Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-08-11
Public Schools in Connecticut

The finger of scorn is sometimes pointed at
the State Of Connecticut, and representations,
such as small potato, wooden nutmeg state, are
made use OF rather freely. But very few if any
of the members Of this conlederacy of States
have pore to be proud of than Yankee, patent,
clock-ticking, butter-making Connecticut
And among the most noble virtues OF this an
cient and noble commonwealth, is the liberal
public provision made for that glorious New
England institution, public schools
The eloquent speech of Mr. Shlpman OF
East Haddam. in the Connecticut Legislature,
on the resolution appropriating $1,000 per an
mum for the use and benefit OF the State Nor
NAL School, published in the Hartford Times,
oaords some facts in relation to the provision
made for public schools in that State. We
conv the following extract from this speech
Sir, it is due to the fame OF tins Common
wealth that this appropriation should De grant
ed. Our ancestors, with wise forecast, and
high sense of public duty-wlllle the aggre-
gate wealth of the State was comparatively
small.-iust after a public debt had accumula-
|
long and expensive war, and while foreign
relations of the country wore threatening as
pect-nobly set apart her magnificent public
domain for the purpose of popular education.
Yes, sir; the Legislature of Connecticut, at
It's May Session, 1895, made an appropriation
not Of $1,000 per annum for five years-bm
Of $72 900 PER aanun for all time; or an ag-
gregate amount of 81 ,2O0,O 900. This act con-
fNaf hndxr nd
on that State. 1t looms up from the dull, dark
waste of commonplace Legislation like a pill
lar of fire, whose light is streaming into every
cottage-into every mind within the borders
of our Commonwealth. 1t is safe to walk by
the light of such an example. That splendid
act of State munifcence has been productive
of immense results. The fund then set apart
has, by judicious management, accumulated to
over s., 900 900 as permanent capital; while
the income actually distributed from this
source, and expended in the education Of her
children in the Common Schools during the
last fifty years, exceeds 81 ,O00, 900. With
out any encroachment upon the capital fund,
the amount which will be distributed during
the next fifty years will exceed Sc, 900, OOO.-
In view of these striking facts, surely no mem
Der can hesitate TO vote for the appropriation
contemplated in the resolutions. ] firmly be-
lieve that liberal support Of the Normal
School, by the State, will add vastly to the
benefits derived from the fund by securing a
more able and accomplished body of teachers,
for the payment of whose wages the bulk of
its income is appropriated. Let it be DONE
Let the system of common school education
which has been the browning glory of Connec-
ticut be improved with the advancing spirit of
the age. Instead of reposing ingloriously up
on what our forefathers have done, let us en-
ulate their spirit and complete what they SO
nobly began. | trust the time has come when
this great and important work Of providing for
our schools, well trained teachers, is to be
permanently incorporated into our educational
policy.