Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-06-21

annual Report "a the Legislature. Il i 40
Interesting document Of about 900 pages,
and Perusal Of II shows that the Superin-
tendent and his assistants have attended to
their duties in the mpst thorough manner.
The Report contains much that We should
like TO transfer to our columns, but one 81
two extracts is all we have room for at pre-
sent. The Superintendent says, that on the.
whole, the aspect Of our Common School
system is cheering:
Since the last Teport from this Office was
made probably more has been done BY way
Of reducing into practice the plans and sug-
gestions Tor the improvement Of the schools
viii have heen previously urged upon the
people, than during the same length Of time
since the system was established. Proba-
bly, there has never been a time for the last
half century when the Common School was
SO highly priced as now. Never was there
time when so many capable and faithful
teachers were in the field: never q time
when SO many citizens were earnestly en-
gagged IN the work of reforming our schools
never time when the people were so well
prepared for liberal action upon the subject"
He makes particular mention Of the Col
linsvilIe. Bristol, Stamford, and Norwalk
schools. as models. OF the latter he says:
Here Eevolution has been wrought in
the common schools which is truly wonder
full. Till within little less than two years,
this town possessed no means of public in
struction except such as were furnished by
district schools, and those none DC the best,
the school houses being in sad plight. the
teachers poorly paid and changed twice a
year, and The course Of study limited to the
most elementary branches. Ofcourse those
parents who possessed the means Of paying
for the education oftheir children. instead Of
sending them to these schools, placed them
under private tuition. How different the
aspect of the public schools in Norwalk at
this time. At the village noble union
school has been established, capable of ac-
conmodating four hundred and fifty pupils.
There child can commence with the al
phahet and go through the various degrees
of instruction, receiving thorough and sys-
tematic training till he is fitted to enter coll
lege, or 10 engage in any business requiring
knowledge ofthe higher English branches.
U
classes, the wealthy and the INDECENT, in the
same class, enjoying the same privileges.
In the south part of the town, only
mile and a half from this school, another OF
the same description has been organized -
The people of South Norwalk, seeing the
school privileges their neighbors had provi-
ded for their children, forthwith resolved to
secure the same for their own. And now ii
asked to name another town in New Eng
land, of the same population, which enjoys
the advantages Of two such sch ools, l could
not do it. II four years ago any one had
predicted to the people Of Norwalk that such
revolution would be produced in so short
period, he would have been pronounced
h0s-headed enthusiast
We should be glad to End Litchfeld call
Jag forth similar concentrations, but turn
ing from our native place to that Of our
adoption. We find the Superintendent. pre-
sents sorry picture Of the educational des-
itution of this section:
s. In no county as whole, have found
more need Of missionary labor than in Litch-
Geld County. know there are still dark
spots in all Of the other counties. Middle-
sex in particular has been represented as
being nearly at the bottom of the hill; but
ffthere are worse schools in any part Of the
State than are to be found within the limits
of the wealthy town of Lifchfckd, humbly
nope tina; the friends Of humanity will spare
no pains in taking speedy measures to en-
tighten them.
Ia travelling through the southern part Of
II Gatd i ~. Cd Al
were sixteen boys and girls placed together
in little shell Of a building about twelve
feet square, with the ceiling but little high
er than my head, no means Of ventilation
provided. other than was afforded by the
numerous crevices, knot-holes and broken
windows,no sign Ola dictionary, blackboard
or anything Of the kind. The school house
was not worth as many dollars as there
were were pupils in it, for any earthly pur-
pose. Another school was found in the same
neighborhood, where the teacher received
eleven whole dollars per month and boarded
himself In another instance I visited
school taught by female who received two
dollars per week without board. The con-
dition Of the schools may well be imagined.
These are extreme cases, il is true; but
still there are many places in Litchfeld
County where the schools are mol improving.
In Harwinton, Winchester, Torrington,
New Milford, Litckfeld, Kent and in other
places, there are schools to be{0nnd, which
are evidently reHcgrading. Many Of them
are not as good as they probably were ten OF
twenty years ago.
Iwould not wish to be understood as say
ing there are no good schools in Lilch6eld
County; for have too much respect for
my own equally not to say all can con-
sistently in its behalf. There is one school
in Plymouth Hollow, also another in New
Hartford. both Of which are the pride and
ornament Of the places in which they are
located. In many respects they are model
schools. There are also other comparative
~ good ones; but justice compels me to
say they are few and far between."
SUDDEN DEATH.-We learn from the
Waterbury American that Miss Elvira Bron-
son, daughter Of Joseph p. Bronson, Of
WATERFOWL, died in that town on Wednes-
day morning after an illness Of only 4s hours.