Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-04-20
tiers" of this wonderfully fast and

But says one, our people are not
so intelligent as they are, because of
our schools aud educational piiviIc-
ges, but in spite Of them.
Now this response which is the
stereotyped argument of those whose
constant business appears to be, to
harp on our failings, and look on the
dark-side of the picture, seems
scarcely to have importance and Dig
nifty enough to deserve reply
But let us try 1t by this admitted
first principle, i. e., that man, body,
mind and soul, (as far as any human
agencies are concerned) is the result
tant of certain forces, the effect of
a chain of causes, aud the charac-
ter Of the result produced, will al
ways correspond TO the elements
and processes used in the produc-
ton.
Now it is as clear as the midday
sun in cloudlcss sky, that unless
circumstances and educational iuhn-
ences are favorable to the develope-
ment of body, mimi and soui, IN
Vermont, we should be no higher in
the scale Of being than the Hotten-
tots. This sophlsm aside. We are
exalted to heaven in point of privi-
lege. Vermont has done and is do
ing much for the improvement OF
her schools.
Consider the large sums Of mon
ey expended yearly for education
! the large number of new and com
modious houses erected within the
1 past few years, and the large number
of Academies, High Schools and
I Colleges, well sustained.
Gentlemen, white | admit that
there is the most urgent necessity
/ for improvement, | do fully believe
that tie better course to pursue is,
to give all credit 10 the people, for
what they have done and are still
doing, aud we shall be much more
likely 10 accomplish The object We
have in view than il we continually
talk Of defects and faults alone.
The great principle is, honor to
whom honor is due - well merted
credit is justly due, and generally
well received.
Nor, can it be said, that we are an
unpIogressivc people for that idea
is universally admitted, which pla-
ceS christianity IA diameiric opposi-
ton to all systems of heathenlsm
that ever have, do, or ever viii ex-
ist, that man is a pro gressive in
stead of retro-gressivc being, that
the Golden age is in the future, not
in tha past-in short that the good
time is coming, and is fast approa-
ching.
What then is the true cause why
so many of our schools are SO worth.
less as is acknowledged on every
hand they are
Why with so many favoring cir
cumStances do they fail of furnish
ing that thorough elementary in
slruction, and mental discipline fol
our youth which they ought: and
what are the agencies required for
their advancement
70 iHprore our Schools 1oe mus
impore or Teachers. "As is the
teacher so Is the SCHOOL, will re-
maiu forever immulably true, anC
il makes not the vast difference will
the true teacher whether Socratic.
like, he has to collect his pupils a
round him in the very street to i'm.
part instruction, or whether he be il
a log school house in the back wood,
Of Vermont, or il the beautiful anC
commodious building, finished il
the best style of modern schoo
house architecture and while {
good teacher wall do infinitely bet,
ter under favorable circumstances
yet poor one will do nothing il
either would that parents more
fully appreciated the great differ
ence between a good teacher and {
poor one.
Without doubt some Of the best
schools IN Vermont, The present win
ter ARE held in very poor school hou
SEES. But | would not have my re.
marks construed as iavoring suct
school houses, but to show what a
good teacher may do under the most
unfayorable circumstances.
Nor let me be understood as spea,
king lightly OF our Vermont com
mon school teachers | am too well
acquainted with very many Of them
to charge them wrongfully even
with then fRuhv. A. = sless ihoy
are our best young men aud women
The school-master is abroad, i:
the boast of the modern reformer
and great difficulty with us in Yer
mont, is, that too many of our best
teachers are abroad instead of being
at home, where they are so much
needed, bat in vain we seek, at pres
ent, to remedy This evil so long as
inducements are much greater a
broad than at home. TO provide q
continually improving and more
thoroughly qualified class of com
mon school teachers is the great and
all important desideratum.
"Give me where to place a full
crum, and will heave the world,
says the ancient Philosopher.
Give us full quota of thorough
ly qualified and well trained teach
ers for the common schools of Yer,