The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-07-16
State Normal Schools.

HVh. '"S Ai'o'. regular eeSSlon vi tle
General Assembly provision was made
for State Normal schools, allowing one
for each Congressional District Two
have already been established, one at
Randolph, the other at johnson. These
are now in successful operation. 1t only
rem .ins to establish one in the First Con-
gressonal District, and the UeraM argues
that it should be located in Rutland or
bennington Counties. We can see no
objection in either Of the counties named
30 far as geographical position is con-
earned, neither can we see any insur-
mountable objections 10 its location in
Addison or Washington counties. The
former are the two extreme southern
counties, and the latter are the two en-
treme northern counties and very Similar
ly situated in that regard. But there aye
considerations which have been overlooked
by the Herald. AT Manchester, the only
feasible or convenient location in Bennirg-
ton County5s Burr Il Burton Seminary,
already established and known as the
best preparatory .. school in Vermont,
which could not, if it would, surrender
the right to arrange the course of study,
TO conduct the examinations, to nominate
teachers and to yield the general supervi.
sion Of the school to the State Board, as
would be necessary in order that it might
be constituted a State Normal School.
10 establish another Academy, or the
Normal School rear this would be to
iniure, if not to ruin, both.
We can see no serious objection TO its
Location at Rutland except that it is
probably impossible. The people are not
prepared to give mp the control of their
excellent High School, and they are too
wise to allow the establishment of second
institution Of the kind in that place. The
same objection will apply to Poultney,
Castleton and Fairhaven that the Herald
urges against Bristol. They are too far
one side of tbs district, much farther than
is Bristol, and not more convenient for
the proper accommodation of those who
wish to attend. Brandon, Middlebury
and Vergennes are the more central points
and everything considered, are more eligible
provided the necessary requirements are
complied with. But So far as we know
neither of these places are prepared to
apply for the school and accompany the
application will. guarantees Of proper
maintenance without expense to the state
Bristol has applied, and is central enough
for all practical purposes Only few
miles from New Haven Depot, with regular
and frequent mail and travelling facilities,
il is one of the most thriving and beautiful
village in the State. 1t lies, nestled down
under the mountains, having the most fav.
orable conditions for vigorous mental ap-
plication, without the distracting elements
in surrounding influences which must
prevail in a larger place like Rutland.
If the Herald will lay aside local con-
sileratons and consider only benefits
which are designed to accrue to the
people of the whole state, it will see that
Windsor ard Windham counties are
quite ne well Accommodated at Randolph
MS they can be at any point this side of
the mountains; and much better than at
any except Rutland. Also that Chittenden
County teachers are not obliged TO be
educated at johnson because it belongs in
the same Congressional District.
The true theory is, we apprehend, TO
bring pressure to bear upon the Legis-
ture to constitute another school or schools
in the south part of the state in addition
10 those already established as soon as the
want of one shall be sufficiently felt to create
demand for it at any point The fact is,
the teachers will pay less regard TO the
regularly constituted Normal School than
TO their own convenience. II the school
for this district were located at Benning-
ton comparatively few of the teachers Of
this County would attend it. And rice
rosa, if located at Bristol large proper
ton of the Bennington County teachers