Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-08-25
MONTPELIER. VERMONT, THURSDAY,

reason OF this neglect is, that they receive NJ
compensation for visiting the schools, and NJ
man can be expected to neglect his own business
and bestow upon them the care and attention
they require, and receive no remuneration. Be
sides. some towns have no superintendents
which serves to Indicate the general disreprtt
into which the Law has fallen, and the popular
odium that dllacbes to it.
In order that we may compare the operation
Of this System. controlled BY the narrow and
iberal policy that has ever marked the action
OF our Legislature concerning our Common
Schools, with that of the Massachusetts System
sustained and directed by the liberal and en-
lightened policy Of her Legislature, let us for O
moment look at her School Law, its execution
and effects
There are, in Massachusetts,, three Normal
Schools for the education Of teachers. supported
by State appropriations and last year an appro-
priation was made for the establishment of the
fourth. A Bo,rd of Education exercises a 81 :
pervsory care os er these schools, aud the public
schools of the State. The Secretary Of the
Board of Education is its organ, and performs
the active duties of the Superloendency, presi.
ding also, at the Teachers Institutes, which are
held in all parts Of The Commonwealth during
both Spring and Fall, and supported by appro.
priations from the State.
Each town annually elects n experimenting
school committee of three, for the examination
OF teachers and the supervision of the schoos,
which are visited by them, or some one Of them
several times during each term, and also BY the
parents, and, at the close of each term, commit
tee ana parents are present at a public examna-
ton of the schools. This committee, alone,
have the power to dismiss teachers, and to select
books for use in the schools, by which means
they avoid The needless expense, ant endless
confusion experienced by US, in consequence Of
the efforts OF rival publishers and their agents to
introduce their books, and of our having no one
who is empowered, authoritalvely, to prescribe
list of Books for use in our schools.
A register is also required to be kept BY every
teacher, blanks being furnished by the State, Of
the attendance, punctuality scholarship deport-
ment, &c. of each pupil, which is open for the
inspection Of all, and after the close of The term
is returned to the committee for preservation.
Who, after contemplating this excellent
School System, can longer wonder ,ha, Massa -
chusetts has been so long distinguished for the
intelligence, energy and enterprise of her cil-
zens, as well as the high stand she has taken in
the cause of educat ION? Who will wonder a t
the host of great men-noble names of which
she may we'll be proud brilliant stars in the
bright galaxy OF American ine nellect-statesInen,
patriots, scholars and divines, who have been
reared upon her sterile and rocky aoil, whose
products are men, and fig6red, so extensively in
her own and the Nations history?
Let the people Of Vermont choose between
this and their present inefficient, roaen system,
and let them look well to it, that they make snch
choice with mn enlightened regard for the inter-
ess and honor Of their State. ALEXIS.
Saxton's River, Aug. 6.