Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1858-10-29
VERMONT EDUCATION.

mission. our friend, HEklDES'
VERMONT EDUCATION.
lPu5b,led mder nc sanction Of the state Teacders
COMMITTEE
DEFICITS IN OUR sYsTEM-GRADED SCHOOLS.
No.II
Nor docs the ofharmony in our School
system appear alone in the Academy. While
the Academy is taking many children of the
richer class from the District School before
they are really prepared to enter higher
grade. there are large numbers from the poor
er class left in the Common School who
ought. if We Judge by their attainmcnts, to be
in the Academy Others, who are perfectly
able to send their children to the Academy,
but are anxious to save expense. will keep
them in the District School as long they
can succeed in getting the higher studies,
which they wish their children to pursue, in
troduccd into the District School. These in
sist that teacher shall be engaged who is
competent toiustructin all the higher branches
of study Then he--out of pity for those
who are not able to enjoy the benefit of a
higher Grade of school--or out of Difference
for the second class mentioned-or, oitenor
from an ambitious desire on his part to teach
the higher acknowledgements a long list of
classes TO be formed in higher English classi-
cal studies ] knew of a school during the
past winter, numbering some fifty scholars. in
which were classes in Physiology, Astrono-
my. Book keeping and Algebra. It is quite
absurd to suppose that the teacher could, with
these higher studies, and in so large a school,
do any thing like Justice to the puma. y
branches. So far from making his instruc-
ton interesting and profitable to the younger
portion of the school the recitations must be,
of necessity the driest and most abrupt for
malitics possible 49, dreaded both by teacher
and scholar for their very dryness-and hur-
red off their hands at Geographic speed.
This is the chief defect in our District
, Schools. The higher branches crowd the
primary out of their proper place, and, as
there is no lower grade to which they can re-
, sort, they are totally neglected. OF at least
, hastily and imperiectiy passed over Hence
we may readily account for the imperfect
knowledge of Reading, Spelling Geography
and other primary studies, so prevalent every
4, where. Persons go from the District School
without having learned these things, and they
q never have another opportunity.
Nor can a good Teacher wholly remedy the
evils arising from this state Of things. The
; school-house, may be as heathiul and attrac-
+ tive as You pease-there may be perfect uni-
, formity Of text-books-to these may be add
ed "A model Teacher; and if the higher bran
ches of study are permitted to enter the
school, it will still fall far short of a coon
School. A good Teacher-one who has a
correct notion of what School ought to be,
cannot bring School up to his own standard
of perfection so long as he is harrassed and
driven at the top Of his speed, from morning
+ till night, to complete the almost endless
{ routine of classes. He may keep a good
f school in the usual acceptaton of that term
Il believe we have many such schools even
where this evil is quite prominent but Hecer,
until the system be essentially reformed in
this respect, can good teachers labor freely
a towards their own ideal standard of model
School
The College, also, suffers materially from
this dcranged condition of the lower grade,
of Schools. Though in itself well systemati
zed and nearly free from the evils already en-
umerated, still being dependent, as it is, OF
the lower grades for accessions to its mum
:, bers, it is, at times, seriously embarrassed il
, applying its system to those who come from
: the other grades. NJ. p. p.
e 10 At a meeting of the Ransom Guards
l. held at the Armory on the evening of the 9tl
J. inst, the following resolutions were unani
if mously adopted and directed to be publishe,
+ in the St. Adams papers,
&c Resolted-That the thanks of the Ransom
Is Guards are due, and are hereby returned, {,
10 the citizens Of Montpelier, and especially t.
e Major Scott and the committee of arrange
le ments, for their cordial reception on the oc
At casion of the recent visit to Montpelier-anc
'e hereby assure them that their munifcent hos
pitality and boundless courtesy, during tn,
s. three days they have been on duty at tn,
/ state Capital, shall be gratefully remembered
u hes"iced-Ihat, on the occasion of our tril
l. to Montpelier, our pleasure was greatly pro
or NOTED and our success rendered more easy b,
s. the presence and splendid music of the Bur
" ington Cornet Baud, and we most cordial,
m recommend them to the kind consideration o
IS all those who love to hear and who can an