Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-10-12
THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.

THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.
Our much neglected Common System, we are
gratifed to perceive from the various educa-
tional movements Of the past season, and the
very general favoring responses of the press, is
about to be earnestly pressed on the attention
of the Legislature at its present session. and, we
sincerely hope, successfully. The old system,
now nominally in force only, and never suited
to the genius of our people, should as the FIRST
step, be at once, and Internationally repealed.
1t is useless and marked by the disapprobaton
Of the people, and, even were tho Legislature to
fail of supplying substitute this session, had
better, as false staff, be swept away, to make
room for the better one, which, not till then,
will be likely to be established. Bat, from all
present indications, tho Legislature will not fail
TO supply substitute. What system then shall
we have! The establishment Of some kind of Il
Board of Education, it now seems to be general
ly conceded, should take the place of the late
one man-power system, which has been tried
and found wanting. But the manner of con-
etituting such Board seems still to be mat
'ef OF disGgssso Proposing to make this
Board to consist of County Superntendants, APP
pointed as County Officers, for the immediate
supervision of their respective Counties, and
meeting together at stated seasons for consuta-
ton on the general Educational interests of the
Shareholders going for State Board, with
Secretary, on whom all the active duties should
devolve OF these two, and only systems which
seems to meet with much favor, tire former was
entertained by very respectable minority in
the last Legislature, and still has, we perceive,
Its earnest advocates. But the latter, we ap-
prehend, will, on elaboration, be found to
promise better for an efficient and permanent
State System, and will therefore m set the most
favor from large majority of our best Educa-
f'onists. The former might operate well in
so Ae Counties, but would probably drag. in
Others, and the system, having no general eff.
Gent head to quicken and dillus, the same i'm
pulses through all its parts, would be liable, it
strikes US, on occount of its partial effects. to
become inefficient as State System, and conse
quently drop into disrcpute. The latter-a
State Board, and Secretary--has been almost
unanimously adopted by the larg9 Convention OF
toac lers who met for the PURPOSE the tast sum.
.Aaer, and whose recommendation should not he
lightly disregarded by the Legislature. Tie
former Will be buta doubtful experiment while
che latter has been tried with more successful
results than those that have flowed from any
e.aer system. 1t is the Massachusetts, system
? system which has there already raised tn
Standard of popular education conftssedly above
'Vhat'of any STATE in the Union, and which i,
''til in tha full tide Of successful experiment.
Why should our legislature hesitate between
the 'Swo proposed methods, ard if myoring til,
characteristics system, Why hesitate to estab-
'isli il for our STATE, with such modification,
as may be necessary to adaft it to our circum
stance, without further delay All are ready
to admit the importance Of the subject and
almost all, by this time, have become ready to
admit also honecessity Of change of our pres
ent ussoSs system and we trust our Legislature
will not this year adjourn without accomplish
ing it, But the propos~. system, with its
salaried Secretary, Institutes and Indispensable
Town S0psrintendants, viii cost money, it is
f'id So does the support of the Gospel. Yer
tapnt has about $50 towns, and tie sdm paid
ministers Of all denominations cannot average
LES than S5O0-to Il town, making the enor-
noas sum of $l25,oo yearly paid in this State
ior the support Of ministers And yet three
Ioarths of the people, if the question came up
whether re should dispense with ministers o,
schools, would say the schools mast berataincd
Why then should we hesitate to expend one
18TH OF the sim above named, to make oul
common schools what they should be, and cause
sAe halfthrown away money wo are alreaG,
spending On them, to be all saved and spent t
the best advantage in advancing the great axe
paramount interest at stake.
1t is high time these things should be serious
" considered.