Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-26

FELLOW CITIZENS -
In this article wish TO call your attention
to an act Of our Legislature passed in 1866,
entitled " An act relating to the duties Of the
Board Of Education and the examination Of
teachers" Section | requires the Board Of
Education to arrange two courses Of study
the FIRST TO Aclude all the branches required
by law to be taught in the common schools of
the State, the second all contained in the first
course, and such higher English branches as
the Board deem best adapted for use in adj
vancel classes, &C. Section authorizes the
Boarl to give to each person who shall pre-
sent satisfactory evidence Of good moral char
actor, and pass a thorough examination in the
first course, ertiGcate emitting the holder to
the right TO teach inthc common schoolsin this
State, in any part Of the State, for the term
Of Eve years from the date Of such ceriif-
cate; and to each person who shall pass
thorough examination in the second course
certificate emitting the holder to the right 10
teach IN any part of the State for the torn Of
fifteen years from the date Of such certificate
Sec declares that no person shall have the
right TO teach IN any Of the summer schools Of
thisStatc aitcrfyc years from thepassageofthis
act, unless such person shall have such ccrti-
dcate and all power Of town snperintendents
70 grant certificates is revoked after five years
from the passage Of this act
Now whatever may have been the intention
Of the trainers of this third section, the result
will be, ifpermitted to 60 into effect, to make
the business of teaching in common schools
lucrative profession, controlled and monop-
olizcd exclusively hy the rich or wealthy class
We know there are many persons who would
| like TO acquire an education, and who would
be glad 10 teach a portion of the time, and
who, in fact, have no other means Of obtain
/ ing the requisite funds TO cnable them to pur-
sue their studies. Some Of these might doubt
less be obtained 10 teach in small districts,
where only the lower branches are required
20 be taught, and at prices, perchance, which
poor districts would afford to pay; but just
here the law steps in, and says, " You shall
not teach TO procure means 10 qualify your
self. earn your means by some other employ
ment. or leave the field to Mr. Goldsworth 5
daughters. who have a certificate obtained at
great expense at the Teachers Institute; they
will Of course ask high price, and it will
come rather hard on that little district but
such is the law" And here the question
arises, how are the two thousand four hundred
aud nine districts ia the State to obtain icgaI
teachers, when by the report Of the Secretary
Of the Board Of Education, it appears that
only fifty out of two hundred and fifteen appli-
cauts received certificates in ls67 Is it
likely that plenty of teachers legally qualified
to teach in any part Of the state will very
soon be found? Does not this view Of the
subject alone sufficiently demonstrate the ne
cessity Of the repeal or amendment Of the Law
in question:
In my former article | invited an expires
sion Of the views and sentiments Of my fellow
citizens on this subject, but have as ye
seen no response To me it seems rery im
portant that our laws should be so frame,
that every district should be supplied with {
teacher, and also that the burden and expens'
be as nearly equal as possible. If the educa
tion of our people be public benefit, pub
lie blessing and if the district school be tn
nursery the fountain, the germ from whicl
the popular education is TO spring, should
not be supported Al the puhlicerpeuae2 Shoui
one man be required 10 contribute two or thre
: dollars to the public benefit as often as hi
fellow townsman contributes one dollar?
, wish to press this on your attention no'e whei
your representatives are about to be chose
& to enact your laws wish you to thin
on this subject. and act, as well.
+. G. Gums