Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-11-09
THE BOARD Of EDUCATION.

There have been three different bills for new
School System reported and printed, in the Leg
islature, this sess;cn-one for putting the whole
concern into the hands of town committees of
four, in each town, to have the full charge of
both the schools and school district interests. in
their respective towns-one to constitute q
Beard Of Education of County Superintendents,
one to be appointed in each County, with sala-
riss from 800 to $500, graduated by the size
OF the Counties, all to meet stately, consult,
collect statistics, and appoint Secretary to
compile such statisticsiand make report to the
Lsgslature,-aRd the remaining bill goes to
constitute a Board of Education, nodded closely
onthe well known and thoroughly tested Com
mon School System of Massachusetts,
This division among the friends of education
is greatly to be regretted as directly tending to
defeat, and put off indefinitely, the adoption of
any efficient system. The first of the above
oils contSmplates system which will probably
not command much support and if it did, and
should be adopted, would not, we apprehend,
prove much, if any, improvement on the present
system. Of the second we have given our opin
ions before. Board made up of County Su-
perintendents, we think, might, perhaps, be an
improvement on the present state of things bnt
at the same time, we fear that it would not op-
crate as an efficient State System. 1t would
have no general head, and prove, in operation,
as may DO supposed would a confederation of
eur States without federal government. In
decd, it is intended, probably, as sort of half
way house, which the timid:hope to reach, while
they despair OF accomplishing the whole jour-
dividing themselves up in these half way maas-
ures. If they would all confidently take hold of
the matter, and work together they might &C.
cure, as well this session as any other what they
must all know, if they have informed them
selves on the subject, to be the best and most eff
cient system-a State Board of Education, with
Sccretary-the system which has been adop-
ted and tested in other States, aud which in
Massachusetts,, the first State to establish it, has
elevated the standard of popular education
there, head and shoulders above that of any
other State in the Union
1t isnot yet too late for the friends of educa-
ton to make strong and united movement in
the Legislature. Will they do it The public
expect it of them, and the public will believe
that it, would they but do SO, their effort would
b9 crowned by success, and Vermont, the most
intelligent State in the Union, would no longer
have to bear the reproach of being behind every
other New England State in her system Of pop
'ular education.
The Legislature lat session could vote an ap-
preparation of $4,000 for stone monument
Are they really willing to have it said Of them
that they this session refused to appropriate as
much to carry into effect good eystem for thoir
Common Schools If SO, let them have the
credit of it before their constituents and the
public at Large. But we do not believe the OK
pense will be the cause of the failure We be-
lieve that cause to lie in tho timd, irresoute,
halfway course of the protested friends of Edu-
cation in the Legislature; and if they do not
redeem themselves by prompt, united and deci
sive action, they can hardly expect to be held
blameless by those who have intrusted thi.
great interest to their keeping.