Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-11-22

band, ana there appears plain case
upon which divorce Is granted. That
is the exact way In which many
divorce case has been got up, and so
great has the mischief become, that
Judge of the Supreme Court prepared
the bill In question, and an ex-Judge, of
large experience, strongly advised its
passage.
The severest struggles of the session
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, A Normal
School, indeed, was established without
much opposition, but that did not in
volve any expense on the part of the
State. Wherever dollar was at stake,
the sharpest scrutiny was exercised, and
the most vigorous resistance was made
Will the time ever come in Vermont
when the first question in regard to a
proposed educational movement shall
be, not, what will it cost 2" but, 'do
the interests of the schools require it ?"
Among the earliest bills introduced
was one providing for a rc-examination
of the school books now in use, and an
examination of Others of the same kind,
with a view to securing a better list of
books, ifsuch could be found. This bill
occasoned more excitement more de-
bate, more private discussion, than
almost any other. 1t was taken for
granted by the opponents of the bill that
q re examination would result In an en-
tire change of books, and occasion au
enormous expense. After long tribula'
ton, a bill was passed last Saturday,
continuing the present list of books till
November 1868, and instructing the
Board OF Education to make eXamina-
ton on or before July lst, 1867 and recon-
mend such new list as to them seems
advisable. The law also provides that
q 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 provisions o.; the bill, and will
prevent the recurrence Of such doings
as have taken place this session in con-
neCtion with that question. An attempt
was made in the Senate to extend the
time to ten years, and was only defeated
by the casting vote Of the President, the
votes Of the senators being equally d.
vided. To guard against the extortiOns
of publishers, as well as to prevent the
| great expenses of Introducing new books,
the bill provided that the publishers Of
the new books snail 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 of scholars and families. This law,
though postponeing for year and q
half the introduction Of new books, will
eventually secure, it is to be hoped, a
better class of books in some depart
ments.
1t has been an occasion OF much com
plant by teachers, that they are under
the necessity Of submitting, year after
year, to examination by superintendent,
some of whom at least are much less
| qualified than the teachers whom they
examine. A remedy for this has been
provided by law, which requires the
establishment, by the Board of Educa-
ton of two courses Of study, one con-
sisting of the branches taught in the
common schools, and the other ilclud-
| ing in addition such higher branches as
the Board shall deem best adapted to use
in advanced classes, At each Teachers
Institute, examinations in these courses
are to be held by the Secretary Of the
Board and two or more practical teachers
appointed by the Board and persons
passing satisfactory examination in
| the first course are to receive a certificate
emitting them to teach anywhere in the
| State for the term OF five years, and those
! passing similar examination in the
second course are to receive a similar
certificate authorizing them to teach for
the term of fifteen years After five years
from the passage Of the act no other
certificates than these are to be available.
This will be quite an advantage to good
teachers, quite a disadvantage to poor
ones, and decided benefit to the State.
The Senate passed a bill raising the
number Of the Board of Education to
six, to be appointed by the Governor,
two from each Congressional district,
one of each two to be practical teacher.
The House amended the bill by striking
out all after the enacting clause and
substituting its own bill which re-
quired the Board to be elected by the
joint assembly, but, the Senate, by vote
Of IA to Il, refused to concur, and abe
House, very judiciously, receded from
its amendment and concurred in the
Senate bill. The Governor has appointed