Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-06-30
School Supervision.

Several OF the newspapers IN this State are
discussing the subject of school superntend en-
cy, viz: The Register, Haiclmqa. Chronicle.
and beLows Fails Standard In this way the
matter Will be brought before the minds OF the
people, and when the General Assembly meet.
II VIII not be mere caDm mortum surrounded
with preludices, and disagreeabe from repeated
failures. 1t does not deserve 10 be discussed IN
partlzan spirit nor needthe future OF past efforts
be attributed TO party design Schools. super
ntendents and scholars have been most shame
fully abused by all parties in the Vermont Leg
lslature. 1t has enacted laws in reference to
supervision, and once and again it has nufiife9
those laws, by mobblshy and doCgedly refusing
to obey the laws written upon the statute book
II has set up Superntendents, and with puerle
hcklencss thrown them aside. AM there is no
theme more fruitful of popular sneers dian those
raised by denagogues against "Sichools."-
School Masters" and "School Marms !" The
Schools" are unworthy the serious considera-
ton of the sage Lawmakers ~ 1t IS silly and
unmanly to talk about things which concern
children" school houses" and teachers. +"
Such things are fit only for women" and other
weak folk Whct if there are 100000 expen
ded on our schools each year? What if there
are $1,000 School Houses, and $4,000 scholars =?
1t Is too smal'a matter to bother the Lepisla-
ture about, how this two hundred thousand dol.
lars are expended, what the children live IN. and
who governs and teaches them Banks nnst
be examined by an Inspector fences have a
vlewer Flour has an examiner: hons have an
Inspector. But the Schools are unviewed nm
visited, unexamIued. Scholars are left TO chance
teachers as much as frogs are left TO chance
showers. The people do mol know how their
money is expended do not know to whom IN m
money Is PAID do net know whether they re-
ceive any equivalent do not know what the
character and powers Of the masters and mis-
tresses to whom they send their children are !:
/ do not know INTO what houses their children ARE
/ placed. They are almost as ignorant of these
/ things in Vermont as fthe same things in Wis
consln or Texas. And the Legislature for two
years past has said, 1.-THE people shall not know
of the condition of their schools
People. What are the Schoolmasters about /:
assembly, What Is that to us, see to that
/ yourselves.
People. But what is everybody's business is
nobody's business.
assembly Don't bother us, WIS are trying 10
find our the weight of beans
People How many Schools, Scholars. and
! School houses have we How MANY teachers ;
how much are they paid
assembly. A few years since we told you.-
amt that enough
Peope. But we want to know each wear, and
so ma out whether our schools grow better or
worse.
! assembly. Let somebody see to such things.
who cares for them,-we don't.
People. How do our schools. scholars. teach.
ers. houses. books, etc, compare with those Of
Mass, New York, Maine, &c.
.3ssembty. Never mind about other peoples
/ utfhrs-hayeu't you had an Ethan Allen. and
ami YOU called the real Green Mountain Bows y
| What are schools to you
People. But is there not a law in force for
| you, men most noted for wisdom and yr.
tue" which says that you shall annually elect a
State Superintendent
ASSEMBLY, Look here, will yer; "Shall'
means, " we wontw
In order that the Assembly may be ready to
DO something IN reference to this subject, it is
necessary That the people have some feeling d.
bout 1t, and that there be some plan proposed
and considered previous to the annual session.
/ Generally the Legislature meet without baving
any plan or course of action prepared. and thew
! lind It vastly easier to do nothing. than 10 Dre.
| pare practical plan and to carry il out by Leg
isaton. 1t costs thought and attention to do
! lhlsi but TO condemn existing laws, find fault
wllh past Supenntendents, and sheer at Schools
is very easy natter especially when backed
up by existing preludices and public apathy
We hope to see the present system Of Super.
intency discussed, and compared with other sys.
tens now In operation IN other States-,St IN.
bans Messenger.
ADDISON County Uhig Convention.
Wings OF Addison County held their animal
Convention at Middebury, on the sth inst, and
made the following nominations, viz: Senator's
Erasmus ID. Warner, Rollin j. Jones .b,dpe,
Joseph Hayward, Roswell Bottum, Jr. Shenif
- David ). Church. States .4Horney-John w
Stewart Judges Of PrObafs-Horato Seymour
Addison District, Harvey Munsll, New Hayer
District. The Register says: I'VE have seldom
II ever had SO large convention of the Wing,
Of TINS county as on last "Wednesday. Ever,
town was represented on the committee, and on
" one oy less than the full number 10 which il
was entitled. This is an unusual ocenrrenc a
aud shows that the former zeal for our princi
| Piles and organization has by mo means sL.,l