Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-10-18

Ou us puICnaoSob pOoiuSo S'"PfAN0
cruing interest.
Connected with this subject Of raising
money by taxation, we are to remember
that all our property, no matter by what
name called, except such as is expressly
exempted by positive law. should bear Its
equal proportion in the burthcns OF taxa
taxation. If our laws produce that result
now. then all is we'll on that score; but
if they fail to accomplish that end, your
scrutiny should lead you to their proper
amendment.
BY our present law. the States Attorn'
les of the several counties are salaried
compensation, in this mode, is made more
to depend upon the population of the sew
eral counties than on the labor done aud
service rendered to the State; and | sub
nit to your judgment whether this mode
has not natural tendency to diminish
watchfulness over the public interests by
those officers. AS far as my own personal
observation extends, am inclined to be-
lieve, that crime, now, is not SO thorough
ly feretted out. and the criminal so GER
tainly brought to trial, conviction and
punishment, as when these officers were
paid for what they did, and for nothing
more If this he the fact, our present law
is defective and unwise.
Permit me, gentlemen, to call your at
tention to that Glass of the rising genera
ton denominated juvenile offenders This
class embraces children Of both sexes and
their number is very sensibly on the in
crease. 10 perform such, while they are
undergoing restraint, as a punishment.
should be our unceasing endeavor. Very
few crimes committed by this class are
punished by confinement the state pris-
Oh, and though confinement there is some
what reformatory, yet the stigma of hav-
ing been in state prison is almost forever
inefaccabe Far the greater number of
juvenile offenders are Of necessity. pun
ished by confinement in the county tails,
where they are most generally associated
with old and hardened criminals, who at
once devote themselves to teaching these
children the art and mysteries of crime
so that, when discharged, instead of being
reformed, they are more likely to be
thoroughly corrupted. Would it not be
for the true interest of the state to estab.
lish home, or house of refuge, where
this class could be confined, under such
regulations as would be likely to minister
both instruction and reform in connection
with just and merciful punishment?
The report of the Secretary of the
Board of Education shows. upon the
whole, an encouraging state of our CON.
mon schools. The efficiency and success
of these schools. which are the nurseries
Of our coming men and women, cannos be
over estimated.
1t seems that teaching in these schools
is gradually passing from male to female
hands, with an apparent proportional i'm.
provement in the schools. This is fat
tering to the female teachers, but speaks
poorly for the other class. ! fear that
the better class Of male teachers leave the
State for other localities, where their ser.
vices command a better remuneration
leaving the less competent and accom-.
plished teachers to polish our home jew,
els.
Should not the character, learning and
aptness to teach on the part of those offer.
ing themselves for examination, DO more
Thoroughly ascertained before they re-
ceive a certificate; or, if this is not prac.
ticable. could not something be done by
requiring graded certificates, distinguish
ing between the candidate of low class
Of qualifications, aud the one who is a
thorough scholar and apt to teach. This
might serve to stimulate those proposing
to teach to greater improvement, and also
aid the school committee more easily to
to ascertain the fitness Of those offering
to teach.
The expenses of our state pupils. deaf
dumb and blind. who are receiving instruc-
tiun at the institutions designed by law,
has very much increased, so that an in-
crease of the standing yearly appropria-
t;o,.s fnr tbaan al ,,aa. nf -.