Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-10-06
From the Rutland Herald.
Common SchOOIs.

Every year there is expended in Vermont
not less than fwo hundred thousand dollars
for the support Of Common Schools How is
| this large sum expended To whom is it
paid What kind of school-masters teach
the schools and receive their pay, What
kind of houses are the children schooled in I,
What books are studied How long do the
schools continued How many scholars at
tend school, These are leading and all inn
portnnt questions. But there is not a man
in Vermont that can answer them or give
even a reasonable guess Ninctv-nine out of
every hundred mon in this State know
nothing of tho teachers, scholars, schools
books. and schools-houscs. They could tell
you just as much about schools in japan. and
they care nothing about them, only to keep
clear OF them and to pay as light tax us
possible. We say that the people of Yer
mont are guilty OF II barb,rous neglect Of
their Common schools. They are wasting
their money, degrading the schools, crushing
out worthy teachers, and doing great jus
tice to the school-going gcncration
What is needed Vermont. is not like
most other States. 1t has no large city from
which flows power and influence 1t has no
powerful metropolis, and there are few things
which the State, as such, takes pride in. 1t
looks with regret ON the respectable State
House, and almost wishes 1t distributed
among the people. 1t owns no State ASYLUM,
Pcmtcntidry, or College. Our people abo-
inmate Capitalization, and will not endure
whatever looks like tho one man power. -
Hence the failure of the plan to benefit Com
mon Schools by II State Superintendent He
had POWER and Il salary, and 50 WAS unpopu-
lar. II ever anything is done to find out the
condition and to regulate the oversight of
schools, money, masters hou ses and scholars
1t Will be done by men from different parts of
the State. Such body of men can alone act
without suspicion of usurpiny dangerous
power.
In tie first place, it seems to us, that the
laws authorizing the election OF State and
Town Superintendents should be repealed A
State Superintendent can do but little good
and cannot be popular. A Town Supt. is
surrounded by neighbors, and he will be
anxious to treat all alike, and to obtain the
lll-will Of none. He WILL almost invariably.
please the people by doing nothing
But there must he "A substitute, and one
that will be efficient and popular. Let the
several County Courts appoint Supt. in
each County. lie can visit each school, at
least, once in year, examine the teachers,
and lecture in every town. lie will have no
" cighbOrhood qualms'' to prevent his doing
his work well. The fourteen Co. Sup'ts.
could form Board Of Edncation. and meet
annually, and appoint Secretary who shall
compile "a Report to the General Assembly
Each Snpt. should report everything worth
knowing about each school in tho Co., and
be paid for his work from the State Treasury
The salary of each should he fixed, in ordp. ,
that the people may know precisely the cost
OF the system proposed. a priced Report
should be made, and copirs cent to every town
and district clerks sui to other fit persons.
The Sup'ts, should also make reports OF their /
doing. through tho newspapers, and let the |
people know fully the condition OF the schools
and what they are doing.
Sup'ts. have thought it beneath them 10 .
write history of their doings for the news
papers, that all might learn the facts and |
Judge of the results and the consequence
is-the people have ignored them and thew
are annihilated by popular will. while a
statute commands their annual election.
>up'ts.. Lecturers, Conventions, &c, who
e" a ~" r wear ney Ihrend to do ana what
hey have done. The newspapers are the
proper channel, and whoever depiscs the
manner of teaching the people. will find
himself alone, forgotten, and powerlcss
In this plan, there is no Zone man DOW
r, and by the expense of about 50 900, the
chools will he re-opened to daylight and ali
will know how the 5000, 900 is annually ex-
'cnded. In this way the two ends oi our
'ommon school system meet, and the people
'lll know what the schools are doing. and
1hen the faults are discovered they can an.
ly the remedy.