g9es nc
! Ii is impossible for this Committee to, perform
this duty with any thing like the fitness and GERS
6 tainty which the Importance of the subject des
lnands, owing to the entire absence here ofthe
means of accurate information.iw a9nisat7 esv .
l. There is now no original authenticated source of
4 school statistics within the reach Of the Commits
tee-nothing by which theyscan ascertain therave-
of teachers. the method OF teaching, the supply Of
books and libraries, the number and variety OF
| schools, and in general, their relative standing and
that of the scholars in the several DISTRICTS. They
cannot,now determine to what extents IL any asso:
Citations exist Of Teachers, or OF parents and 9TH
ers, for the Improvement Of schools--or to what
extent public meetings for addressing on the sub
iect Of education. and addresses TO children ir
schools, have taken p!ace--to, what extent there
\ has been systematic classification and regulation
of schools and visitation and supervision of then
generally on the part OF the parents and commit
tees, whether in short the system of common
schools as it exists. is or is not adequate Il
the educational wants of the State. Such really i
the position in which the committee are place.
through the want Of any regular aniheniicatedre.
turns made to the State frrn the several districts
Z Torsupply this great deficiency and to enable
future committees to art with full understanding
\ upon this snbiec, and with materials drawn freshly
from the only true and proper sources Of informa-
ton, viz. the several districts. your committee
submit the accountant Resi- luton, Tal9 jN8i IL!
1t is true the committee might express generally
an opinion iipon the state Of the cnmmnn schools
and If called or to- do this, they would have
no hesitation insaying that they bnileye many de-
iects and irregularities now exist-thatS there is
not that attention given to the subject wheht de.
mands-that there is disposition to relax effort
and ttp regulate the amount of education too much
Q hv the CAPACITY Of the Schoul Fund to pay foi it,
that the prnpe, aciitesare not yet ofe, ed to those
Il persons WIN wish tn become teachers, tn prepare
themselves bv appropriate course of study, par
ticularis by the establishment of Normal Schcol
that there IT, still, notwithstanding the praise
worthy and liberal efforts of the late indcfatigable
Secretary Of the Board of Commissioners for Com.
mon Schools, great want Of information respecting
the schools. school systems, and progress Of ropu-
lar eduraton generally, IN other States and coqn-
! tres-ihat there Is great want in common schools
Of the apparatus deemed Indispensable in the best
conducted rrfate schools--ihereis still sufficient
( want Of uniformity IN the studirs, books ard
course of instruction and discipline generally
ado ted in all the schools Of the same classical
proper attcation is not vet given tor the establish
ment of school and social libraries, and evening
schools or classes for such children as are necessa
rily employed during the day-that sufficient en-
conragement is not given 10 the establishment o
lectures, especially in winter-season, and on some
department Of science connected with the pursuit:
Of the reorlc, and calculated to supply interesting
and profitable topics Of conversation. "a" to stimu
late enquiry direct the reading Of fhe young. bring
all classes together and TINS cultivate happier
cial relations" II is required that more vigor
Gus public sentiment should exist on the subject
Of education than now eXists--l more active int.
rest he created. and an increased provision be
made IL the State Of Connecticut would do Justice
TO itself. and fulfil the sacred injunction Of that
law Which two centuries ago, at the birth Of Con-
necticut provided I" that NOT single child should
be found unable 20 read the holy Word Of God, and
the good laws Of the Colony"
In accordance with these remarks, with the
view Of procuring the intelligent agitation Of this
subject, and furnishing the basis of prudent and
benficisl action hereafter, your committee RECON-
mend the appointment of committee Of nine per-
sons Ia he appointed BY the Governor Of the State
whose dirty it shal he TO receive fhe returns from
the several school districts, proposed in an ac-
cornpanyny resolution 10 digest the same. and re-