Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-11-18

/ The bill He stated that he made this motion Tor
lhe purpose Of bringing The whole matter before
/ tho House IN one question
| MI DAVIS of Reading, approved the motion to
dismiss, as settling nj once what action the House
| desired to take in regard 10 the Boaid Of Fduca.
uon and II we dismiss this bill we shall have the
bill recommended by the minority Of the commit
tee. Mr. Davis opposed the repeal Of the various
sections included M section ! of this bin Healso
opposed the abolition Of the Board Of Education
aud The substitution Of State Superintendent. in
whom Is vested unlimited power over onr schools
This state superintendent Il 10 be elected here In
Joint assembly, and there b no power Of removal
except we impeaCh him. Tie compared at some
length the workings Of the system proposed, with
the workings of the system under the Board of
Education, and claimed that there would he no
more economy or efficiency under the new system
than under the old
Mr. sAlLEs, Of Huntington, defended the bill
under consideration M proposed to be amended
Under &c. we abolish the Board Of Education and
Us Secretary, which, though composed Of men
noted for ability, has uutlivCd ts usefulness; We
abolish the st oi text books that has been adopted
by the Board IN place of these we give the state
state superintendent, retaining the essential
features Of the Board of Education, without the
cost and Interference " that Board
Mr. GRol j., of Newport, thought this one OF
The most important measures before the House
and one that should he considered dispas-ion-
atoly. lie aid there b. 20 deep seated feel
ing Of dissatisfaction with the present system and
management of the Board Of Education, that
measure can we best adopt that VIII be satisiac-
tory 10 the people aud hest meet the demands Of
the statc2 lie preferred Board Of Education, ~
recommended by the minority of the committee
in the passage of House bill. No a02 BY that
bin the Board il 90 be elected by the Joint a.
semby aud when we elect that Board we yir-
tually elect n Secretary The trouble L. with the
Secretary, and not with the Board Of Education
We should then dismiss this bill, and consider the
bin which retains the Board
Mr.. DANkNlOkI OF ilmington, opposed the
di-mission of the bill lie WAS opposed to the
Board Of Education mainly because Of their arbi-
tfnrl and dioatorial measures IN regard 10 school
books lie did not like the provisions Of the prcs-
ent system iu regard 10 teachers institutes, which
were Of very little practical value 10 our schools
lie did not believe that the present intelligence Of
Vermont IS owing 10 the state Board Of Fduaton
t is rather owing to the school system Of Vermont
before the Board was brought into existence.
Mr.. pAkII of Neathcrsfed, thought the rec
concentrations OF the Board had not secured any
uniformity in tcNt books In the schools Of the
state. there had been numerous editions Of the
same books. and such changes made a. that they
wcrc substantially different books. lie believed
the people OF tho state would vote bv a very large
majority Co abolish The Board Of EducatiOn and
this hin meeting the demands of the pcople
should not be dismissed
MIR MARTIN, of Londonderry, in answer to the
objection raised against this bill that we elect n
man as state Superintendent, and have no power
of removal. said that we elect q Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, and the whole list Of state OFF,
GERS Tor two years and then there Is no moro
danger ia cleCtiug q State Superintendent than
the other state officers lie was opposed 10 the
system of a Board Of Education, because II was
simply part of the machinery that was to take
the responsibility Of the acts Of the Secretary,
whose authority seemed 20 be supreme During
the last year the Secretary has spent much time ia
the state Of Maine and received for services per-
formed there the sum of - 100, which, added TO
his salary Of 81 200, made his salary really =, 800
lie did not believe IN elccting a Board to take the
fort % a.
preferred To elect Superintendent of Instruction,
who shall take all the responsibility, and stand or
fall on his own merits lie did not believe the
Secretary was any more tu blame than the Board
both were equally responsible for the present
state Of aitaiIs in the state and he thought both
should be abolished
Mr. BOYNTON of Woodstock was, in his
earlier life for twelve years. connected with the
schools in Massachusetts, and he did not In all that
time hear so much said about Beard Of Education
or Secretary, he had heard since the 4th day Of
september There was q universal discomfort ex-
pressed with the present Board OF Education,
Now we may say what we will about the Board, il
Is very evident that the people will not any longer
swallow NJ FreHch The whole trouble is with
tho Secretary, and If the question is, shall we re-
| tain the Board with the present Secretary he
should answer emphaticay no lie would stand
his chances for the next two years without either
but he preferred the amended bill under consider
alton to any proposition yet made
Mr 6kOl /, OF Barton, preferred the bill ns
recommended by the minority Of the committee
II We prefer TO retain in our hands the election of
the Secretary, we can 50 amend il, and ii would
then best meet the wants OF the people. The bill
now under consideration completely ovcrtuns
the present school system, and puts us back 10
systsm exploded n quarter Of a century ago. lie
preferred that teachers institutes should be held
when the teachers were in their schools, and the
subject WIS lrcsh in the minds of the teachers. u
IL an unfortunate fact that there is a want OF con
dence in the present Secretary. engendered some
what, he believed, by the fact that he is Inn
ported but the fact starcs us in tho face and we
can best meet IT by amending House bill So.
