Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-08
Vermont Education.

1.-The Committee Of the State Tenchers Association,
take pleasure in calling attention to a short se-
ries Of articles on Graded Schools. The practl-
cal experience and well-earned reputation of the
writer faithful teacher, justly ep.itle hi.
views to careful considerations
DEFECTS IN OUR sYsTEM-.GRADED
SCHOOLS.
NO. /.
Tho first defect that is observed in the different
grades of schools connected with our educational
system is the want of harmony Our ancestors
very wisely provided for three grades of schools,
viz: the District School, the Grammar School or
Academy, and the College. The District School
designed to penetrate the remotest corners, and
extend its blessings to the very hoartb-stono Of
every household in the State. Tho Academy
higher grade and less generally cxtcadcd-de-
signed to stand Intermediate between the Common
School and the College These two, with the COL
lege, seemed to cover tho whole ground. Tho first
was provided for small section Of each Town, the
second for euch County and tho College or UuiveG-
sty for the whole State
Here the idea Of graduation was fully developcd
and the design Of the authors Of this system had
been strictly adhered to, little change would now
be necessary to adapt it to present wants. The
introduction Of Town School, forming an inter.
mediate grade between the District and County
Schools, would have supplied defect that always
existed in this system, and rendered it quite suft-
cieat for our times. In attempting to supply the
place of this intermediate Town School, the County
School has lowered the standard which it was ae-
signed to maintain; while, as population advanced
and local interests became more distinctly ru.-.
di ..ront villages in each county began to supply
themselves with Academies,
Thus the County School has lost its 7is,inctivo
character Its funds ore divided until they amount
',I.tte or nothing it patronage is limited by
tie existence Of rival Schools; and its sphere is
degraded in the attempt to supply the place of the
wanting Town School. The County School, proper,
no longer exists. Hence the entire distance from
tAe District School to the College is left to h Q
cupie. By these multiplied Village Acadl mics.
And one Of these will consent to be GU t.
By the O;-e :, they all propose to cover the whole
ground. each IN its respective region, from the
District School to the College. All attempt to
prepare Teachers for district Schools, to ct Boys
I
in short, each one Of these schools profossest
c1mpris: within itself Teachers Normal School,
a Latin School, and Female seminary. 1t re-
| quires no argument 10 show that this is too --uch
ground for grade Of schools to occupy. But
in the present condition of things the Academies
must occupy this ground or it will remain unoccu-
pied
| Nor is this all. The fact that Academies arc
wholly, almost wholly, dependant on their pat
ronage for support, and that too from limited
| field, seems compel them, in selfpreserva-
tion, to draw it from many different
classes of the youth as possible. Hence,
they encourage parents to send in their
small children, whose proper place of instruct
| ion is the public School. 1t may bo they
well instructed in the academy; they if proper
ly classified and provided with appropriate and
thorough instructors. The evil consists in derang
ing the system, in advancing scholars to an ap-
parent rank which they do not really occupy-in
Withdrawing the interest of the most influential
portion of community from the public school and
throwing it in favor of the academy. Indeed it is
the policy of some who deeply interested in the
welfare of the academy, to labor openly and
pie will bo comp He'd to send their children to the
academy, 1t smatter of observation that tho
poorest public schools those in the vicinity Of
an academy, or perhaps the district nearest the
academy, turns the entire patronage Of its school
into tle academy
Obviously, it should not be SO. The friends Of
tho academy should not suffer their interest in
the public schools to be lossened in the least degree
They should observe that the academy is depen.
dent the public school for its supply Of scholars,
while the public school is dependent on the aca.
deny for its teachers. Hence they are mutually
dependent, and can no more consistently war with
each other than the members of one body. All
friends of education must see, il they view this
matter rightly, that the interest of ono grade 10
involved in that of the other; aud that they can
not really advance or retard the interest Of one
without similarly involving that of the other.
Again,the same ea5erness for patronsy 20 induces
the academy 70 attempt TO teach many branohe,
that properly belong to tho college course 1t is not
euoug hthat it should descend below itself and ab
sOrb all the grades inferior to it, It must, also.
force within its sphere the studio. of the college
thus the academy extends its course, from tn.
abocedarian to tho graduate of college.
Evils grow out of our present system Of schools,
owing to tho r!valries and jealou.ies that arise
between academies that are so eontisuOu. as to
look to the same region for patronage. In such
cases much of the encrey that should and would
otherwise bo expended in rendering the school.
really more valuable is devoted to self-adu alton
and correspondent disparasement of other schools
Advertising, lecturing and other forms Of en- .ueer
Ing to se'uro patronage, all sap tho pockets aud
energy OF both teacher and people Can not
money aad energy .L-- ~-ps~us". Vs employed to
bettsr advantage in some other way'
Mp. p.