Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-10-14
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.

There IS no difference of opinion, we be-
ieye among the friends Of educational inn
progemeut in Vermont, upon the point
designated in the paper below, as the one
thing to be asked for, from the Legislature
this year All feel thatw must have a State
Superintendent With such man in that
office as the Legislature may be able TO e.
lect the hopes Of all viii be encouraged and
there will be general readiness to co-ope-
rate in any good measures that be may
bring forward VI. Chronicle
10 the HON. Erastus Fair5mks;
Dear Sr:-We address you, and through
YOU the friends Of General Education in
Vermont, respectfully using that liberty
which is the right of every man, to utter
his opinion. We say, moreover, in excuse
for our forwardness, that it is with full
sense Of the modification we shall feel if
our words prove unworthy; or the regret,
if worthy, should they remain unheeded.-
The subject of General Education IS annu-
ally under discussion by our Legislature,
and is likely to be al its approaching ses-
sion, and so long as the system Of Common
Schools remains in a forming state 1t is de-
sirable that the friends of the best system
should be able TO act in concert, and with
distinct and valuable ends in view. 1t
appears to us that the great point OF I'M
proyement in school education, whether
private or public, is the introduction Of the
principle of gradatlon We have looked
at the intricate system of New York, where
ii must be acknowledged that, notwithstand-
ing their frequent changes aud increasing
inyoluions ~ the management OF their pub
lie schools, great Improvement has been
made, though al great trouble and expense;
and are satisfied that there, the progress
they have made is not SO much owing to
their great wealth and resources, or the
many auxiliaries they have introduced IN
the shape of Libraries, Lectures, Normal
Schools, Regencies and minor helps, which
are unknown to community; but that the
point of Improvement is the introduction OF
the simple principle of Gradatlon. Again,
we have looked with still greater interest 10
Massachusetts, a State corresponding more
nearly with our own IN the extent Of lis
territory and the number and character Of
It's inhabitants, aud are satisfied that there
also, the point of improvement, which IS
conessedly very great, is not lie Costumes
or any other particular which might deter q
neighbor of smaller means and fewer wants
from following the example, but simply the
introduction everywhere OF the principle o
GRADATIoN.
Ia looking into the Reports Of our State
Observation-Disclosures Of Common Srhppls fhf
chief feature, so far, has been complaints
Of poor buildings, thin attendance oil schol
ars, inferior teachers, lack OF interest IN the
community, Indifferent provision OF books
and other equipments, complaints of taxa
lion for the support of schools, schoo
meetings neglected, or If attended, made
the scene OF violent struggles about th'
committee or the teacher, or the time io
: keeping school, or the building, or It's loca
ton. or similar matters, all OF winch are
really matters of establishment when view
ed as occurring among people all OF whoa
p are friends of General Education; none o
1 whom would bear TO be called Its enemies
D We wish in tins communication TO express
Inc ooinion. after much consideration anS
. some experience, that these things must be
especially IN large Pla0e9' ""e'0 '"0'S
but one grade of schools; where scholar
of every age and every degree OF prohclen
: cy are placed under one teacher, aud wher'
! progress is thus confined and prevented
4 We wish To express the decided oplnia
4 that the proper remedy for all these evil
! IS the introduction OF Two or more Grade
8 of schools.
In this communication we have not roor
: to show as we might how the system Of Gri
d cation works these results; but not onl
IS theory, but facts show to every alientIv
e observer this attainment wherever the syi
TEN has been introduced.
d Vermont has everywhere her Commo
a Schools of one grade she has in a major
IA ~ of her large towns what is called an A
m cademy Building, the production OF pflVa'
er subscriptions and ftiul efforts for somethin