Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-02-23

many OF our tOWuS appIScldto tno noco
of maintaining schools of higher grade
than those taught in the common districts.
The number of Academies that have ex,
listed in our State is striking evidence of
this appreciation. But the difficulties in
the way of maintaining go many Acade-
mics have proved heretofore insuperable.
They had no organic and financial con-
nection with our common school sys.
tenn, and so have lacked pea7ndneace which
is prime element Of success in an edu-
cational institution. Except in those few
instances where the Academies have been
endowed 40 as to be somewhat independ-
emit of buttons for their support, or have
been under the management OF man OF
rare qualifications, these institutions have
had a very precarious and fuctuating ex-
istence. I would not under estimate the
value of the work which our Academies
have done. But it is plain to any one
who looks into the matter that with the
few exceptions made above. Academies
are thing of the past. Still this desire
to promote a higher education than that
afforded by the district schools. exists
with undated power in the state. Inc
people want connecting link between
the common SCQOOl duu LILO CoiAOSO'
The town system under discussion pro-
yides the simplest and surest possible
means of meeting this want. The town
can maintain high school, and take
upon itself the pecuniary risks that are
now compelled to be borne by single
person, or at most few individuals, II an
Academy is supported. A few indivi-
duals soon tire of that risk and response
bility. It will not require much discus
sion to show that the town is the proper
BODY to take the responsibility of main
tanning high school. In the first place
the whole town as a town, is interested in
having such a school maintained, for the
town has, or ought to have advanced
scholars enough to furnish the school
with goodly number of pupils. When
such a school is maintained at home,
MANY scholars would get the direct ad-
vantaees of it who could not go out of
town to school on account OF the expense,
and it is in many respects better and
pleasanter for both parents and children
to be where they can see each other at
least once a week, even though the parents
are able pecuniarily to send their children
abroad for educational advantages.
arising from high school under its own
control are of chief Importance. In the
fret place such school educates teachers
for the district schools. The more teach
ers there are in the market and the better
their qualifications, the more economically
and preftably can orr whole system of
education be worked. That proposition
needs no discussion. The relation of q
High School to the supply and qualifica-
tions of teachers is seen at glance.
Furthermore High School under the
control of the town can be made to have
an organic connection with all the other
schools maintained. This is of inestim-
able Importance. The town can then ar
range a course of study for the Primary
Schools which should have in view pre-
paraticn for the High School. This would
be one of the most healthful stimulants
that could te applied to the scholars in
the Primary Schools. Remember that the
Primary Schools correspond in grade and
locality with district schools as they are
now maintained. A unity would thus be
given to our means of education, the
worth of which it would seem hardly pos
sible to estimate.
And still further, these ends would be
attained with greater economy The
High School would do quite portion of
the teaching that is now done by the
village district schools. and what was thus
saved would SO far relieve the burden Of
the whole town. These High Schools
would be open without charge to all the
scholars of legal age in the town in which
they were located. Scholars from other
towns would be charged buttons as in
our present Academies. 1t will thus ap-
pear that those towns that first move in
this matter would have an opportunity to
reap no small benefit of tuitions from
those towns that from any cause delay to
establish similar schools.
In conclusion let us notice again how
this system recommends itself by its flex-
Utility. Under it the town can maintain
large or smaller number OF schools as it
may choose. But it's power in this case
is no more than it has now in its right to
change district boundary lines.
Under the new system proposed high
school could be moot economically and
successfully maintained, il public senti-
ment was ripe for it, or it could he omit
ted as the town should choose. Ii makes
no violent change in anything but the
mode of administration. 1t is, to say the
least, an experiment that can be. easily
tried, and if at any time public sentiment
is tired of il, the town can go back to the
old system without any jar or difficulty.
It affords machinery the most simple and
the most essily worked of any by which
our educational ideas can realize them
selves in practical results. Let US add
also that the system is not an untried ex-
pertinent. Massachusetts and Connect
cut have had the system in operation for
some years, and in no instance has town
that has once adopted it returned to the
old ways in which we are Flooding. In
Secretary Rankin's report for 1869, there
may be found an extended discussion of
this whole subject. Let the people. one
and all, examine the subject in all it's
bearings, and think it through, so that
they can act intelligently when it comes
before the town meetings. / am sure
that the more it is fairly discussed and
examined. the greater will be the hope
that it will be adopted.
G. T. WRIGHT
DkDcnr Tho