Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-02-19
VERMONT EDUCATION.
Published under the sanction Of the State Teach
Committee.

Nllrutu under the eancuou OF uht otat ieachefs
Committee.
ACADEMIES versus COMMON SCHOOLS.
Not from design. not from necessity and
yet such is the actual working of the system.
We have in Vermont many academies, less
would probably be benefit to the cause of
education They exist both in our large hnd
small towns, and most Of them are in session
through the year. Those located in towns Of
small population draw from the district
schools a class of pupils whose absence works
serious damage to those schools. They are
the more forward scholars who are thus drawn
away, and whose presence seems essential to
the life Of the school out Of which they 20.
Their example is needed to awaken proper
ambition in the school, to exert a controlling
influence in favor Of good order, in giving tone
and vigor 20 school exercises, both in general
and in detail.
We would not advise attention to the
"higher branches" while at the district school,
at any rate till the common English" was
more thoroughly understood than at present
Far better that more advanced pupils have
daily exercise in the spelling-book, and more
than one in reading. grammar. geography and
common arithmetic, than leave those half
mastered, TO be found in the academy making
trials at French, Latin, music and geometry.
Applicants for teaching common schools are
oitenor found deficient in the elements of
knowledge than in more advanced studies.-
! alludc to what may be called spelling
book lessons, and the simplest elements Of
geography, grammar, and literal spelling and
pronouncing the most common words of our
mother tongue, and yet some of these may
have made considerable advances in Latin,
music and French. The elements of reading
English are passed, while French and Latin
are read and pronounced with tolerabe accu-
racy. There seems to be an over-eagerness
to launch into the manhood of knowledge
without passing over the tedious details of
pupilage; and to pass by the school-house,
where foundations in education are to be laid
to reach the academy or the college. The
district school is thus deserted by those very
ones whose presence would give it life and
character, beside acquiring for themselves
habits Of thoughtfulness in study.
At present, many Of our common might be
called infant schools, and small at that, while
not a few parents are paying tuition for their
children both there and at the academy.
And what shall be done Shut up the
doors of the academy for the winter term, and
all go for thorough drill under fit teachers,
in the simple rudiments of science, in the dis
trict school. Danish that "Higher English"
till "Looer English is mastered, and let read
ing and spelling be no longer classed among
the studies fit only for little children.
To teach successfully the elements of any
science there is need of high qualifications
II is sad mistake that any one can teach our
common schools by first substracting the ad-
vanced pupils and leaving behind few "iiHle
ones to read and spell, and any one can teach
little ones to read and spell 1t is scouting the
district school to patronize academies, and is
damage to the interests of education.
SUPERrNTENDENT OF SAHooLs.
Pedcham, Jan. %.