Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-11-30

The VERMONT LEGISLATURE AND THE
ScHooLs.-The severest STRUGGLES Of the SEES,
sion have been upon educational subjects.
and it has only been by desperate efforts
that anything has been done to promote the
interests Of our schools 4 Normal school
indeed, was established without much ornT.
sition, but that did not involve any expense
on the part Of the State. " hercyer dollar
was at stake, the sharpest scrutiny was ex-
ercised, and the most vigorous resistance
was made. Will the time ever come in Yer
mont, when the first question in regard TO a
proposed educational movement shall be,
not, ''what VIII it cost - but. edo the in
terests Of the schools require it?
Among the earliest bills introduced was
one providing Tor a re-cxaminatl0n Of the
school books now m use, and an examIna-
ton of others Of the same kind, with view
to securing better list Of books, if such
could be found. This bill occasionei more
excitemgpt, more debate, more private dis
cussion, than almost any other. IL was
taken for granted by the opponents Of the
bill that denomination would result in IN
entire change Of books. and occasion an
enormous expense. After long tribulatiOn,
a bill was passed last Saturday, continuing
the present list Of books till November 1865
and instructing the Board of Education 20
make examination on or before July lst,
1867, and recommend such new list as %
them seems advisable. The law also pro
yides that a similar examination shall take
place every five years thereafter, and that
books recommended shall remain in use five
years. This is one Of the most valuable pro-
visions Of the bill, and will prevent the Pc
currence Of such doings as has taken place
this session IN connection with that qucs-
ton. An attempt was made in the Senate
10 extend the time to ten years, and was only
defeated by the casting vote Of the Presi-
dent, the votes Of the senators being equally
divided. To guard the extOrt0ns OF pub
fishers, as well as to prevent the great tx
Tense Of introducing new books. the bill
provided that the publishers OF the new
books shall receive IN exchange, at their
trade value, the displaced books that may be
IN the hands Of booksellers in the State, and
shall also receive, at their real value, all
such books IN the hands Oi scholars and ia
miles. This law, though pgstI lnius Tor
year and a half the Introduction of new
books, VIII eventually secure, 10 Is u be
hoped, better class OF books IN some de-
Tartments.
IL has been an occasion of much complaint
by teachers, that they are under the ueccs
sIty Of submitting, year after year, % exa
minati0n by supcrIn some Il whom
at least are much lees qualified than the
teachers whom they examine. \ remedy for
this has been provided by q law, which re-
guirls the establishment bT the Board of
Education Of two courses Of study, one COM
sisting Of the branches taught IN the C mm5n
schools. and the other including in addition
such higher branches as ,he Is arI shall
deem lest adapted 10 Use in advanced classes.
At each Teachers institute, examinations DO
these courses are % be held by the Secretary
ot the Board and two %. more practical
teachers appointed by the Board ami per-
sons passing g satisfactory examination In
the first course are 20 receive IL certificate
emitting them % teach anywhere 10 the
state Tor the term Of five years, and those
passing similar examination in the second
course are % receive similar certificate ul-
thJrizing them 90 teach ilr tat torn OF ii-
teen years. Alter five ytlIs lrlm tie pas
sage ut -hc act no other e,rtid-l-es tl4u
these are % De available. I.i- Will be quite
an advantage TO good teachers. quite Dis
advantage To u0Jr ones, and decided a-u--
it % the Sa,c.-P II. IT,. t1 Raf'gLl Hr-
GH.