Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-12-01
General Education.

ought to he done than is done, considering
the amount Of money raised and cxpendcdun
der it. In some form general supervision
of the public school system, by either a
special State officer or by public board, has
been exercised in ncighboring States with
very valuable results, and the conclusion
is a natural one that a similar practice
in Vermont would be equally beneficial
An imperfect approach to such an arrange
mcnt was attempted a few years ago. but
the good influences from it were not so ralpa-
bic to the peoples minds, generally, as to
dsusc, to the great dissatisfaction Of many
and the satisfaction of others.
This year, besides the influences which
came from discussions in. public assemblies
and in the newspapers, there were pre-
scntcd numerous petitions from various parts
of the State, for the institution, by the Lcgis-
laturc, of Board Of Education, to be speci-
ally charged with fostering care of the
Common Schools of the State and it was
very generally believed that something effect
"'i "o"'' ~ "''0'" l'''''' p'''' '''0"a ="
"''' in.'o'"''"' '"' ',''"""S ""' ",'"'',1
douc. There was more than one cause for the
failure. Several influences were combined.
I'm the first place no doubt there was Il con
'''' ANY ~ '"o WIZ
lredisposcd to look untavoraby on all propo-
sails on the subject It seemed to involve an
expense, which looked to them very large-on
SUMO u '"o pl""S p'oio''u' an ''oi li''"' ''''
compared WIN o'"'r 0V''' expenditures
Inns o'9c'tloh was co"'rol''"S one WIN
many -"" '''""'i'i', o'' VIII" al " ia"
also "h "PI'"""' I'll an interference WIN inc
''o'r'y W '""iNl'uu''' anu VI scroo' ol7'r'c'S'
""'cn "o"I' NOV pc rc''''c' ~ l'ope as
tenacious o' 'u'lr i'rsoi"' rls"'9' ana o'ier
I'N''' l'''''S o'o'''S co"I''c'''' VIII" '"elh as
NcIiho"'crS "rV' my l'i'"' 'nerelorc' winch
VI" MOI at nrS' S'9"' s'cin " l'''e t"' l'vo-
l'i' u '''' 0i'.4 i'' VI 'o"n i'G' u w I'e''1
'""'" a. '"'y 'n's"' c"ooso 10 TO- "o"'o DC
S"'' - '!'.' " -" 'lP'S'.'o' az '''
an opposition sharpened by ridlculN and mis-
representation from those ahle and wiling to
resort to such weapons
Unfortunately, the measures which took
the lead in demanding the attention of the
House, were good deal exposed toattacES OF
that sort. They ran too much into details,
they proposed too many changes of what
had been long established, and to take out of
the common sense control Of parents, COM
mittccs and teachers, some things which had
I..t al ~ a 81
insured too large an expense, or lett tho way
open Tor 1t. pIihcnltlcS OF that sort were
made worse ~ what seemed 10 De an OPPOSE
ton Of P''|'"d' l'ehhS between some VINO
were most strenuous advocates OF the schemes
when theN hau lllIiateu' ana oVhorN WI" were
Always realy 10 COMBAT 'nc'n' Aealh 'H're
was less UNITY OF action ''lah was necessary
among those VINO Were really earnest 10 nave
something done. The friends of amy one
scheme could not readily see that any other
one deserved any serious considcration-at
least not till all hopes of their own had come
to nought.
Thus 1t happened, That tIm'' strength and
good iccIlng were used up ana though SIN
'orc attempt was maze at il late day, ny com
hn'ng the action OF tw" committees OF the
House (t'e committee on Education and the
committee ON Jud'clHry) to produce bill or
hlIS OF IL more satisfactory character ANA on
one OF thcm there was some dcpatc' snch was
the state OF business thch' as TO make the at
tempt real aoortN'' 100 late now to
perfect 50 important" piece OF business 1t
=. th.,,
must go to the next session. was the cry
we nave no DOUBT That hdd the session con
t'hued two days (perhap' even one day.
longer some act or acts would have been
F'SSed-"hIch' 1t not the best That might Re