Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-10-05

=
scHooLs.0 Al Address by Rev. !. Z. Rankin o
ST. Adams Delivered before the Vernon
Teachers Association, August d. lSt1; also
read before the Northwestern Association, n
their meeting il Milton, August -, and pub
lished ct their request
Such is the heading Of Ny Rankin
Address, as published lately in the St. Albant
NeSsengey.
We heard M Ranklns Address before
tie Vermont Teachers Association, at St
Johnsbury, Aug. Is Much Of the fore part
Of it was commendable, though som4 para
graphs showed faulty logic.
The latter pant of it was direct attack
OF the State Board of Education and their
Secretary, for what they had done, 81 not
done, in reference to the use of the Bible rs
E Reading Book II the Common Schools 81
the State. Many Nhr heard it considered
:he attack unbecoming. uniIs fable, and
Substantially unfair
At It's close, Mr.. Adams. tie Secretary Of
the Board mo one Of the Board was presently
requested the audience. though the evening
was far advanced, to allow hin 10 correct
some OF the errors Of the Address in regard to
the facts in the case. With olea,ncss and
force be showed. by quotations from the
official Reports, that Mr.. Rankin had not
presented the case which he found fault about
either fully or fairly,--that there was no
ground for finding fault with the action Of
the Board of Education, and thai he, himself
had only done in the premises what came
within the strict hne Of his duty.
We believe Mr.. Adams remarks we're
effective with the audience. generally, in
their view completely disrosing OF Mr..
Rankin's assault on bis conduct and
that Of the Board. We heard that opinion
freely expressed by those who heard all that
was said. Mr.. Rankin. it seems. was not
satisfied with the delivery Of his Address
before the ASSOCIATION, and, since he has saen
TT to give it to the public in print. we think
It deserves some notice, lest its fallacies if
suffered to 20 unexposed, should prejudice
unjustly the minds of some against the Board.
against their Secretary. and even against the
School Law, itself.
A brief statement Of what the law icdS, OF
what it is, and OF what has been done under
it, will help to clear understanding on the
subject
At the outset We notice an ineIcusable
unfairness on the part of the author Of the
Address, about the publication. A note at
the bottom of column reads as follows:
Several Of the following paragraphs
have been more fully written out since the
address was FIRST delivered"
Had the note said further, Sierra! pdsSa-
gss hare been struck out, and Others are essen
italy altered, and ne,0 points inserted, it |
would have been correct. In fact, besides |
omissions of important sentences and the |
change in meaning and spirit Of others,
there is inserted large amount Of what may
be called special plea IA repisto he. adams
rsfutation on The spot 81 sohaf fh- ~. /
thor actually did say before he Teachers Asso-
odtion,-this, too, without an alusion to
the fact of its being SO. This is not treat.
ing either Mr.. Adams or the public fairly
If Mr.. r. had printed his Address as he de-
livered it, presenting whatever additions and
alterations he pleased 10 make, in such form
that the reader could readily distinguish tho
additions and alterations from what was