Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-11-03

good normal school?
He was repeating the unanimous
opinion of the Board of Education in
saying that one good normal school is
sufficient for Vermont.
They have carefully examined the
matter for more than year, and he be-
lieved that public sentiment was with
them. .n. a
Every principal of the normal schools
had expressed to him the opinion that one
school is better than three. The Board
of Trustees of one of them has adopted a
resolution recommending one school.
The Board has prepared a plan tor a
normal school. They recommend that q
Board of Commissioners be appointed tic
receive proposals for location and to Sc
lect that location which under all circum.
stances shall seem the most advantageous
This plan has been tried elsewhere with
great success. The school should be en-
tirely in the control of the State. .-
1t is believed that the buildings and al
the furniture, fixtures, ETC., for the school
can be secured without expense to the
State.
1t is proposed that the normal school
year shall be but SO weeks, in order tc
give all the pupils an opportunity to teach
in the winter. The teachers should be
employed for 40 weeks, and be employed
for aavAn weeks in attending Institutes.
first-class normal school than three second
class schools. We should, upon the plar
proposed, obtain one frst-class norma
school at less than $4,000 additional ex
pense to that now expended for norma
schools and institutes.
If, however, the Legislature should see
fit to give adequate support to the three
schools, the Board would be satisfied But
he thought that by an adoption of the re
concentrations of the Board, the problem
of securing better teachers would be
solved. He trusted the subject would bc
considered with the view only of secur
ing the best schools for the State.
Vermont has as good material as can b,
found anywhere. He hoped that it would
be kept in Vermont, and Vermont children
have as good advantages as any in the
world.
Rev. J. E. Goodrich of Burlington, was
then introduced.
He thanked the Legislature for its re-
cognition of the State Teachers's Associa
ton.
This body is composed of gentlemen
who are striving with all their might tc
advance the educational interests of the
State.
At their last meeting they discussed,
with great animation, the question OF
adopting the town system of schools, and
at its close they unanimously passed re-
solution stating that they believed an
abolition of the district system impera-
lively demanded.
He believed the benefits of tho town
system would be more richly felt in the
more sparsely settled towns of the State
He did not see any other way to allow
these towns to receive any advantage
from the graded system.
In Massachusetts,, part of the public
money has been allowed, TO be used in
conveying children to schools. The re.
suit has been that less number of schools
have been aufhcienb, and money has beer
saved, while educational advantages have
greatly increased.
In Chittenden county system of com
rpetitiye examinations has been adopted
A set of questions has been prepared and
the teachers have been examined thu
same day. Some opposition has beer
manifested, but there is very general de
termination that the system shall be up
held. He urged that the system be ex
tended throughout the State. He regret
ted that the system of requiring Stat
certificates is to fail, but he believed thi
as good remedy as we can secure.
The statute prescribes that the distric
clerk shall obtain all in his district be
tween four and twenty. The register
only require tho number between fou
and eighteen. He did not believe tina
correct returns had ever been made.
He desired that clerks be required t
make tabular statistics of the families an
children of the districts. 1t would COS
no more to obtain classified school cen
sus than it now does 10 obtain statistic
which are comparatively valueless.
The State and county associations Q
Vermont are doing most valuable worl
| for the State. The teachers who supper
them are poor. He thought the Stat
should do as Massachusetts does, appro
pirate small amount to help these associ
atoms. He suggested an appropriation O
twenty-five dollars to each of the smalle
associations and fifty dollars to the Stat
association. -.s.
We cannot have good schools CT any
thing else without some expense. 1t j
the dictate of simple economy to make ex
penditures If they will make valuable re
turns.
The great difficulty of our schools i
that too little money is expended fol
them. .-.. -.
He believed that the educational inter
ests of Vermont are improving; but h'
desired that they should increase still
more rapidly. He did not believe Yer
mont to be keeping pace with other Sta>de
which have abolished the district sTIsten
He trusted the action of the L.5eislatur
would be such that the next four veal
will show very marked Improvement
our schools.
a EAm M ROBBERY - ARRREs
OF THE nEF IN NEW YORK. :
a Jew I .ys ago, while Mrs R. Robil
'oAi - bennington, Vt, was riding wit
Jung lady in the suburbs of Bennini
on, the horses ran away, the carriage WI
: overturned, and the occupants wei