Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-05

We did not conclude our remarks las, week
ON the excellent Report of the Secretary of the
Board Of Education, and will now add few
remarks to what we then said The Secretary
suggests some practical means of improving
our schools. Under this head he speaks Of the
consolidation of Districts which in some en- es
may be done TO advantage; the grading Of
schools, which should always be effected if pos
siblc, as very many benefits result thercfrom.
Of Teachers Associations which ought to be
formed in every Town; of printing the annual
report of Town superintendent. &c. This last
was done IN Braiteboro the present year, and
we presume in other places with good results.
The AppcndiX to the Report containg the school
Laws Of the State in force Sept 1859. is very
valuable addition to the Report. Here all the
Laws Of the State relating to the subject are
brought together and arranged in a manner
convenient for consultation. This was gra-
tuitous labor Of the Secretary, aud deserves our
sincere thanks, and the sincere thanks of all
who have occasion to consult the Laws relating
10 Schools
The Report of the Board and their Secretary
is one Of the most important Public Documents
issued in the State since our residence therein
and deserves to be read and pondered By al
our citizens. The State of Vermont has no
greater and more vital interests than those that
relate to the education of her children Her
sons and her daughters are her Jewels. her most
valuable productions, and their physical. intel
lectuel and moral welfare should be her first
and chief concern. The Report is replete with
evidence that the Secretary is Industrious per.
severiug, faithful. and devoted to the interests
Of Education. We are sorry that he is not
master Of clearer and simpler style Of writing.
for his awkward and clumsy manner of compost
lion frequently detracts materially from ones
pleasure in reading his productions The fol-
lowing paragraph taken from the 18th page Of
the Report. We should hardly be willing to place
before the children of our schools as a model
of style for their imitation. 1t has reference
TO the action of the Board Of Education in rec
ommendiug a List Of Text Book, forthe School,
Of I'll. State.
-'N''~N - '"7 Hlittltlit 10 Nlit Dedltl. as mon
OF practical Judgment, that uaitrmdg or dooks
Was the leadHg object Of the law, and that it
became their duty as prudent men, having re-
gard to the future enforcement Of the law. and
seeking to ensure general satisfaction on the
'rtc. ;Acpeoplc with its thorough enforcement
no. simply to designate what they considered
70 'e lhe hes; books published, but. taking into
view old having reference to all the known facts
Te.i ec;ns the condition of the schools. The
preferences OF the Teachers and people. the OK
Ting prevalence Of the books. and the com
alive expense at which they could be fuil-
isned to make selection that with the least
revolutionary change, at the least possible oz.
pense. and with the eas; probability Of genera,
dissatisfaction. would secure at some short Pc
riod "a. time, an approximation to a uniformity
OF books combining cheapnesS and intrinsic
excellence as far as possible under all the e4-
sting circumstances of the schools"