Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-12-15
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, DECEMBER IL, 1864
educational Legislation.

Educational Legstatfon.
The subject of popular and collegiate
education received It's full proportion of
attention at the late session OF the leg
islsture. No less than five bills were
introduced relating to an Agricultural
College, only two of which, namely, the
one repeating the law of last year, and
the one establishing what purports to
be purely agricultural college finally
passed. An act was passed providing
for defraying the entire expense of the
district schools from the grand list A
bill was also passed providing for the
erection of school hOus 5 in districts
neglecting to do their duty in that res
pect. An act authorizing towns to sup
port high schools, and another amend
ing the present law providing Tor the
distribution of public money failed to
become laws,
The bill repeating the last year ) College
act was stoutly opposed by some Of the
ablest friends of that act Mr. Chand-
Ter of Woodstock, who was a member
last year and as chairman of the Com
mite on Education reported the bill, ap-
peared before the committee this year
and earnestly opposed the repeal 1t
was especially urged that it would be
an act of bad faith, inasmuch as one in
stitution, the Vermont University, had
accepted its provisions, and made all
the necessary arrangements for that
purpose. But all the assembled wis
dom" have spoken the word, and also
passed law creating an independent
Agricultural College. If this act should
not be repealed next year-if the great
body Of farmers in Vermont, for whose
especial benefit this law was passed,
should take hold of the matter-if a fa-
vorable location, and liberal endow-
ment should be secured, and ample pro
vision be made for instruction in "all
branches relating to agriculture the
agricultural college may be made lead
ing institution of the State. We believe
EudJ ClhSSIGdA HbudlSN dlE tlOb plNoctJ
excluded and furthermore, the express
sion, those branches relating to agri-
culture" is susceptible of pretty wide
Interpretation.
This college, Is we have seen, is de-
signed to be par ercsElercs an institution
for raising up young farmers. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether farmers will
regard it in that light and whether they
will cherish and sustain it. The sum
realized from the sale of land scrip will
be but small portion of what will be
needed for buildings aud endowment.
If the farmers wish to make their COL
hge a centre of attrac ton, not only fer
their own boys, but also for those re-
siding in the other states and Canadas,
they must make up their minds to fork
over" to the tune of one hundred and
fifty or two hundred thousand. There
is no valid reason why Vermont should
not lead the world in her race of farm
ers, as decidedly as she does in her
breeds Of sheep.
We had intended to say word upon
the law requiring the schools to be sup
ported by the grand list. We have only
room to say that while the new law will
be displeasing to those who are welded
to the practice Of having the teachers
sboard around, 1t will probably receive
the hearty appreciation of nineteen
twentieths of the truly enlightened
friends OF education.
VI DIT