The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-03-19
From the Rutland Herald.
10 the People of Rutland County,

L. tAO AIVPAN VI A"uCi"nU OOuheJa
On receiving the appointment of SUPERB
nlendent OF Schools fur this County was
much at loss what course 10 pursue.--
The law directs that teachers shall be ex-
amiued and schools visited. Gross igno>
rance and incidence may undoubtedly thus
be excluded. But the crisis demands thar
we look deeper than this. The whole
system wants renovation. The law ITSELF
indeed, points TO thorough reform. Ii
calls on the County Superintendent "by
aU the means in his power to promote
sound education to eIeCate The character
and qualifications Of teachers 10 improre
the means of instruction, and to advanee
the interests OF schools" But, surely, IT
is sufficiently evident, that none of these
important objects could be secured, with
out radical change 10 the mode of con-
Quoting the Schools. Every one who has
bestowed the slightest inaton on the
subject must be conscious, that no part Of
our present system deserves the name of
"Sound educallon,' tha, the teachers them>
selves mus, be instructed before their char,
ac!er and qualifications" can be "elevated''
and that "lhe interests of schools" Cannot
be 'advanced," without great improve
menl in 'rhe means Of instruction" In
other words, so long as the present par
rot>like reading, without attention 10 ideas,
is persevered in; so long as children are
suffered to grow up with sluggish, istless,;
natlen,ive habits, incapable Of fixing their
minds either on book or on q speaker,
and with their reasoning powers wholly
undeveloped, the mere requirement THAI
The teacher should possess a knowledge OF
science, however extensive that knowledge
might be, would be q matter of but second
airy importance. VIVA, should be de-
manded of our schools is, that children
should be ftted there for s,lf-edueatiOn BY
proper development OF their powers,
that the instruction communicated by the
eac hers should be considered mainly. i!
not wholly, as means to that great end
Schools for teachers, such as are now GO.
ing into operation in all the States around
u.s. seem, then, TO form The first object 10
which our attention should be directed.
But here the qves on arises-Are tbs
community prepared to sustain SO imports
ant measure? Are they so fully aware
Of the defects Of our present system as to
countenauce an attempt TO produce thor
ough change? Forunaely the statute
has provided efficient means lo' ascertain.
ing this point. 1t directs the County Su.
perinlendan,s TO deliver public addresses
on the subject of education upon his visits
to the several towns" haze according.
ly fully avaiIed myselfofthis opportunity.
Accordingly have spared no pains to
spread notices through the county OF the
time and place where should meet the
iuha biants of the several towns in order to
| lay my views folly before them, and then
listen careful II Y 10 their suggestions and
advice. l have accordingly met the peo-
pie in twenty.seven different places. |
have explicitly laid MY plans before them
particularly in relation to the School for
teachers. have called on them to state
freely their sentiments and feelings, and
finally they have been requested to express
their opinion by vote. 1t gives me much
! pleasure to say, that in all these meetings
the greatest unanlmity has Prevailed
Not a single dissentent vote has been Civ
en-, and in most of The towns large meet>
lngs have pledged themselves heartily to
cooperate with me in carrying out the
reforms that have indicated.
In consonance, therefore, with wha.
may now be properly considered the Voice
Of The COUNTY, School for female
Teachers viii be opened at Pusord, on
Monday. April 6, 10 continue for three
weeks. [See ADVERTISEMENT The pu-
pills will be examined at the commences
ment of the School, SO that the course of
instruction may be directed towards those
points where DEFICIENCIES may be most ap~
parent. Another examination will take
place al the close of the School, previous
10 the delivery Of CERTIFICATES OF
| QUALIFICATIONS, ut which The Town iSu>
perinlendenls are hereby invited 10 coop
crate. Prudential committees would also
I 6n1 it their interest 10 attend this exa mino
alton. They would there be able them
selves 10 Judge as to the comparative mer-
its Of the teachers, and avoid The danger
OF having the one OF their choice refused
q certificate.
I An institution ofthis kind being new in
this s'ale it would give me pleasure TO re-
ceve one or two pupils from such oil The
other counties as may desire TO see and
Judge for themselves as 10 The effects OF
this first experiment. To prevent disap-
pointment, however, il ought 10 Sc distinct.
| Iy understood, that The object of the School
is not the acquisition OF science. The pu-
pills are expected 10 come sufficiently pres
pared on that score. The main purpose
is MENTAL DISCIPLINE the acquisition
of such power over the sItention as shall
place all knowledge at command; the true
method Of governing The school BY Grm'