The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-09-01

The mass OF the people receive dU their
education in the Common Schools. It'll
should, then be thorough. Too wide a
ehasm between the literally educated and
those educated in the Common Schoolsl
Former have to much power over the lat1
ter.
A great change needed in the popular
mind in regard to the Importance of thor1
oughness in education. The people must
learn that its value cannot be measured
by money-tbat the whole subject belongs
to higher region than the counting-room.
Our people pay to much res ard to the
material and the sensual aud TOO little to
the intellectual and the spiritual.
Tho influence of education in Vermont
reaches to the great West. Natives Of
Vern ont in the North West in 1850,
$1,000 equal to about one sixth Of our
then population. Natives of the other
FIVE New England States in same North
west,at the same time equal to about one
twentieth Of their then population. What
a great comparative responsibility rests
upon Vermont.
Of this responsibility, how much rests
upon the Teachers of our schools. Every
thing ultimately depends on them. They
are to an educational system, what Exc
cutivc officers are TO civil government.
Every thing should be made to bend to
the great purpose of improving their
character and qualifications. Thorough
ness is the great want. There are in this
State about $500 teachers. 1t is not
extravagant to say that their present az.
gregate, effective power as teachers may
be doubled.
And then, their power in aiding to
form a correct public sentiment on the
subject of education. Every teacher
should be an educational missionary, not
by loud, fault-6nding talk, but by earnest
faithful work. 1t is through teachers
that the people are to get just sense Of
the value Of true education.
Very important to impress upon teach
ers sense Of the dignity and Importance
of their Office and tho true. glory Of a
hearty devotion to its thankless, selfde-
nying duties. Teachers should think
more OF this than of their compensation,
though to that, of course, they do well to
have proper regard. There must be
something Of the spirit of selfsacri6ce.
To aid in the work of training such
teachers az are needed for our Schools, AN
Educational Journal is essential. 1t is
needed as depository of facts, of thought
of experience, of progress. 1t is wanted
to rouse the minds of teachers to difcus-
sion of great principles,-to breath into
them the breath of a higher educational
life,-to fire them with enthusiasm in
their great work.
Finally, to accomplish all theee objects
will require work-hard work. 1t is the
universal condition of success in human
undertakings. 1t is inspiring to know that
we are at work for Vermont--the Greer
Mountain State, whose influence is 50
great beyond its territorial limits. Lei
us do what we can to make that influence
worthy our noble history and worthy thu
honored name We bear among the mem
beers of this great confederacy.
After which the Association listened t
an essay by A. D. Roe, of Bellows Falls
Subject-The Teacher out of the Schoo
Room.
EvEN1Ne.-The following resolution wa
referred to the Executive Committee. will
Instructions to appoint some person to dis
cuss its merits at the next annual meet
ing :-,-rl ..-..... ... 81 .cHsa
Re,0lvsd, That our Academies woul,
more effectually servo the interests of ed
ucation by insisting that all persons ad
mitted as scholars shall have made defnit,
acquisitions, and by determining the fac
by actual examination.
Prof. N. G. Clark, of Burlington, of
fered prayer, and Rev. Edward W. Hook
er, of Fairhaven, followed with an addres
on Music-its Importance in relation t
Common Schools. ,,.
THuRsDAY-Rev. Mr.. Hyde, Of Castle
ton offered prayer.
Heard and accepted the report of j.
Spaulding, Treasurer, showing balanc
in the Treasury of s26,07 ...
Listened to an address from Prof. g
N. Boardman, of Middlebury, on the Tru
Educational Policy Of Vermont, whic
was received with evident tokens of aF
probation, and copy of the same wa
requested for publication under the d
rection of the Committee on Publication
Prof. G. N. Clark, from a Commute
of last year, submitted report of thei
success in obtaining the publication {
Educational articles, in the papers of tn
State, and in favor of continuing the nett
cd. The report was accepted. Mr.. Hyd
of Castleton, presented resolutions whic
were adopted, recommending the estaS
lishment of School Journal. for We
mont. A Committee was appointed to carr
, out the object. A series Of resolution
were presented by the Business Committe
, and adopted.
{ The assembly then united in Singh
Old Hundred, and the Association az
journed to meet next year at Burlington
Prof. Boardman pronounced the ben
diction.
, Thus ended one Of the most pleasai
and profitable sessions of the Association
, The attendance from abroad was larg
than last year, and the impression prevail
that progress has this year been made
the cause of education. May this pro-