Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-11-07
VERMONT EDUCATION.

THE sECRKTARY'S REPORT. GOOD TEACHERS.
Published under the sanction Of the State
Teachers Committee.
1t has become clear TO many minds, that new
impulse has been given TO the educational inter
esl of this State, since last January, through the
earnest efforts OF the Secretary of the Board
II any further evidence were needed to prove
that we have ''llve" Secretary, it is furnished
in his report. During his rapid excursions here
and there over the State, lecturing, holding In
sttutes, and getting up an interest generally, he
has had an eye TO facts that were one day 10 be
spread before the public. Aiming TO set forth
"a plain, practical common school document"
and addressing himself at once to the good sense
OF the people of Vermont, he inspires confidence
in the adequacy and wisdom OF our present school
system, shows up with an unsparing hand the
causes which have impaired its efficacy, and by
suggestions replete with practical wisdom, and
enforced by the highest considerations of patr-
otism, regard for the intellectual and moral cul-
ture OF our people. and the permanence of our
institutions, he points out the appropriate RENE
dies, and leads us to anticipate their successful
application. 1t remains for our Legislature 10
order five thousand copies for circulation in eve
ry school district throughout the State, TO give
full effect TO his abors up to the present time.
The limits of this article forbid any adequate
notice 1f the various slight notifications suggest
ed in the details of our present system. The
reasons given for them in the Secretary's report
can hardly fail OF satisfying our Legislators who
now have the matter under consideration. We
cannot however, forbear referring to two points
advocated at lenglh in the report the payment
Of town superintendents by the State, and upon
a more liberal scale, and the distribution Of the
public money, all or in part, among he districts
IA apc0rlinO IN tho m nahar 0f sphnl
that may be counted up in the district, but ac-
cordng 10 TIE average attendance at school 1t
is evident that the efficiency of town supervision
would be greatly increased by the change pso-
posed Every town instead of dreadlng the =
Dor of the Superintendent, in view of changes
to be brought in at March meeting, would be
anxious to secure as liberal supply of faithful
service as the limits of the law would allow. The
poorer towns would be equally favored with
their wealhier neighbors, while setting this item
OF expense TO the account of the public money,
might perhaps free many districts from the un
worthy embarrassment theyare sometimes under,
II regard TO the two months school they are re-
qulred to support in order 10 draw public money
at all. As this is now distributed, it is rather
for the interest of the unwilling taxpayers to
prevent attendance upon school, since the larger
the school, the higher the wages required for the
teacher. But let the public money received de-
pend upon the attendance rather than the num-
Der of the scholars-in other words, let the pub
lie bounty OF the State be given to those only
who are benefited by it-and there is no telling
what an interest these same men may soon come
to feel in education and how anxious that every
poor neglected boy and girl should be at sch ol
trying to be somebody. Then too, we might not
again be startled at the astounding fact ''that one
half Of all the children of the State do not al.
tend upon the public schools at ALL"
OF the various practical topics suggested by
the Secretary, lying beyond The reach of legis-
lation, and which need to be set home to the
mind and heart-aye and conscience too--of oor
people, reference can only be made to one in
this article. namely, the qualifications Of teachers
We aie glad to find the views presented in our
former paper SO we'll sustained by facts al the
hands of the Secretary. There is no doubt on
the point, tho demand will secure supply But