Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-09-18

ii'o4' "' '4'ii -Ni7til' WIN tN'il way luto
the upper harbor, undisturbcd by the rebel
works ON the northern side except at long
range, and exposed only to the rebel batter
les on the upper end Of James Island
JNloN ScHooI MHNG.-Thc meeting Of
the friends of the Union School, held the 9th,
evening, in the School Building though mo-.
very fully attended, WAS cuc of unusual in
tcrcst
Mr.. Eimuud-. Chruman ei the S,h-j
Committee. pre- entel some Of the difficulties
with which the school has 500 contend. and
chief among chem the irc.rIlr Attendance
of the scholars. The record of the school
shows that hut little more chan to per cent.
Of the whole number of scholar. is an aver
age attendance. Tbciuiuli9u, ,dyotsof such
irregullrity, both upon tie scholars and the
school, though apparent 70 every observer,
Is still NOT -o generally appreciated as TO
prompt those upon whom THE responsibility
rests TO make the effort necessary to bring
about the desired rcfomati With a Wow
to oromclythi- evil, and for other reasons, the
Committee deemed IL advisable % make trial
of having hut one long session each day, In
stead Of two shorter ones. a~ had been the
practice. This plan has been found to lessen
the evil alluded to; but in tie opinion Of
some Of the friends of tie school, though not
in the opinion Of the committee, it has intro
duced other evils which are not compensated
by the advantages Of the new plan 1t is
thought By some Of the parents that the in
convenience Of having late dinner hour for
their children, who are necessarily absent at
the hour Of noon, together with the prolong-
ed confinement which the single long session
requires Of the scholars, should condemn this
system
Prof Marsh of tic University stated that
no one who had a tolcralle knowledge Of
physiology and the law, of health. could
entertain the opinion that children can be
proftally and efficiently engaged in study
and recitation for So many consecutive hours
as required on the plan ot O single long scs-
sion. This scheme in fact increased what
has long been felt by the most intelligent
educators 10 bee very seriousevn. viz that
Of requiring too rr5tracted mental effort on
the part of the scholar With only a three
hours session it has lccn found difficult to
avoid an infraction of well known natural
laws. the observance Of which is Of vital im-
portancc TO the w,n being of the pupil. In
the view of Prof Marsh this new scheme
which is now on trial in many sections Of the
county and more especially in t'c cities, when
properly viewed. resolve, itself into "a simple
mattcro lactas regards natural laws andisuot
a matter about which opinions. can De cn-
tertained.
j. s Alams. Secretary OF the
Vermont Board of Education favored the
new plan. lt had been extensively adopted
in New lork, and in many part, Of New
England, which did not indicate that it wa,
found in practice So Objectionable as those
who had NOT familiar acquaintance with its
practical working might Pee lea to suppose.
It met with general approval, and the --be
lars especially would regret very much re-
turn to the old plan. The nam objection
urged on the score of injury To the health of
the children from confinement within dl,1..
and mental effort too long rrotractcl v4-
met in practice 10y frequent change ofoe.
cupati1n and often recurring rece>>,s. Iho-c
who were in the habit of visiting school
and were anxi5usly watching this c4-
pertinent. did not observe indications
of the exhaustion and wcariness, which
those who merely thcorized insisted
would result from the plan now on trial.
The scholars had not found out tina; they
were suffering so intensely, nor did tho,r
who were watching the experiment perceive
any evidence that such was the case.
Other citizens continued the debate to a
considerable length, and with much interest,
sustaining in the man the views presented
by Professor Marsh. although to some extent
favoring the views Of the Committee. 1t
was urged that school hours should conform
to the business hours of the people
where the school is located, and that while
the new plan might he found advantageous
in cities, it would not be So in country neigh
borhoods or villages.
At the suggestion of Mr. adams it was
taken as the desire Of those present that the
principal of the Union High School, Mr..
Camp, should be requested to call meetings
similar to the one Of last evening, for the
purpose Of discussing such educational to-
pics as may be presented, At such times as
he may deem expedient.
The LOYALTY OF NERNoNT.-Nearly COM
d Il .. I.