Mr KING. Of Lunenburgh, said some states
that have had Boards OF Education have abolished
them; aud large proportion OF the states now,
have state Superintendents OF Instruction. lie
said the expense that had been incurred in the ex-
change Of the text books had been brought about
through the board. and the board was RESPONSE
BILE, from the fact that they had not made sharper
bargain with the publishers.
Mr. GRAVES, Of Kirby, demanded the previous
question which demand was seconded by the
/ House. The main question was then put shall
l the bill be dismissed? On this question Mr.. Da-
,s. Of Reading, demanded the yeas and nays
which were taken-Ayes 20 nays $50. So the
/ bill was not dismissed
/ Tie question the recuncd on the amendment to
| the committees amendment as proposed by Mr,
/ MaIiin, Of Londonderry, which provides for the
| holding Of one teachers institute annually, and
/ not 10 cf'c'd Nifs ddps each, which amendment
/ was agreed to.
/ Mr. LADD, Of Aiburgh, moved to strike out OF
/ the amendment proposed by the committee, the
words, upon the written application of twenty
] five teachers in any county except Grand Isle and
| ETseX Counties in which the number may be iif-
| teen teachers, for that purpose
This amendment was discussed by Messrs.
] Davis of st. Adams, King Of Lunenburgh, Martin
| Of Londonderry, and Perrin Of Berlin
The amendment proposed by Mr.. lAdd was
then disagreed to
Mr.. BARTHOLOMEW. Of Benson demanded
! the previous question, which Was seconded by tho
/ House The question then recurred will the
| House adopt the amendment as proposed by the
committee? and it was agreed to by a very do
! cided vote.
Mir GROUT, Of Barton, then objected to section
! TO- which provides for paying tho state Superin-
dent II 800 per year, without any fixed duties tc
/ perform
Mossrs Martin Of Londonderry, King Of Lunen.
| hurgh Boynton of Woodstock, answered that OBJ
/ lection by pointing out the duties imposed upon
the Superintendent by section ., and thought there
/ would be no difficulty in finding man who would
give his time TO the work, and advance the educa.
| tOnal interests Of Vermont
Mr. McFADDEN, OF Wells, demanded the pre-
| Nious question, which demand was seconded by
the House The bill was then read the third time
Mr. lApD. of Aburgh, moved to commit the
bill 10 a member to amend by striking out all that
part OF section which provides for the employ
ment of assistants to attend upon teachers instl
tutes, aud substitute a clause directing that th'
SUPERINTENDENT advertise the time and place o
holding the institutes, 10 be paid by the state
! which amendment was disagreed to.
MIR HYDE, of Castleton moved 10 commit to
member TO amend by striking out all of section |
aud substituting therefor section OF the bill rec
commended by the minority of the committee
thereby retaining the Hoard Of Education, wiz
the Superintendent of Education, both being eloc
ted biennnlly hy the legislature
The amendment WIS discussed by Mcssrs. IL yde
Of Castleton; Martin, OF Londonderry; Wells, o
CRANKY; GrOut of Newport and WIS disagreed 20
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. MARTIN. OF Londonderry, moved to amen'
the title of the bill so as to read, an act TO abol
ish the Board Of Education, and to create tn
Office Of State Superintendent OF Education,
which WAS agreed to.
Mr. DAVIS, OF Reading, moved that II. so, re
latng To the Board OF Education and teachers
institutes be dismissed, which was agreed TO.
Several petitions and remonstrances In regan
| to the new county of Allen were presented. an'
referred 10 the committee ON that subject
ON motion of Mr. POWELL. OF Richford, ad
joumcd
ly far the largest and most powerful stean
hammer in the world is now in operation In Wool
Mich, England. The weight of the falling portio
II within few pounds of forty tons, and the lore
Of the falling weight Is accelerated many times b
the use OF steam to drive II down nom the toy
Il is estimated that the use OF top steam Is equa
To allowing the hammer TO fall OF its own weigh
eighty feet Il has been allowed n striking fall q
fifteen feet three inches, but no determination ma
yet been made as To the actual force OF the bio,
which il is capable OF striking The hammer
furty-hye feet In height, and coNersi with It's SUI
ports, a base Of about one hundred and twent
ieet suuare Above the ground II weighs tiy