Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-04-11
The Lecture of J. s. Adams, Esq.

The admirable lecture Of j. 8. Adams,
Esq, Secretary of the Board OF Educa-
tion, last evening at Village Hall, was
delivered to fair audience. He was
introduced by Col. Wheelock G. Veazey.
He commenced by reference to the
want of interest manifested on the part
OF the people in the public schools of
our towns, and the neglect and want of
sagacity shown by the business men of
the community in the promotion of this
object which should outweigh all others
in the public consideration, demonstrat-
ing by practical illustration and local
statistics, showing that the town of
Rutland had paid the last year SIC, 800
in the support Of schools, and within
few years s14 900 for the erection of
school buildings, and from $1,000 to
10000 per year for the last ten years.
The State of Vermont pays for
educational purposes from s350,000
to 100000 per annum, and for
all other expenses, save those of war,
less than $500 900 is paid, exhibiting in
a powerful and convincing manner the
great interest all should have in the
practical bearings and operation Of the
system, while in truth the least atten-
rion was given to it Of any in the COM
monwealth. He next took up the ques-
tion of union schools and discussed the
whole subject in an able and thorough
manner, showing their benefits and de-
f1ciencies, passing to a comparison be-
tween their operation and the graded
schools, as the true theory from which
the greatest good can be accomplished
for the children and the community, and
exhibiting the power and benefit to be
derived from the consolidation OF all,
under one central head, whereby combin-
ed and successful management are ac-
complished for all classes, and they de-
rive the beneficial results growing out
of such system, saying that the plan
proposed and sanctioned by the recent
act of the Legislature was not special
legislation for our town-but that the
power had been vested by the stat
utes OF the State in every town for
the last so years, by municipal ac-
ton, to consolidate their school dis
tricts under one central head. He
suggested a method Of appraisal of
property and taxation that should be
adopted and thus make an equitable sys.
TEN of taxation alike upon all.
We regret that our space this morn.
ing will not allow of more extended
report of this eloquent and useful lee
ture. Suffice it to say that 1t was rich
and rare treat to which every citizen
and tax payer within our corporation
should have listened, and they would
have been convinced that the schools Of
Rutland are to be placed upon more
useful and substantial basis, and the
prosperity of the town more largely en-
hanced than by the system now in op-
Grafton. Had the people of this village
listened to the forcible illustrations and
unanswerable arguments Of the speaker
we should have one unanimous express
sion tonight in favor Of the consolida-
| tion plan, and the election Of the most
competent and energetic men for trus.
tees in every ward of the evillage, giving
a strength and power to the new board
! Of education which would give the best
assurance that Rutland will be the fore
most town in the State in its educational
arrangements.