Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-17

States. by tLub Bls41S VIZ -
ballot. the doctrine Of our fathers that the
safety of the nation depends upon the IN
fellieence OF the people, has been set at
naucht. The speaker then alluded to the
Amazonian hordes, bouncing down upon
the State for the ballot. The negro has
the ballot and the negress must have 1t.
He deemed the female suffrage movement
an unfortunate one. England dares not
gives the ballot until she sends abroad
the schoolmaster. Political wisdom re-
ouires that the people should see that no
harm come to the republic. "The rlgnt
to hang involves the right to educate.
The speaker then made an able argn-
ment in favor of making education uni
yersal, even if force be necessarily USED.
The relation of the man reaches the in
terest of the entire State. The statement
made that nineteen-twentieths Of all the
armies might be prevented by compelling
all children, between the ages of four and
sixteen, to attend school, is great truth.
1t were better to raise taxes for the sup
port of schools than to build jails and
court houses.
Sectarian schools in Vermont have a
bad influence on the progress of the State.
If the common school is not good enough
for the rich mans child, it is not good
enough for the poor mans child. The
want of good school houses and teach
ers is owing more to the neglect OF
the rich men of the State than any other
cause In composite society we need
some kind of leaven to unite us together.
The speaker would not have the emigrant
forget the traditions of his native land.
but he would have them all attend the
American school and be taught the his
tory of the American nation. We under
estimate the necessity of our common
schools. A few years age there sprang up
party whose watchword was America
for Americans. He would change the
motto Americans for America.
1t is impossible to give even the shadow
of the address 1t was brilliant and elo-
quent throughout, and was heartily ap-
plauded.
| DISCUSSIoN-WRITING.
Opened by Mr.. Hyde of Ludlow, who
made considerable fun of the handwriting
of the great men of America. He said it
was a mark of great man to write hand
no one can read. Writing is taught but
little in Vermont. In the cities you can
find children in the same school writing
in the same style. The State has adopted
Payson, Dunton & Scribner's system, and
whatever the State has adopted, the same
is binding upon the people. The local
boards and teachers have no more right
to use any and all copy books for instruct
ing pupils in writing, than teachers have
to begin schools without certificates.
EVENING.
Discussion: "The need of endowed
academies" Opened by Prof. Spaulding,
who was followed by Prof. Goodrich,
The association were then favored by an
able and entertaining address from Presi-
dent II. D. Kitchel. Subject: "The two
peculiar aims of the teacher" Daring the
entire address the audience of the crowded
hall manifested by the closest attention a
deep interest in every word of the
eloquent speaker.
| THURSDAY MORNING.
Reading of scriptures and prayer by
Rev. Fl. D. Kitchel of Middlebury.
| Reading of report of Secretary.
Discussion District VS.. Town system
of schools" The discussion was opened
by Rev. Mr.. Williams of CastletOn. If
the Secretary's reasons for abolishing the
District system are well founded there is
no need of much argument. The argu-
ments of the Secretary are exhaustive and
conclusive. If other States are making
more progress in another manner of con-
Quoting their schools Vermont may well
examine their plans. The speaker had
examined statistics by States. In Connect
cut there are 90 square miles in each dis
trict; in Maine square miles in each
district; in New Hampshire 5 square
miles in each district; in Vermont 2 As
square miles in each district.
All the States as sparsely settled Al
Vermont have more square miles to each
school district. The speaker then pro
ceeded to examine the statistics of variou!
States, and showed Vermont has tn,
smallest school districts of any State il
the UnioD, and the smallest number o
scholars IA each district. Vermont has an
average of only "a scholars in each dis
trict. In Massachusetts scholars ar
reos0ned from the age OF to 10. II
Vermont from 4 to IS years. The distric
system, is more expensive, and furnishe
I cheap and consequently poor teachers.
Only two-thirds of our scholars atten'
school, while in some States six-seveuth
of the scholars attend. The town system
would tend TO furnish better school houses
apparatus and school teachers. The aver
age length of school in this State are i
weeks or tFereabouts per year. In som
of the States the school averages 40 week
per year. The average cost of tuition pc
month tn tho scholar in Vermont is full
up to the average in .3ther States. Th
average cost per month in TWENTY-FIVE
States from which staff sites are obtaine
is SIPS, while il VerIn ont it Is 81 IS an
last year it was $1.74 The whole argr
ment was in favor OF the town system
and it was urged upon the association t
take some action expressing their feelin
in the matter. .. ........ ..
Rev Mr.. Goodrich said of thrice
schools reported none had a globe, n umera
frame or anything. .t liza.
DR.. Kitchel said he hoped that Ii
association would urge upon the Lea ii
latnpo the necessity of some legislatio
in regard to the subject.
Address by Prof e. HI. Perkins 81 Bur
hngton Zoology wrs the subject of hi
Il H.. VI