Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-18
Board of Education Investigation.

Of Education and the Secretary thereof,
have made their report, of which the fol-
lowing is the substance
At the meeting the Committee were all
present, and Governor Stewart, Hon. Mer-
rift Clark Hon. Benz. II. Steele, President
NJ. II. Buckham Prof George n Wcbber,
and Hon. d. NJ. Camp, all the members of
the Board except Mr.. Bingham, who was
not present, but was present at subse-
quont meeting Of the Committee. John II.
French, the Secretary of the Board, was
also pr sent. No one appeared at the
meeting with any charges or complaints
against the Board or its Secretary, but the
Committee felt it their duty to interrogate
the members of the Board and the Secre-
tary as to their proceedings iu the discharge
of their duties, and did thoroughly and
infinitely, as we think and three hours
examination failed to bring out single
fact calling for ccnsure, or such as would
even subject them to criticism. But on
the other hand it appeared that the Board
had discharged their duties with fidelity,
and as we think in every instance wisely
and we'll
At the close Of the examination on the
Goth, it appeared to n portion Of your
Committee that no more time should be
consumed in the investigation inasmuch as
thus far the Board and its Secretary had
been fully sustained, and especially as after
notice no one had appeared to accuse them.
But as it had become known to the Com
mittee that some few teachers in the State
differed in their opinion from the Board to
some extent in the recent adoption Of text
books, also, that il had been rumored that
some Of those teachers did not approve Of
the manner Of conducting Teachers lnsti-
tutes by the Secretary Of the Board, it was
on the whole thought best to summon those
teachers and some others to appear before
the Committee on the evening Of the 2jth
inst. This done, the second meeting was
held, and the teachers 50 summoned were
present
1t appeared at the first meeting of the
Committee that at meeting of the Board
Of Education, held at Middlebury June
| Is, 1872, (all the members Of the Board
being presently the Board made selection
of text books and authorized them for use
in the District Schools Of this State for
five years from Nov. |, 1873. In this Sc.
lection the Board made a change in a por-
ton of the text books hitherto and now in
use; among which was change in Read
ers and in Arithmetics The teachers who
appeared before us on the 25th inst. all
seemed to concur that a change Of Readers
is necessary, but portion were Of the
opinion that the Analytical Series was pre-
ferable to the New American Series, which
was selected by the Board. The Arithme-
tics selected by the Board were Frenchs
Series and one or two Of the said teachers
/ insisted before the Committee that no
change in Arithmetics is necessary. Mr..
Dana, of Rutland, while he did not COM
pare the merits of French's Arithmetic
with Greenlears, the one now in use,
claimed that in teaching Arithmetic pria-
eipies are to be taught, and that one Arith-
metic, if a good one, is as good as another,
and therefore no change is needed.
That part of the investigation which &C.
CURED on the evening of the 25th ELECTED
simply this: That few of the prominent
Teachers 10 the State differed 10 their judg-
ment in regard to the change made by the
Board Of Education in a small part Of the
text books selected by the Board on the
18th Of June last but from the facts
which appeared before the Committee we
must find that such selections we're made
by the Board after spending much time in
careful examination of a large variety Of
text books from different authors-after
taking the opinion of the prominent Teach
ers Of the State, and we believe were made
solely with a view to promote the best iu-
terests of education in the State
In making the selections of text books it
appeared that the Board had taken the
most scrupulous care to protect the State
from unnecessary expense and had care.
fully considered every detail affecting the
question Of the cost of School Books, and
had secured the State from loss and impo-
sition, by making the best possible contracts
with the publishers of books, by which they
will furnish the Schools Of the State at the
lowest terms obtainable, aud will be ex.
changed for old books upon the most favor
able terms provided the parties interested
will take the pains to avail themselves of
the contract.
1t also appeared that the new list Of text
books is upon the whole cheaper than those
now in use. The Board has also arranged
for credi,able additions to the books to
make them specially adapted to Vermont
Schools, and this without additional expense
to the State.
From the information We have, your
Committee approve of the selection of text
books made by the Board.
1t did appear before the Committee that
there had been some dissatisfaction with
the appointment of DR.. French as Score.
tary of the Board, and it also appeared
that rumors had been ahoat to some extent
which went to charge him with neglect of
duty at Teachers Institutes, as discourteous
to Teachers and others, and as making
money by bargains with book publishers,
and foisting his own series of Arithmetics
upon the Board But the Committee were
unable to trace these rumors to any respon.
sible source; and during the whole investi-
CATION in which the action of the Secretary
was critically and thoroughly inquired into,
no evidence was drawn out which had the
least tendency to sustain any such charge
or accusation. 1t is our opinion that DR..
French is comp. tent for the position he
holds, and that he has thus far honestly,
ably and faithfully discharged the duties Of
his Office.
The result Of our investigation as a Com
| miftpe then ia {his. W. fnd M oa,,eo %