Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-10-22
COMMON SCHOOLS.

commend to your care the educational inter-
ests Of the Staie,-the common schools, the acad-
emies and colleges At the foundation of these
interests is the principle, recognized even pre-
vous to the adoption of the present Constitution
Of the State, that the State is under obligation 10
provide free schools for the education Of all its
children and from this follows naturally the
requirement, that the schools thus provided shall
be the best Of their kind, which can be furnished
for the amount Of money expended, and that
those for whose benefit they are furnished shall
partake Of their advantages. And in enlarging
and improving the standard Of education in the
common schools, YOU inevitably advance in a
corresponding degree the standard and value of
the higher institutions Of learning.
The great number Of small school districts in
the State, and the low grade of attainment which
in too many cases is required Of teachers BY those
who are charged with the duty of employing
them, are serious obstacles TO the full develop
ment Of the improvement OF which the school
system i susceptible. In a small district, con-
tanning but few families, a. compared With
large district containing many families, 1t Is
obvious that one Of two results must follow If
good teachers are employed, who can command
high wages, the expense for each scholar must be
greatly increased above the average Of the larger
districts and if the expense for each scholar
is kept within the average, it will be by the en-
ployment Of poor teachers, who can only com
mand and are willing to serve for low wages.
For remedying this objection the Board of Edu-
cation recommend, that all school districts be
abolished, and that the support and supervision
Of the schools be committed directly to the towns;
and | commend to your careful Consideration
their Report, together with the Report
OF the Secretary of the B ard, stat
ing in detail the reasons for the Recommendation
not doubling that you will act wisely and with
all discretion in a matter of so grave importance.
The establishment and continuance Of Normal
Schools and Teachers Institutes for the education
Of teachers is great improvement upon the
school system Of former years, and their benei-
cial effect is already manifest in the advance Of
the standard Of common school education. But
the full measure of their benefit has probably not
yet been attained The Board Of Education and
their Secretary have made some suggestions in
this respect, which are sufficiently important to
Justify deliberate examination Of the subject, and
judiciOus action.
The expenditure for the support Of schools
each year is about five hundred thousand dollars;
and this assumption and performance by the
State of its duty TO provide for the education OF
all its children imposes a corresponding Obliga
ton. that those for whom this provision is made
shall sA all themselves of its advantages The
State has as good right to require, for its own
protection against anarchy and misrule, the re-
suits Of ignorance and ideness. that the children
shall be educated, as to require allegiance the
corresponding duty to the obligation Of protec-
ton. Yet very large number Of the children in
the State, both native and foreign born, do not