Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-02-26
Alistrlloucous.
For the Freeman.
Common Schools in Vermont.


Common Schools in Vermont:
Common Schools had their origin in New
England. The first public building constructed
by our Puritan Fathers was church. This
church was accompanied by the school house,
phenomenon never before seen in the world
and whose influence has made people the like
of which has not been presented, "a Republic
in which the body Of the people can be educa.
ted. And, farther, the iDhuen:e of this common
school doctrine has crossed the ocean, and The
masses in Europe are endeavorlng to throw off
the shackles Of despotism and lift their heads as
treemen. They also wish to transmit to their
posterity the inestmabIe privileges we now en-.
joy namely, the right for ourselves and children
TO lie educated; to stand before God as free and
educated citizens. This is the heritage which
our Puritan fathers came TO The bleak hills of
New England for--the right to worship C cd and
educate their children. They laid the founda-
ton which led to the education of all the colo
onies; and from this 10 a knowledge of their
rights as men; then the assertion Of these
rights, and the independence of America. This
germ, that has emancpated hemisphere from
a foreign yoke we trust in God will enlighten
world, and free man from both physical and men
tai bondage, here and elsewhere.
From such beginning has the noble system
of common schools descended to us, and shall
we in Vermont, who ale mostly of this Puritan
stock. fail to carry out the example set for us {?
The present state of our school system would
lead us to fear that such might be the result
Our position in this respect is anything but en-.
viable, anything but swhat it should be. We
present to the other States around us, the spec
tacle of Legislature breaking down one of its
4 own acts, and putting the feelings and views of
large number of our citizens at Defiance by
:, refusing to elect an officer to take the charge Of
" the educational interest of the State--a State
Superintendent of Common Schools.
What al the reasons given for such state
Of affairs? We are informed that the State anC
u. County Superintendents have not done any gcoC
whatever in the spheres in which they were en-
III gagged; but that it is money thrown away tC
have such offices sustained; and that the las
at year the Stale paid Mr. Burnham eight hundred
nc dollars for doing next to nothing and that thu
schools in the State are no better for what h
ne has done.
In answer TO such unfounded assertions. w
:. would state that, this is wholesale attack upo
u the intelligence and integrity of those who la
bored to have the school law of 1845 established
and also on those who have sustained the law
80 This new school law, as it is called, was passe
Nov. 5, 1915, and provided State, County an
Town Superntendens, and also made provis
y, ions Tor the examination of teuchers. This la,
gave new impetus o the cause of commo
sthools-hrst, by engaging, as County Supcrin
tendents, talented men. who, beside the eyamu
alton OF teachers, and the supervision of school.
delivered lectures TO the inhabitants, and dffl
~ sed among those who would take the trouble I
=, hear, much substantial and valuable nfol natlor
by showing up the deficiencies OF the old svs
l. TEN, and e'dravoring TO enlist the parents i
giving their influence and sympathy in The caus
- OF common schools This law, with all the on
position witch has been raised aplnst if ba
increased the knowledge of all those who wish
ed to know, or had any interest in commo
zen schools, more than fifty per cent, in relation
moi the schools in our own State, and in the State
TO around US. This has been done by bringing t.
fe. geiher the experience of teachers in dlffere
zen PlrIs Of the State, and making such experienc
not common properly for the whole--or to all wi
,an would avail themselves of such knowledge
zen And, secondly, by agtatng the subject, ne
10 views have been brought to light, new ide
WI evolved, the responsibilities Of parents al
leir teachers compared-the rights, wants and duti
yes Of all considered. And also by statistics fu
But nished by Ex-Gov. Eaton, of the number of d
ms, trcts, number of scholars, expenses, &c. Fro
all his report we learn that there are 1900 distrc
P oil SO, 500 scholars of school age, and that ubo
one $4,000 are paid per year for teachers wage
g oil and that the whole expense for teachers, boz
ems. fuel and ncidentals amounts to $23O00O.