St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-07-14
ST. .JOhHsbui'y Icddrn,D.

| SChGOl-;tS well IL tlc HlSi dl'pcliall, T.
of an advert iscmcnt in another column.
mako- it fittin9 that we should this week
say something of thi- school and its rcla-
tions to the public. 1t i nov nearly
thirty years since the academy commence
Ell its work under the administration of
Mr.. Colhy. 1t was founded chiefly TO
meet local reeds, the citizens of The VII
lagc, especially the Mcssrs Fairbanks,
taking lively and substantial interest in
its welfare. Many Students came to it
from the surrounding towns. and even
from remote localities, and its influence
while widely felt, Ia: been very strongly
marked upon this immediate vicinity. 1t
has diluscd intelligence, SUGGESTED and
quickcncd many noble thoughts and
Grand purposes, and left lasting records
in words well spoken and deed well
done, the impulsc- 10 which were Given
by such earnest, faithful, Chri,tianly
conscientious teachers as Mr.. Colby and
his coadiutors. 81. Iohnsbury Is far
better town to-day than it would have
been without It's academy
During the past few years the Jucs-
ton OF lis future has been discussed
anew by those most interested in lis wei
fare. In that time educational methods
and appliances have changed. to con-
siderable extent in our own state. else
where much more. Academies support
ed by tuition have given place to High
schools in most large towns Normal
schools have been established to give
special training in English studies to
common school teachers. and the sricn-
tilic departments in our COLLEGES have al
t"rled better opportunities Tor trninin"
in applied science than were possible un-
der the old system. Hence, il has been
iavorite doctrine with some that the
mission OF academies was ended
But experience has proved that, for
aiiurdng the best instruction in some
branches of study,as we'll rs for a clearly
defined and fixed Plan OF management,
academies, OF schools under private di-
reclion, have some marked advantages
First, the incidents of popular, and,
perhaps, partilln, election are avoided
Teachers are sure OF time and opportu-
nifty to develop and test the best systems
of classification ANA instruction. They
know that their trustees and patrons will,
If they show them-clve~ worthy OF their
vocation, give them Il reliable and stable
support. Hence the best teachers. not
caring II expose themselves to the whims
and capricts OF chanecful supervision,
prefer to teach in these schools
Secondly, comparatively few ol our
large and amply able towns will incur
the great expense oi cquipping thuron"h-
ly iirst-class COLLEGE preparatory or
higher sclrntiiic school Only local IN
tcrests are regarded, and the many will
not consent 10 pay largely Tor the priv
leges Of which they directly reap little
benefit.
Thirdly, there are multitude of small
towns utterly unable t" support a GOOD
higher school, hnt from which come
many young persons IT talent warrant
ing the widest culture. Ii these. to the
number of from two TO ten or twelve
from Il town can meet at n central point,
where tuition Is afforded them at half
IFS actual cost, and where they get the
impetus which always results from asso-
citation and consequent emulation, there
Is evidently to them great gain. such
students prefer to attend private rather
than public schools for the same reasons
that teachers prefer the former
Fourthly, academies can Weld strong
er and healthier moral and religious IN
iInenceS than any public schools Many
parents deem such influences among the
most important elements of education,
and demand them for their children
To meet these needs and demands.
and not at all to encroach on the proy-
lnce or work OF any public school, the
trustees of st. Johnsbury Academy have
determined TO revise and expand its
courses OF study, enlarge the corps of i'll
structors, and provide ample accommo-
dations Tor students from abroad.
While the classical department is to
be still prominent feature of the school,
the plans unfolded in the prospectus give
surety that the modern methods of in
struction in English studies are to re-
celvc due share of attention. The
Normal course will commend itself to our
common school teachers 1t ought to
benefit every district school in this BART
OF the state. The ladies' complete course
aims TO equal those of our best Female
Seminaries, and we see no good reason
why, henceiorth, the young ladies of
this vicinity should LARGELY go to other
schools for their education.
The new brick hall, situated south Of
the academy, contains two tenements for