Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-09-15
The State University and the Union
of the Colleges.
(Coacluded from Siash page,

Editor Rutlond Herald If then, we
me to have State University that shall
provide for the instruction of our young
men in those branches that are needful
to qualify them for the various depart
ments of business in which they propose
to engage, let it be by itself.
There is, we fully believe, a real de-
mand for Just such an institution as
that which the act of Congress contem-
plates, one under which we are to re-
ceive this one hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars,-an institution in which
our young men shall be taught those
practical arts and sciences that shall
Immediately qualify them for business
of whatever kind. In this university
there should be course embracing
variety of studies that shall tit young
men for the intelligent and successful
pursuit of agriculture, another that shall
especially fit young men for the mechan-
ical arts another that shall fit them for
mercantile life, another that shall fit
them for the business of teaching. These
and perhaps other leading departments
could be constructed, with such judg-
ment that the farmers boy who does not
propose to go through college, could yet
have liberal education and specific
preparation for just the sphere he pro-
poses to I'll. Such an institutional
situated by itself and well endowed
would no doubt be success.
Let then this money we are about to
receive from the government be supple
mented by State appropriations, and let
us have State University that shall be
both an honor to the State and blessing
to our young men.
We believe that nothing could be bet
ter for the cause of education in our
State than to have such a university as
this substituted in the place of one of
our colleges, while the other should be
permitted to so on and be the college of
the State. Secretary Adams in his vol
luminous pamphlet suggests an approx
nation to the plan we would adopt. He
would have the college and the other
departments all under one board of su-
pervision, and then would have the col
lege or the classical department at Mid
dlebury and the rest at Burlington. We
say let either Middebury or Burlington
college stand just as 1t is, and let the
other be turned into a university in
which shall be taught not only agricul-
ture, natural sciences, mechanic arts,
military science, commerce and trade,
but also medicine and law. Let this be
really high and honorable institution,
"a University, provided with build
ings, apparatus, and cabinets insti-
tuition which shall furnish all needful
aid even to the college graduate who
may wish to pursue any of the sciences
beyond the point reached in the college
course.
If Burlington college would take the
endowment that is offered it and trans
form itself into such State University
leaving Middlebury the simple work of
providing classical education to the
sons Of Vermont we are sure that both
institutions would prosper. The Uni
yersity especially would bring together
a large number of students, and would
be a greater benefit to the surrounding
community than it could be as a mere
college.
The union Of the colleges according
to the plan of the legislature cannot be |
accomplished. The Middlebury corpo-
ration, we understand, declines to enter |
the partnership, mainly, no doubt, on
account of their objection to such a
mingling of departments. Let now the
act be modified so that one of the three
colleges in the State may have the $780, /
900 provided this college will cease to
be college proper, and become what
the act Of Congress contemplates, a Uni
versity, or Polytechnic Institution, de-
signed to furnish facilities for the pIepa-
ration of young men for all the various |
:. 800 .ad professional ar.a t. :
which are opened to them. In what
other way can the vexed question of the
union of the colleges be SO satisfactorily
and equitably adjusted7 Without abol-
ishing either institution Gf Burlington
or Middlebury should accept such pro-
posal as we recommend, from the legis-
latlre) we should then have the Uniyer-
sity and the one college in place of the
tma--a consummstion devoutly to be
wished. EDUCATOR.
The Rev. nj. G. OF Brooklyn, who is
strictly orthodox, and very stout bodily,
lately said to the pastor of the Plymouth