The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-10-19
No. 135.
Not finally accounted for

M, 10, ZoJ
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Aggregate, 2S.967
Veterans re-enlisted, 1861
Enlisted in the L. s. Navy,
Army and Marine Corps 1899
Drafted men, paid commuta-
ton, 1,971
Total number of men fur
nished by this State, 34,23S
NORMAL AND COMMON SCHOOLS.
For many years there has been an
increasing strength of public senti-
ment in this State favorable to the
adoption Of some adequate means of
supplying more specific course Of in
struction for the teachers of our com
mon schools. This sentiment has in
creased very rapidly, and has become
more defined within the past few years,
Until the great majority of thoughtful
friends Of popular education seem
thoroughly united in desiring the es
Enlistment of some system of State
Normal Instruction.
The national troubles and the very
large expenditures induce thereby.
have hitherto delayed any attempt to
inaugurate such a system as would re-
snond to the general demand; for,
while all have been united in opinion
that we were i'll duty bound to lose
nothing cf the ground already gained
ia the field of education al labor, Ill
have equally agreed that the heavy
burden of our taxes rendered it unnd.
yisable to undertake any new enter
prises, however laudable, which must
necessarily increase so largely the
State burdens, rs would be done by
the attempt to establish system of
State Normal Schools similar to those
OF some of our sister States
Within the last year the way seems
to have been opened by which be-
ginning may be made by the accom-
plishment of this important work, and
at very slight expense to the State
The Trustees of Orange County Gram
mer Scholar institution of estab-
lished character have proposed to
the Board of Education to surrender
up the use of their school property
for term of years, for the purpose of
converting their school Into a State
Normal School; the Board of Educa-
ton to establish courses of study, the
first to include all the branches re-
CURED by law to be taught i'll the
common schools, and the second to be
more rigid, and to require in its mas
terry years longer time; the Board
to determine the qualifications for ad-
mission to and graduation from the
school, and to attend, by its agents,
upon all examination, and decide who
shall be allowed to enter andsto gradu-
ate; the Bonrd to nominate the princi-
pal, and the taustees to engage rs prin-
cipal no other than some person SO
nominated by the Board; the trustees
to keep the school property in good
repair, and to determine the rates of
tuition and receive the same for their
own benefit; graduates from the first
course to receive certificates which
shall inure to their benefit, as qualify
ing them to teach in any common
school in the State for five years; and
graduates from the higher course to
receive credentials which shall avail
them as perpetual certificates. This
proposition has been approved by the
Board of Education, aud will appear
at length in the report of their Secre
tary, and, at their request, | commend
the subject to your careful considera-
ton.
| recommend the enactment of
law by which the Board of Education
may be empowered to accept the propo-
sitIon referred to, and also to accept,
in their discretion, similar propositions
from other schools in different parts
of the State, anu to carry out the com
pacts that will result from such ac-
ceptance, by attending, in person or
by agents, examinations for admission
to and graduation from any schools
thus. adopted, and granting to gradn-
ates the appropriate certificates.
/ desire also to commend to your
attention the matter of the authorized
list of school tex.-books, IL somewhat
extended discussion of which will be
found in the report of the Board of
Education to your honorable body
The original selection of school books
was made in 1859, to expire in 1864 i.
but the time originally appointed for
its duration was afterwards extended
to 1867, and will now soon expire.
This plan of an authoritative selection
of school books, although strongly OPP
posed, at first, seems TO have won its
way to very general approval.
Some Legislation at your present ses-
sion will be- necessary to prevent re-
turn to an unlimited diversity of
books, that cannot but iniure the
schools; and L recommend that the
Board of Education be empowered TO
revise the authorized list of school
books, and publish the same as sosn
rs may be practicable, and that the
authority of the present list be coG-
timed until such revision be Esade
> public.
REFORM SCHOOL.
Under the act approved November
8, 1865 entitled "An met to establish
= the Vermont Reform School," / APP
J pointed, by and with the advice Of tbs
Senate, Aaron q. Pease as Acting
Commissioner, and Lewis A. Damn and
/ 4 A L.. a