The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-10-19

SO GU, O.' O'
Veterans re-enhsted, 1861
Enlisted in L. $. n, army
and marine corps, ,339
Drafted men, paid Communication, l, 81
Total No. men furnished by state, "a, 23S
NORMAL AND COMMON SCHOOLS.
For many years there has been an i'll
creasing strength Of public sentiment i'll
this state favorable to the adoption OF
some adequate means OF supplying more
specific course of instruction TOR the teach
ers Of our common schools This santi-
ment has increased very rapidly, 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 es-
adjustment of some system of state nor
nal instruction.
The national troubles and the very large
expenditures induced thereby, have hith-
erto delayed any attempt to inauguratc
such system as would respond to the gem
eral demand for while all have been uni
ted in opinion that we We're in duty bound
10 lose nothing Of the ground already gain
cd in the field of educational labor. all
have equally agreed that the heavy bur
den OF our taxes rendered it unad,isabIe to
undertake any new enterprises, however
laudable, which must necessarily increase
50 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 10y which beginning
may be made in the accomplishment of
this important work, and at very slight
expense to the state. The trustees of Or
ange county grammar schooI-an mstltu-
ton of established charactcr-have pro-
posed to the board of education tc 4urrcn-
der up .he Use of their school property for
a term OF years, tor the purpose OF con-
verting their school INTO state normal
school the board OF education to estab-
lisa courses of study. the frs. 10 include
ali the branches required by law to be
taught IN the common schools, and the
second to lie mere rigid, and to require iii
its mastery :. year. longer time the
board to determine the qualifications for
admission TO and graduation from tie
school, and 10 attend bv lis agents, upon
all its examinations, and decide who sinai!
be allowed to enter, and to graduate ; the
board 10 nominate the principal, and The
trustees to engage as principal no other
than some person SO Nominated by the
board the trustees to keep the school
property in good condition, and to deter
mine the rates OF tuition. and receive the
same ior their own benefit graduates
from the first course to receive certificates
which shall inure 10 their benefit. as quail
flying them to teach in any common
school in the state for five years and
graduates from the higher course to re-
ceive credentials which shall avail them
as perpetual certificates. This PROPOSE
ton has been approved by the board of
education, and will appear at length in the
report of their secretary, and, III their re-
quest, commend the subject to your care
ful consideration.
| recommend the enactment of law by
which the board of education NAV be en-
powered to accept the proposition referred
to, and also to accept, in their discretion,
similar propositions from her schools in
different parts Of the state, and 10 carry
out the compactS that will result from such
acceptances, by attending, in person or by
agents. the examinations for admission tc
and graduation from any schools thus
adopted, and granting to graduates the APP
propriate certificates.
| desire also to commend to your atten-
ton the matter of the authorized list of
school textbooks, a 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 mate in 1859. to expire
in 1864; but the time originally appoint
ed for its duration was afterwards extend
ed to 1867, and will now soon expire,
This plan of an authoritative selection of
school books, although strongly opposed at
first. seems to have won its way to very
general approval.
Some legislation at your present session
will be necessary to prevent return to an
unlimited diversity of books, that cannot
but inlure the schools and recommend
that the board of education be empowered
to revise the authorized list Of school
books, and publish the same as soon a.
nav be practicable, and that tile authori-
y Of the present list be continued until
such revisions lie made public.
Reform school.
Under the act approved November 9,
500. entitled ''an act to establish tic
'ermont Reform School," appointed by
md with the advice of the senate. Aaron
r. pease a. acting commissioners and