Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-03-10
EDUCATION.

1T was as a great recognized truth that
knowledge was for the few and privi-
legged. 1t was then virtue to keep the
great body of people in ignorance-the
deeper the better. Rulers governing by
force, with selfish interests alone in
view deemed their task easier for the
ignorance of those they governed. But
that age of the world has passed away.
knowledge slowly forced its way and
spread among the people. Rulers of
nations, still selfish enough, are obliged
in form at least, to shape their acts for
the general good of those they govern;
and we find the most intelligent are the
least troublesome. Christendom is NOV
ing, all along the line, in the cause of
education. England is to-day discuss
ing educational questions as she never
did before. Germany has educated her.
self, and is keeping herself educated.
Austria has recognized the meaning of
her military reverscs, and has adopted
the school system of her conquerors. It.
ally, now united, so long by-word for
ignorance and laziness, now compels all
her children to attend the public schools.
No event of modern times has had
more force in the world at large as an
illustration of the value of education
than the Franco German war 1t was
contest between nation where the mas
ses we're educated and nation where
the masses were ignorant Only two
men out of every hundred in the Ger
man army were unable to read and
write. In the French army fifty men
out of every hundred could not read or
write. Experience shows that education
carries with it certain good things and
the German army had those. Ignorance
carries with it certain bad things, and
the French army had those Education
was victorious. The world sees it and
the cause of education is on the increase
all over the world
ausfy INV @pE England 0 ag beet sffE cok RsF
upon as a leader in this work of educa-
ton on this continent. She must be-
ware or her children of the West will
snatch the coveted place from her hands.
As not unimportant part of New Eng
land, Vermont must act her part in keep
ing up her we'll earned reputation.
One of the greatest exports of Ver-
mont is men and women. There is hard
ly family in Orleans county but has
its representatives in the West or South
The traveller meets Vermonters settled
everywhere. Now Vermont is proud of
her reputation, even in the products she
sends to market. Of how much more
Importance is it that the sons and daugh-
tiers of Vermont should be honored for
their intelligence and virtue wherever
they may be found. This can only be
accomplished by educating all the boys
and girls in the State. Congress is pay
ing more attention to this matter of ed
ucation than ever before. 1t is assum-
ing natural Importance. Compulsory
education is finding many able advo-
Gates. There should be no need of COM
pulsory education for public sentiment
should be SO strong, that a law compel
ing attendance at school would be an
necessary. And this public sentiment
is the work of individuals. Instead of
publishing, as the MONITOR has, the
names Of the few children who have not
been absent and the names of the few
who have had no tardy marks during
the term, this freedom from hardness
and absence should be the general rule.
Instead Of what we see, the report should
read: "School district No. had no
absences during the term. Unfortunate
Iy, on account of sickness in the family,
one pupil was tardy once" And some
thing like this should be the record Of
every district. Our laws are good enough,
the fault is with the people. There is
not general interest enough felt in the
cause of education. Committees are
more Jealous in saving money by hiring
cheap teachers than in finding the best
Education is matter of personal inter
est to every man in the community. The
ignorant non-producers are supported b,
the intelligent producers The ignorant
criminals are supported by the educated
Virtuous. Educated industry supports
ignorant laziness. The cost of the TO-
norant (and ignorance is one of tn,
most expensive Affections which can be
fall nation or community must b,
paid by the educated, and these oues
lions finally come home in the shape o
dollars and cents to every man Thel
let each man stimulate his neighbor, a
''lron Sharpeneth iron,' so that the great
est possible good shall come out of Gu
district schools.
The re-inauguration of President Gran
Tuesday, was grand affair, The mill
tary display was one of the finest eve
seen in Washington. and the triumpha