The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-10-31
Report Of the Secretary of the Board
of Education.


ment of somewhat more than hundred
pages. and contains large amount of valua-
bic information and suggestions pertaining to
the condition and wants of oar Common
Schools. We hope the Legislature will pro-
vide for the publication of a large edition of
the Report so that the people, generally, may
have an opportunity to read and consider the
interesting matters presented therein. Judg-
ing from what we have learned from other
sources, as we'll as from the evidences con-
tanned in his Report, we are satisfied that the
Secretary is making no sinecure of his office
that he has taken hold of its arduous and
responsible duties with an erergy, tact and
perseverance that cannot fail to awaken a
deep interest, and originate new era in the
Common Schools of our State. 1t only needs
the hearty cooperation of all parties interest
ed, to secure, under the present provisions of
our School Law, a great improvement in the
operation and results Of our system of popu-
lar education.
From the Report we learn that there are
III the State two thousand six hundred and
fifteen School Houses. which, together with
the lots Oh which they stand, are estimated
to be worth Four Hundred Dollars each, ma.
king total value of the property thus invest
cd, by the people of the State for common
school education, of one million and forty-
sir thousand doUars. The amount expend-
ed for the year ending March 1st, 1857, for
supporting these schools including Teachers
wages, Board, Fuel, Furniture and incident
ais, was Two Hundred amd Serenity 1hou-
sand DoHus.
The statistics are necessarily imperfect.
as one hundred and eight Town Super
intendents failed to make to the Secretary
any report. Of this number eight belong to
Caledonia County. The Superintendent of
one hundred and thirty->ix towns furnish
cd to the Secretary their reports. and from
these reports presumed to represent the ave
ia e condition o. all the schools of the State.
the limited statistics Of the Sccretarv's Re
port are based. In view of these delinquin-
cies of Town superintendent. and the impor-
lance of securing full returns from every
town and district in the State. the Secretary
recommends some additional legislation. that
Will make the presentation of scaSonabc and
propcr!! authenticated reports a prerequisite
for obtaining a share OF the public money
distributed by the State Too much impor-
tarcc cannot be attached TO this matter o.
procuring and cmbodviug the Statistics of
our schools from year to year. and it is TO be
hoped The Legislature will not fail to provide
Tor II during the present session.
Yer, few. We apprchcnd. will be prepared
TO credit what he says in regard to the num-
Der of Children in our State deriving no ben
eft from the Common School, He say,
There ro5. b., ne r,aycn,,ii doliit thuf N
Irmon. dUrnpii h1H yc4'. tron, 't-,2,ty I,
Muty N"aSpad "t' her rhhir,a. of Ii, ay.
inning ~hirh til, TAR >Yp"z,> hcm cntitlco
Ia o:t,ai >rho'i. hare net ,nt,rcd the do,i> oi
@"y $cho"i roam ,,thcr pnli,r orprira'c."
Among the prominent causes enumerated
AZ hlnGcrinS the efficiency of or schools. III,
want of proper qualifications on the part o
Teachers. irregular attendance Of scholars. d
>or>ity Of Text Books. uncomfortable >choo
Houses, ard indifference and neglect Of pa
rents ard superintendent are r.aCc subject,
of extended discussion. The views present
cd upon these points are sound and seasonal
bic. and can hardly fail to prof, some of III,
parties concerned provided they will read and
give them Il careful consideration.
Diversity Of School Books is a great and
growing evil i'll all our public schools. and
the Legislator or citizen. who shall devils,
and procure the adoption of an efficient and
satisfactory remedy for it. will be great ben.
cfactor of the State. The multiplication OF
new Books and Book Agents has of late
Years greatly increased the difficulty of Sc.
curing uniformity. and the interests of all our
schools would be very much promoted b,
some legislation in reference to this object
For some reason it has seemed cxpcdien,
heretofore to leave the selection of Schoo
Books to the inhabitants of each District
That provision of the Statute authorizing tho
Town Superintendent of each County ir
their associated capacity to examine and re-
commend suitable books to be used in tn,
schools of their respective Counties make.
nothing imperative, and. consequently, &c
complshcs no good. 1t frequently and per
haps generally increases the evil it was in
tended to abatc. The recommendations O.
text Books, heretofore made in this County
have produced no uniformity: they have on
" secured the introduction into few school.
of new set of text Books in the hands of
few scholars. and thercb, rendered the teach
: er's attempts at classification more difficult
and hopeless thane bforc. A similar result
, we believe, has followed like recommends
: tons in other parts of the State In tn,
meantime Parents have been tcazcd and vex
: ed with inccssant petitions for new Books
} and in many cases have come to treat then
all with an angry refusal or silent neglect
The Secretary of the Board recommends tc
the Legislature the following: THAT tn,