Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-09-08
The New School House,

completed lot ILe ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS" VI 'hN "
ington County Grammar School and the Union
Graded Schools, was opened on Wednesday OF
last week Nv an address from Mr.. Adams
of Burlington, the popular Secretary OF the
Vermont Board of Education, and who
has, for the past year, and more, been tailoring
among the schools of the State, Ills famlliari-
ty with our education facilities and the knowl-
edge afforded by so close an observation of the
progress of our State schools, had well prepared
him for the address with which our people were
favored, Mr., A. paid a deserved compliment
to the citizens of Montpelier for the public
spirit manifested in the erection of the best
School House in the State, and portrayed the
OF common Union system both as to the progress
of the pupil, and economy to the taxpayer
He dwelt upon the absurd notion that property
should be exempt from taxation because the
owner had no children to educate, and pointed
out the great benefit to the masses resulting
from suitable attention to public education. He
condemned private schools as contrary to the
principles OF a Republican government and the
genius of our free institutions.
The address abounded with facts which show
ed the Secretary master of his subject, and well
posted in all the details of practical education.
We regret that we are unable to publish it.
The exercises of tho School commenced
on the following Thursday morning, under the
care of Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. NJ. Marsh, Principal
and Preceptress Of the Grammar School. Mr..
and Mis- Marsh were formerly of Brooklyn, N.
Y, and their long experience in teaching emf.
nently qualities them for the arduous duties and
responsibilities of the place. The Union School
is under the charge of Mr.. McAlllster, formerly
Of Stowe, and his accomplished lady assistants.
The greater portion of the time since its COM
mencnlent has necessarily been occupied in
classifying and arranging the scholars, deciding
/ upon text books, and getting acquainted, the
pupil with teacher, and teacher with pupil. The
number of scholars is about four hundred.
We congratulate the good people of Wash
ington County, and of Montpelier in particular,
upon the complete success of this important
undertaking, and the good era Of educational
facilities in again establishing the renowned and
%anciens Washing ton County Grammar School
Institution in 50 healthy Il condition. The
building is an honor to the Capital of the State,
situated in II pleasant, quiet and accessible
place, and reflects great credit to the good taste
Of those under whose immediate supervision its
location and erection has been.
To Montpelier, especially, is 1T a source of
congratulation, inasmuch as it PROMISES new
era in the morality and prosperity of the tbwn.
The education OF the hundreds of children with
in its limits, is Of the utmost Importance to it's
welfare. From the age of seven till fourteen,
every child should be cleaning that knowledge
and thorough discipline from books and good
instruction, which is so necessary to fit them for
useful lives. The judicious disposition Of this
important period will lay Il foundation which
no misfortune in after years will oradicate.--
And watchful, anxious parents will not now
need to be urged to sec that their children are
regularly at school. But these ragged urchins
around our streets, whose parents have no guild
ing sense Of duty, or arc prevented by poverty
from properly exercising it, should be looked
after, furnished with books, and pursuaded to
the nobler amusement of study. IF taken at
an early age there would be little difficulty in it,
and a few dollars expended in this MARINER would
pay large proceeds in the future. The exercise
which all scholars will naturally get morning
noon and evening, and during vacations, is am
ply sufficient for health, and need not prevent a
continual and regular attendance. And with
- early to bed and early to rise, for the motto
cleanliness, regular diet and habits, and warm
clothing, there will be but little employment
for doctors. The hundreds of children through
out the State, who are suffered to lingel
around groceries, and in the company of Older
persons of obscene conversation, is truly appall
ing. This is the legitimate source Of the man.
vagabonds and pests of society. The chilC
takes early lessons in the street goes to schoo
in the grocery and grog shop reeites to hi
teachers in the midnight %carousll, to the burg
lar and assassin, and graduates on the gallows
The only difference in mankind is their sever
al educations. The germ of the proud intellec
and manhood may be planted in "a child o
French, Irish. American, or African extraction
but its development will reveal an image @
God, or its smothering will make an image o
the devil. To the proper education of our people
and to this alone, we W the signal prosperi
ty and intelligence of the Nation. The liberia
distribution of free schools all over its broa
acres, though perhaps but rude log huts wit
plenty of ventilation between their timbers an
rafting window panes, has given rise to tina
living fire which permeates, civilizes and hal
monies the foreign elements of our population
As you educate a man you give him power.
Then let us see that an influence SO potent
duly encouraged, and Il village so lovely in i
surroundings, so quiet in its pursuits, no long
furnishes scholars to those street lessons an
midnight %recitals, but that every child is habi
ually at school the year in and out, until armt
with sufficient age and fortified to withstan
, temptations, and perchance we whose physlc
/, education shall allow the addition of anoth
! score of years to our ages, may be blest wi
t seeing a generation healthy, noble and INTEL
g gent to smooth our pillows and fill our retrea
ing footsteps.
II G,o InJ;,no bos orootod O700 eobo,