Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-07


effort, to make the teachers feel a, a..
countability for the faithful performance
of their duties. Ii cannot be expected
that mere hireling, las many of our
teachers are compelled to see themselves
regarded, can feel and exercise an inter
est in that, in which their employers DO
not manifest any. In this manner, then,
of experimenting our schools, there can
be improvement, and by this, would our
schools soon show decided aud a great
advance.
The same returns show that our schools
have been visited not even once, each,
during the year by the prudential COM
mittees of the district, and by 8 1-3 of all
other persons in term.
Unless parents, and those having special
care of Jour schools give them more atten-
ton, it will be very miraculous, if our
schools ever rise much from their present
condition.
1 trust the feeling and the query has
not come to anyone, while listening to this
comparison of our schools with those of
other States. "Can he find nothing to
commend, nothing good in our schools ?"
1 believe very much might be found to
commend, but, if there be any room for
improvement, if there be any particular
in which our schools can be made more
productive of good, I desire to direct my
efforts to secure that improvement, than
merely to utter q few words in cultivation
of self-satisfaction.
I do find one point of comparison in
which Vermont stands at the head OF
good list and so far as examined leads all
the States, that is, in the attendance at
school of the enumerated children. There
areTenumerated 76,759 children the past
year, and of these "a, 140 have attended
school, making SO 1-2 per cent. about, larger
than any other State. Massachusetts,
comes very near to it, falling short but
1-5 of 1 per cent, only two Illinois and
Indiana, reach so per cent. only Ohio
reaches 20. Connecticut, Iowa, Maine and
New Jersey reach go, 20 and on down to
80 per cent. While this is exceedingly
praiseworthy, it is to be lamented that
these faithful attendants upon school
should not have better advantages fur
nished them.
Vermont paid in 1868 $91, 1882 for new
school buildings.
This may at first appear like large
amount. 1t is, but has cost each inhabit-
ant of the about 90 cts. i.e. taking the
census of 1860.
Maryland and New Hampshire have
paid less, the former 10 2-3 cts, the latter
26 1-3 cts. But Maryland was assisted
thro' the Freedman's Bureau.
While Connecticut, Maine, Ohio, Rhode
Island, have paid 80 cts. per inbabitant.
Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts,, New Jer-
sey, Pennsylvania, have paid near or
quite $1.0O each, New Jersey 1.19, Masss-
chusetts 1.21
Looking at the whole subject, do you
not feel altogether discouraged? MOI Il
there is room for improvement, what shall
we do? Sit down in despair that there ia
so much to be done, or looking at the
greatness of the work. the value to be ac-
quired, the good to the individuals, to the
community, to the State. 1 do not des-
pair, shall find no cause of discourage
ment but in the apathy of the people,
which can be aroused. Their want of full
acquaintance with the subject, which can
be instructed, and then appealing to their
good sense, their self-interest, in its best
sense, their patriotism, to their higher and
better natures. I will believe that these
schools can be brought mp to par value
with those in other States. would IL
the spirit and the language of your Old
hero, Ethan Allen, attack the garrison
of fogyism, and rouse the sleeping keepers
of Anticipated ideas, with the cry of "Ged
and the continental Congress" You must
| surrender