Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-30
cises, is highly satisfactory and commend


est purpose to meet the expectations and
demands of the District, and when we
consider that the task imposed upon him,
/ is to instruct and drill over seven hun
dred pupils of various ages brought to-
gether in fourteen school-rooms in build
ings situate in different parts Of the village,
remote from each other, if he may have
failed to accomplish the most satisfactory
results, it is not surprising, for no one
man can do all this labor in manner en-
tirely satisfactory to himself, and perhaps
not to the public; but under all these dis
advantages, we are disposed to accord the
highest praise for what has been accom-
plished.
Mr.. Mietzke, in bis labors, has, in many
instances, been ably seconded by the
teachers of the schools. This has been
particularly noticeable in most of the
primary and secondary schools, where, of
all others, this assistance and cooperation
is desirable and productive of the best
results.
1t was the recommendation of this
committee, last year, that the teachers in
all our schools be selected with reference
to their ability and willingness to aid the
music teacher, and, in his absence, to
drill and perfect their scholars in this
branch, and encourage them to strive in
thas, as well as other studies, to excel;
and where this suggestion has been fol-
lowed land particularly in the case of one
young lady teacher, whose services we
regret to lose) the improvement has been
very marked. Where this active interest
is manifest in the teacher, it has a mag
netic effect upon the scholar; when there
is an apparent Indifference and lack of
energy and spirit on the part of the
teacher, the same is noticeable in the pu.
pills If teachers will exhibit the same
zeal in this department, as is required of
them in others, though they have not
what is called " a talent for music" they
can learn, if they will, to teach what is
required of them, in music as we'll as the
other branches of common school in
struction.
While, in cur opinion, the introduction
of music into our schools has met with
very general favor, there are doubtless
some who are not converts to its utility, but
who, we think, upon due reflection, would
be convinced that to do away with it now
would be advancing 5ackward This SUBJ
ject has been oanvassed by some of the
best minds in the country, and it is now
generally admitted that system of edu-
cation which confines itself 0n7Y to the
intellectual culture of the child is defec-
tive. Children are supposed to have
hearts and sous as we'll as brains-they
are susceptible, impulsive, initiative
''while reason and conscience have not
yet asserted their sway, the child is to be
addressed through his emotional nature"
What more direct or powerful agency can
be instituted to give tone and d.
rection to his moral character, |
than a thorough practical train
ing of his vocal powers to cultivate and |
develop his better nature, than his school |
songs which enter into the heart and in
iuence and bless the whole life. Aside |
from this argument which il all powerful,
there are many equally oogent reasons,
W there is no occasion to recite here, |
why the study and cultivation of music |
il sch COL seems to tie of the first necessity. |
Mr.. Tourjee of Boston, the head of the
New England Conservatory of Music, in
an address delivered before the National
Teachers Association, at Cleveland, thus
sums up the result of his argument on
this subject:
Music should enter into common
school education, because:
1st. 1t is an aid to other studies.
ID. 1t assists the teacher in maintain
ing the discipline of the school.
Sd. It cultivates the aesthetic nature of
the child.
4th. 1t is valuable as a means of mental
discipline.
9th. 1t lays favorable foundation for
the more advanced culture of later life.
9th. 1t is a positive economy.
9TH. 1t is of the highest value as a sani-
tary measure.
6th. 1t prepares for participation in
the church service"
If such advantages as these are to be
derived from early musical culture-ad-
vantages open to all, the poor as well as
the rich-or if there is a prospect through
this department of our public schools of
comforting upon the youth of this town
benefits which thus enter into the forma-
tion of character, and tend to make better
men and women, ought we not, with
unanimity, work together to keep up and
maintain so essential a means of public
improvement.
Some have been heard to say, and ad-
duce as argument against this branch of
instruction-that "we could not afford it,
it is too expensive" In answer to this,
we would quote the words of Dewitt
Clinton, "It cannot be too f0rci65g incul.
Gated, nor too generally understood that IN
promoting the great Interests Of moral and
intellectual cult5gation, there can be no
prodsgal5ty in the application Of the public
treasure" But to the tax payers of the
Rutland Graded School District, how ex-
pensive and how burdensome is this de-
partment of the schools? The amount of
money devoted to this purpose for the
current year has been seven hundred (700)
dollars! hardly one dollar per year for
each of the scholars in attendance upon
our schools for the past year! The sum
seems pitiful. and is pitiful, in view of a
just and wise appreciation Of the benefits
which this department of public instruc-
ton must confer upon this community.
What, in the opinion of your commit
tee, should be done, and done cbeerfully,
is to appropriate much larger sum than
is now raised for this purpose and suf-
ficient to engage the entire services OF the