Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-07-09
GIT fretmaa
MONTPELIER, VT,
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9. 1873.
Vermont Schools.

the State is good teachers and the personal
interest of the men and women of Vermont
in their success. The tendency has been OF
emit system in the eagerness to jump at once
to what may be better. There has been an
effort to do what in itself is very desirable,
TO consolidate districts-thus to obtain larger
schools and a greater fund whereby better
teaching can be bought. This when done
with not too great inconvenience TO those
Il on the borders" and without losing the
good wishes of large part of the communi-
ty undoubtedly is q benefit. But three years
of effort toward this end have not populArIzed
the movement and there is no reasonable be-
lief that it will become general under the
present law. There is no immediate revolu-
tion in prospect as to the general course OF
management of our schools.
Two weeks ago we made brief mention
of certain of the means we have in wOrkiug
order for the education of the class out of
witch teachers for our d" district " schools
come. Brief mention was made of our col
leges, normal and graded schools and from
the character of the men in charge of these
institutions the inference drawn that their
pupils would do good work when themselves
in the harness of teaching. Do you who
read this, engrossed in business, in the cares
of the shop or the farm realize thoroughly
that the teacher, young or old, aiming to be
faithful is indeed in the veriest work-harness
ever put on living animal? If you do,
don't hang on the end-board or drag back.
Encourage by look and word if you cannot
push. The young men and women who
come to you from these schools. almost with
out exception, want to teach well; most OF
them can do SO. Get acquainted with them,
find out what they think about things, 60
and see them work. Above all consult and
suggest before complaining or grumbling.
Besides the schools enume ated there are
still two other classes that furnish many
teachers; the denominational schools and
academies. The former, few in number, are
yet strong and promise we'll for the education
of Vermont youth. Foremost among these
is the Vermont Conference Seminary located
in this place. Sustained by the generous
hands of the Methodists of the State It has
an Efficient corps of teachers under the su-
pervisiOn of its principal, Rev. j. c. W
C,xe, and the large number in attendance
and the progress made term by term attesr
the value of energy and an earnest purpose
Drawing it's students from the most widely
separated parts of the State it sends througl
them a de-pervadIng influence. The Uni
yersaIists have in Goddard Seminary, al
Barre an institution that merits, as it re-
ceives the support of that denomination.
The B ,ptists have made certain the establish
ment of a ssroDg school at Saxton's River
which must take rank among the first OF its
class, and which shows that the efforts of that
church for the cause Of education in Yer
mont are to be continued. These schools
when once we'll established have the elements
of permanent success, for back of them is
not only the interest of their patrons in TIE
cause of education, but a determination Oh
keep the school which is under its own care
and the representative of its own idea of ed
ucational work, in the front rank of its
class.
At one time in the history of the State it
seemed as though every hill top must hav
its village and every village its - Academy.
The result was the dissipation among MANY
of funds that would really have helped {
few and the founding of schools that are now
deserted. There is not generally much profit
when school of this kind runs on like al
intermittent lever; now famed into tempo
rary heat by some wandering undergraduate
and then left ,smouliering on his departure.
But there are still among US academies thai
keep steadily onward, progressive and alive
to new demands while keeping firm hole
on things and ways that are old and good
A few If these may be mentioned.
Burr and Burton Seminary at Manchester
under the charge of Prof. Henry H. Shaw
who, at Chester and Springfield, earned fin,
reputation, was never more successful thar
now. Beaman Academy, at New Haven
nestled in quiet village, sends out, yearly
a large number of students who will sureI,
do something with their lives worth the do
ing. The principal, A. E. Leaveuworth
has always had way of doing the day
duty that cannot be lost upon his pupils; ;
good soldier and a good teacher Near It
our village is Barre Academy, for more thar
twenty years under charge of DIR. j. S
Spaulding; school that calls in no ali
from show but goes about its solid worl
year after year. Few of it's scholars 90 Gu
from its walls, we think, without takin,
with them added incentives to living usefu
and truly successful lives. St. Johnsbur
hsr, through the munifcenc, OF the Far
bankses well endowed Academy and it
principal, Rev. Homer T. Fuller, thong
comparatively new conner in the State, W
know to be one who will make his marx
Morrisville, Peacham AMI several other vii
lagos might be added to the list of those tina
have profitable schools of this kind.
The true policy is for the people to cente
their patronage upon those schools that hay
good teachers. They thus strengthen ther
and add TO their power. The money that
not much better than wasted by spasmodi
efforts to sustain, now in one place and no.
In another, small and feeble schools, wonl
give additional vigor to those that are a
ready in such good orter. Let the youn
men and women of Vermont be sent to som
OF these men who understand the pro:essio
OF teaching: who have the power of brins
log out the powers of their pupils, of stil
ring them up to do something and be som,
thing, who have some personal irfluenc
BY character and bearing and strong commo
sense. over the Young who are hrnnnht