The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1849-06-16
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sATrRpAY, yrNE 10. lsl0.
EDUCATIONAL

The Annual Report Of the state Supcrln,
tcnd,nt II Common schuou, ~ the most clAb,
ufAto and able document which n issued from
the press in Vermont, Composed 10y one who
Is Acknowledged by all parties 70 be gentle
man Of distinguished abilities, and prepared
with great care and labor, u embraces gen
rraEsnd comprehensive view Of The mos, i'm
portant Interest ofthc State, pointing out the
wills aud defects existing IN our common
schools, aud suggesting appropriate remedies,
with plans for further improvement One sys.
TEN Of Education rs at the foundation or our
property. Evrry parent who gives his son
good education, puts the means IN his hands
OF getting,not only good living, but of laying
up property Ear more surely thau the parent
Who gives his son money sufficient 10 buy
good iarB, on which to commence business.
But people nrc most Interested in what falls
directly under their observation. We hear Of
battle in Europe, and are not at all moved
bot # we were looking on-the field during the
contest, our feelings would be sodccply cnlis.
ted We should never forget the scene. So ~
regard to ouc .choul1 They are so much on,
of the way that they do not fall under our ob.
scrvuion, and our feelings are not so deeply
engaged as they would be, IL we visited them
daily, and saw the Influence thoy were exert.
my on the dcstnies of our children. This
Report collects all the information in regard
to our school. which can be obtained, elbows
where they fail to accomplish what they should
,lo, thus oceasonng a waste Of the money
which It cpsts to sustain them and also shows
whore they are most successful, and what Be-
needful to ensure successful and profitable
schools in all cases OF course it is docu.
'mcnt " hich should be- read with deep interest
by every c1ttzcn of Vermont, and very few
can read it without being thus interested
copy is sent to the clerk of every school dts
trict, and is thus accessible to ALL but many
fail to avail themselves III the opportunity Of
reading il, perhaps few extracts, relating TO
important points which .t-tIGats
my not be unacceptable 10 the readers OF the
Caledonan.
~'Another modification Of our school law
which the Superintendent feels himself called
Upon ia propose and recommend, is to make
our common schools, in all cases, inh5iiy free.
The balance required for the support of schools
after the application of public funds, is now,
indeed, raised, in large majority Of cases, by
tax assessed upon the list OF the district, 80
that, practically, ours is in the main free
school system. And itis,not so much the few
p occasional exceptions to this result that ind.
cate n change TO be desirable, as other consd-
erations. That these exceptions operate as an
evil, 10 some extent, by lettering tlio:-poor
from sending their children TO school, and
thus swelling the number of thoi who, as we
have already seen, fail TO avail themselves Of
the means ofeducation is not to be doubted.
The superintendent however is not 40
much disposed TO present il tho duty and
privilege Of the State 10 provide for all com.
petent education, in view of the great and pos.
tive benefits to be secured, TO contend for
itas right-a right incident TO humanity in
any and every oondition-the right of self
preservation. As body of people united I'M
der civil aud social organization, may we
adopt the most effective measures,--or rather
the only adsgrstr neaSures,t to secure ourselves
against those oatrsgeS and iHjurioE to which
VIC are ever exposed among those who have
grown up uneducated and unrestricted, gnor.
ant and deprAved' Are we liberty toguurd