Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-12-25
For the Waterman.
Board of Education.

MEssRs. EDiroRs In the WArcuMAN
Of December 18TH there appears an edito-
rial which, in my judgment, contains some
very unfair and unjust criticisms upon the
report Of the committee appointed during
the late session Of the Vermont Legislature
&" to investigate tho proceedings Of the
Board Of Education, and the Secretary Of
said Board" | had the honor Of being
one of that committee, aud do not claim
that myself or my associates arc above
criticism. expect our report and our ac-
ton in the matter Of that investigation to
be open to the public for their comment
and adjudication. But when paper Of
the circulation and well-known character
and reputation Of the WArcnMAN AND JOIN.
NAL says that every Vermonter must read
that report with indifference or contempt"
it is but fair that statement Of the case
be made, that your readers may judge.
In closing up the article which occupies
two.thirds Of a column, you say:
" TIE Investigating Committee ought to
have gone 10 the root Of the matter, ami inyes-
tigaied not the official conduct Of tie members
OF the Board, but whether there was any good
reason Tor Board at all -
This raises the point, issue make
with you say that the committee under
the joint resolution had no authority or
power to investigate anything cave " the
official conduct Of tho members Of the
Board and its Secretary.
copy the resolution under which the
Committee were appointed
Whereas, there has been aud now ~ Mcb
complaint on the part Of the citizens 0.sttia
State in regard to the selection Of text books to
be used in the common schools of the State
and the price fixed for the same therefore,
Rcsoloed by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sc,tfdtiUes, That a Committee Of three Senators
and five Representatives be appointed by the
presiding officers Of the Senate aud House OF
/ Representatives, to investigate the proceedings
Of the Board Of Education and the Secretary
Of said Board, and said Committee are empow.
cred to send Tor persons and papers, and to re-
port by bill or otherwise
The preamble of the resolution sets forth
that there has been and now is much
complaint in regard to the selection Of
text books, and the Senate and House re-
solved to investigate the proceedings of the
Board Of Education aud the Secretary Of
said Board and now if that means any
thing more than to investigate the " official
conduct Of the Board and its Secretary,
the Committee inexperienced its meaning.
They did understand it to mean just that
and nothing more, aud conducted the invcs-
tigation accordingly.
You claim that the Board is hum.
bug The committee did not deem it in
their province, as committee, to inquire
whether the system of education we now
have is right or wrong. Our duties III
that respect, as l understand them, we're no
more, no less, than that Of other members
Of the House and Senate and If it is as
you claim, that the system should have
been overhauled, the Board abolished,
and something worthier aud better and
more effective established in its stead, the
fault or neglect is with the legislature
and the members of that investigating com
mittee can only be held responsible for their
proportion as members of the Senate and
House, and not as a committee.
have no desire for any controversy in
this matter, but as matter Of simple JUS
tice to the members of that committee,
ask that you publish this communication
containing the resolution, with such expla-
nations as are here given.
ID