The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-12-09

We snswer.--Those things which tncy
n rs, need 10 know. Aud what are they2
They will necessarily vary somewhat in
different schools. and with different scbol.
are, according 10 pge aud previous train
log bu, a. general rule, Reading, |
Spev;ae. Writing. arithmetic, Geog-
raphy, History and Composition should
constitute me principal and in most
cases The only things that hopM az
be Studied ana tlnght IN or |
Teynion Common Scho e. A thoroul z
knowledge of these " fundamental to
proficiency in The higher hroucbcs, mud
be.ides. is that knowledge which oil our
youth most need 10 fit them for the bu.
sinrs, of life.
There may he some few schools Of this
class into which other md more advanced
studies may be prof,ably introduced. and
il i. to be hoy ed there will be many moro
b. and by, but If we mistake not, at
preseu, the great and almost universal
defect Of eur common school Education
consists 10 the wnni Of discipline in these
elementary branches This deficiency
has resulted from various causes The
multiplication of Academies and Select
Schools has had something to do with it.
3cholays having attended these during ~
Jatt # the year wish to prosecute tho
same studies when they return to tho
common school fJr the winicr term, ami
through their own influence and that of
their parents, they generally succeed in
procuring the desired GLASSES for this pur.
pose Teachers, too In not few insfan'
ces consulting their own tastes in perfcr-
encs to the wants Of their schools, aud
preferrug TO teach what they have stud
led at tbs Academy or College, have in
troduced their favcrite saudics and Text
DOUhs ,"'u tmu uistric' Schom. Parents
moreover, ambitious to go, their children
advanced to higher studies, have too often
favored this course, not considering that
all such advancement. if premature, nee
essarily fails Of its object, and only tends
TO make superficial Scholars or mere dull
lards, Instead of intelligent women aud
capable business men.
These and other causes have been for
years modifying the character aud dimin.
ishing the usefulness Of The Vermont
Common School. They have diverted
from he study Of the primary branches
enumerated above, large portion Of our
youths wbo have hitherto had no careful
training 10 them, and monopoliaed 30
much Of tho Teacher. timo with other
classes that Reading Spelling and Wri.
tiag have been crowded out Of their won't.
% lace and treated ss comparatively
uulmportsn, things The result is that
multtudes of youth among us, our young
women aud young Gen, who are wholly
dependent upon the common school for
their education. are failing to acquire iI
81 capacity to read, write and spell, suf.
fcisut TO ave them from pity or ridiouls
wherever their proficiency rather
their dsfcisnoy 10 these branches is put
upoo exhibition, Aud set 10 very many
Of these schools, aud composed Of schol.
srs 20 deficient IL these things, classes
studying or attempting to study Physl
ology, Natural Philosophy, Algebra or
even Astronomy, --S ---~Atimes too.
where teachers can give such ins'rue.'u-
. class Of beginners in Latin.
All this would b. proper. aud besides
a cause of graduation, II it represented
the actual capacity aud wants Of these
schools, bat when as 10 most cases q Little
examination shows, @ majority Of the
scholars composing ttsse classes are To-
capable Of reading deeen,ly, of spelling a
large part Of the words used in their con.
yersatiop correctly, or Of composing and
writing grammatiaal!yan egibly an ordi.
nary business letter, their course Of study
seems rot altogether suited to their
wants, or creditable TO the discretion Of
their Teacher. There ia 10 exaggoratiO 90
in lying that multitudes of scholars in
oar copmon schools 10 Vermont, are
wasting most Of their tune and rendering
the services Of their Teachers both for
themselves and those associated With
them comparatively useless. by The prev.
alsnt habit ofa.tsmptipg things for which
they have 10 adequate preparation or
discipline and il il time that the public
attsutiou were called to II and some
thing dons to correct the evil
Bat II may be asked what can he done
and who shall do ia We answsr-Le,
that b done which needs to be done
Let the Common School be confined to
its legitimate business Of teaching ,ba
common branches. or at least, before ans
Others are attempted, let thorough inqui.
sitiou be made Of the reading, wiring
spelling capacities of all who would un.
dertaks them. Let Arithmetic Geog.
raphy, The Histories of our State and
Country With exercises 10 Composition
have precedence next until such sch olars
have made familiar and thorough 40
; quaintanoe with them. and there will
then be little time left, and lew oauaia
atss for higher studies 10 the common
school. In short let the common school
peither aspire, nor undertake to do the
work Of the Academy aud College, and
We shall soon have more useful knowl.
edge among the common people. and the
Academy and College will no longer DO
obliged as now, 10 do the work Of the
Common School
But who shall see tLAt this is done =?
supsrintendents and parsos must In.
itiate tho reformation. They must arst
of all require teachers 10 be qualified to
teach aud teach thoroughly tbe elemen.
tafy aud sommon school studies fin