Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-10-19

NORMAL AND cuvNoS Schools.
For many years there has bccu an incrcs,-
ing strength of public sentiment in tins
State favorable TO the adoption Of some gic-
quatc means Of supplying q more specific
course Of instruction Coz tie teachers or our
common schools This sentiment has in
creased very rapidly, and has become more
j. ;ucd within the past lcw years, until tic
sr,lr majority Of thoughtful friends Of Pop
al education seem thoroughly united IN
Dc, ring the establishment OF some system
Of ~.ste Normal instruction
le national troubles and the very large
expenditures induced thereby, have hitherto
DELAYED any attempt 90 iuaugufatc such
system as would rcsroud 10 the general dc
mand for, while all have been united IN
opinion that We were in duty bound to lose
nothing Of the ground already gained in the
foll of educational labor, al have equally
agreed that the heavy burden Of our taxes
rendered it unadyisablc 70 undertake any
n,H enterprises. however laudable. which
mist necessarily increase so largely the
s. burdens, as would he done by the at
to, pt to establish system of State Not
m Schools similar to those Of some Of our
si,'cr States.
ithin the last year, the way seems to
h, ,e teen opened by which beginning may
I be made in the accomplishment of this i'm.
portant work, and at very slight expense to
I the State. The Trustees Of Orange County
I Grammar Scholar institution of Cstab-
| lished eharacter-have proposed to the
I Board Of Education 10 surrender up tie use
/ of their school property for term of years,
/ for the purpose Of converting their school
/ into State Normal School the Board Of
| Education to establish courses 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 It's mastery years longer time the
Board to determine the qualifications for ad-
mission to and graduation from the school,
an to attend, by its agents, upon all exam
in tions, and decide who shall be allowed to
enter and TO graduate the Board to nomin-
ate the principal, and the trustees to engage
as principal no other than some person SC
nominated by the Board the trustees tC
keep the school property in good repair. ant
TO determine the rates Of tuition and receive
the same for their own benefit; graduate:
from the first course to receive certificate;
which shall inure to their benefit, as quail
flying them to teach in any common schoo
il the State for five years and graduate
from the higher course to receive credeDtial
which shall avail them as perpetual cerhf
ca;cs. This proposition has been approyet
b, the Board Of Education, and will appea
a length in the report Of their Secretary
ard, at their request, commend the subjec
e. your careful consideration.
! recommend the enactment of a law b
which the Board of Education may be en-
powered to accept the proposition rcferre
t., and also to accept, in their discretion
similar propositions from other schools j
different parts of the State, and to carry ou
, the compacts that will result from such az
ceItances, by attending, in person or b
agents, examinations for admission to an
graduation from any schools thus adopteC
: aud granting to graduates the appropriai
certificates
desire also 10 commend b your attentio
The matter Of the authorized list Of scho
1. xt-books. somewhat extended discussiC
OF which will be found in the report of q
I;oard Of Education to your honorable bod
The original selection OF school books vi
made in 1859, TO expire in 1864; but q
lime originally appointed for its durati'
was afterwards extended to 1867, and "
now soon expire. This plan Of an authori,
tive selection OF school books, althoui
strongly opposed at first, seems to have W.
its way to very eneral approval