Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-10-19
tUatohman s. Journal.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1870.
TEeus- tl0O per year, strictly IN advance or $3.50
ifuot paid within three months.
Public Education.

Prussia, as the main element in her marvel.
lous success in the present war with Franc.
By that system every child is educated at the
public expense, and carried through all The
grade. OF culture FROM the lowest to the high
est, according to his fitness A competent
and ambitious scholar is taken through the
public schools aud the university. Bsmark
said that it was the German universities that
won tho battle Of Sadowa, and he might with
more reason ascribo the recent victories Of
Pussan arms to them The educated man
is Of more value anywhere than the ignorant
man IIc 3. better as 900 artisan and better
as soldier
Already the Prussian system has been in
troduced 10 a modified form into Austria, and
Italy has diverted the immense property Of
the monasterios aud converts to system Of
general instruction, embracing the common
school and the university. BY all these sys.
tenn, tdc State holds itself responsible for the
training Of lis children. The child bcougs
to the State aud is required to 60 through the
prescribed curriculum Of the schools to a GER
tain extent After fixed standard has been
reached then it is optional with him to 60
through the professional schools But from
the beginning to the end, the system is man.
aged and sustained by the State
The thoughtful aud sagacous men Of our
own country are beginning to see that this
system, modified to suit our climate and char.
actcr, must be introduced here, If we would
succeed in preserving the freedom and purity
of our Institutions The safety of free
State resides in tbeintcligence Of the electors
1t is a matter of the plaiucst duty to itself
therefore, for the State to make provision TO
secure the largest amount Of intelligence
She cannot afford to trust herself to the vote.
of an ignorant aud untaught population
1t would, Of course, be impoliiic and un-
wise for the state to attempt TO give reli,
gious instruction This is tobe left to the
family and the church But these three in.
stiutions can work harmoniously toward the
one end of general culture and Improvement
We have no sympathy with any scctarian cry
against our universal system Of education.
All the religious denominations stand on the
plan Of equality when they cross the thresh.
old Of the school. Sectarian training is ut.
tcrly repugnant to civil or religious liberty.
But all, of whatever creed, can receive the
elements Of intellectual and moral culture at
the same source.
We hope the day is not far distant when
Vermont viii establish full aud perfect sys,
TEN of instruction, including not only the Pri.
mary, the High and the Normal School, but
but also the University. Human intellect is
worth more than horse flesh or garden yeeet
ables or Gne varieties of fruit 1t quite as
well deserves the most complete and extended
system of culture. There are mines Of golC
and silver and precious stones all through our
State that have not been half worked yet an,
the precious metal aud Jewels that are bid il
them may be fashioned and polished into tn,
most beautiful and useful vessels We hav,
never seen any reason at all why the Stat
provision for education shouldstop short will
the very limited instruction of the common
schools. The State receives large beneG
from them but it receives its largest bcnef
from the higher schools and colleges Tho5
who reach the widest extent Of knowledge ar
the most useful Directly and indirectly tn
welfare Of all is secured by the highest grade
of attainment, through which only the few ar
disposed to 60
Whenever our Legislators shall apprcciat
the truth and rise to the level of their du
ties and responsibilities to the State then
new day viii dawn upon our commonwealth
> Then the first interest Of the State will b
held to be- not tho raising of stock or tn
building Of railroads, but the education of tn
people to the very highest possible standard
To raise men and women will not be deeme
/ a matter Of second importance. To proyid
= for the best growth and advancement whic
are possible, will not be deemed foreign t
p the responsibilities and duties of the Legisla
ture, The Inefficient voluntary system whic
is our oply reliance now, will be replaced b
a splendid State institution, and by county
town and district schools, all supported by tn
public funds, aud offering to all the youth O
the State the facilities of culture in ever
department aud to every degree
, We who live now may not possibly see
our day so great aud fine change effected /
our method Of education, but the present d,
mand Of the more advanced thinkers on tn
p subject will become bye and bye the popula
sentiment, and the Legislature will respon
heartily to the recommendations of the Exec
utivo who invites them to extend and perieC
our educational system, ill it shall cmbrac
I in its fostering care aud combine in one sy,
tenn Of culture the primary school and tn
University, with III their intermediate grades
Is it too much TO expect of this Legislator
to take the first step in introducing so admin
able a system
We shall take occasion hereafter to allul
, 70 some Of the other topics suggested to tn
General Assembly by Gov Stewart But "
have no doubt that whatever fate may com
to his recommendations this year, they ar
destined to be adopted, and more fully eve
than he now dreams, The course Of event
is onward, and our children will adopt meas
ures from which we shrink They will loo
back upon the plans which our sagacity hard
ly dares 10 initiate as but the first rtages o
a true progress.
The New York Herald thinks It fortu
nate for the Republicans that they has
Grants administration for their platform