The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-10-23

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Deserted, 3.2l0
Dropped from rolls, 3
Not finally accounted for, 10
13,72s
Mustered out Of service. in All, 1929
Aggregate, 2S,9GT
Veterans re-enlisled. 1,0GI
Eoulisted in the L 5. Navy, Army
and Marine Corps, l,330
Drafted men, pad commutation, L97l
Total number of men furnished
bythis State, "a, 238
NorMAL AND COMMON SCHOOLS.
Tor many years there has been an in
crersilg strength Of public sentiment in
this State favorable to the adoption Of
some adequate means of supplying Il
more specific course Of instruction for
the teachers Of our common schools
This sentiment has increased very rap
idly, and has become more and more
defined within the past few years, until
the great majority Of thoughtful friends
of popular education seem thoroughly
united in desiring the establishment Of
some system of State Normal Instruc-
ton.
The National troubles and the very
large expenditures induced thereby,
have hitherto delayed any attempt to
inaugurate such system as would res
pond to the general demand; for, while
ali have been united in opinion that we
were in duty bound to lose nothing OF
the ground already gained in the field
Of educational labor, all have equally
agreed that the heavy burden Of our
taxes rendered it inadyisable to under
take any new enterprise, however laud-
able, which must necessarily increase
so largely the State burdens, as would
be done by the attempt to establish a
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 a begin
ming may be made in the accomplish
ment Of this important work, and at
very slight expense to the State The
Trustees Of Orange County Grammar
School an institution of established
character have proposed to the Board
Of Education TO surrender up the use Of
Their schoolproperty for term Of years
for tie purpose Of converting their
school into State Normal School; the
Board Of Education TO establish cours-
es Of study, the first to include all the
branches required by law to be taught
in the common schools, and the second
to be more rigid, and to require in IFS
mastery years longer time; the Board
to determine the qualifications for adj
mission to and graduation from the
school, and to attend, by its agents, up
on all examinations, and decide who
shall be allowed TO enter and to gradu-
ats; the Board to nominate the pIinci-
pal. and the trustees to engage rs prin-
cipal no other than some person SO
nominated By the board; the trustees
70 keep the school property in good re-
pair, aud to determine the rates Of tu-
ilion and receive the same for their own
hoaofit; graduates from the first course
to receive certificates which shall insure
TO thor benefit, as qualifying them to
teach IN any common school in the State
for five years; and graduates from the
higher course to receive credidentials
which shsll avail them as perpetual GER
tiieatcs. This proposition has asbeenap-
proved by the board Of education, and
viii appear at length in the report Of
their Secretary, and, at their request, !
commend the subject to your careful
consideration.
i recommend the enactment of law
BY which the board Of education may
Be empowered to accept the proposition
referred 70, and also to accept, IN their
discretion, similar propositions from
other schools III different parts Of the
State. and to carry out the eompacts
that VIII result from such acceptances,
by attending, in person or by agents,
the examinations for admission to and
graduation from any schools thus adop-
ted, and granting to graduates the ap-
propriate certificates.
! desire also to commend to your at
tention the matter ofthe authorized hist
Of school textbooks, a somewhat extern
ded discussion Of which viii 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; but the time
originally appointed for its duration
was afterwards extended to 1867, and
viii now soon expire. This plan Of an
authoTatiye selection Of school books,
although strongly opposed at first,
seems 10 have won its way to very gen
eral approval
Some legislation at your present ses-
sion viii be necessary TO prevent a re-
turn e an unlimited diversity 81 books,
that cannot but miure the schools, and
] recommend that the board Of eduea-
ton be empowered 10 revise the author
ized lis; Of school books and publish
the Same as soon as mGy be practicable,
ard that tie authority II the present