Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-10-21
Little need be said on the subjec

Vi cluCuIlOll SlllCc, ~ Cohi'hoh Soh
sent, its Importance is acknowledged
in the preservation Of virtue and pre-,
vention of vice. and promoting, in
many ways, the general peace, pros.
perity and happiness of the people
and since it is universally conceded
that, in order to be etlectual, it must
be general among the people, and be
disseminated among all classes by the
most efficient agency for that purpose
-our free common schools; and that
to perfect the system of education the
higher institutions of learning are also
indispensable, all tending mutually
to sustain and support each other
that all are of public interest and con
Germ, and to be cared for accordingly
by appropriate legislation. On this
subject a board Of education may be
regarded as a part Of the settled pol
icy Of the state. 1t has done mnch
to further the cause of education by
arousing a more general interest on
the subject, and otherwise.
| am not aware that any further
general legislation is necessary, or
called for, in connection with the
operations of the board Of education ;
if so, it will, probably, be suggested
in their report, to which | have not
had access, and will, without doubt,
receive such consideration on your
part as it deserves.
Notwithstanding the commendable
liberality exhibited by the people of
the state in the support of schools, in
my view, we are deficient in one of
the best and which, ultimately, might
he made one of the most economical
agencies of education: that is, public
town libraries accessible to all. In
an economical view an expenditure
for such purpose is not, like most
expenditures for educational pur-
poses, consumed by the use, and to
be repeated annually, hut it is perma-
ment and serviceable for a succession
Of generations. 1t would furnish
means of intellectual enjoyment in
families, and thereby make home more
attractive. The tendency Of such
we'll seleC ted library. circulating
among the youths of the town, would
be to direct the tastes ard habits of
the young to substantial, solid and
useful reading, and enable them to
treasure up knowledge valuable in
after life. 1t would furnish q class of
reading consisting more Of fact and
less of fic,ion, and productive of a
higher moral and intellectual culture
than much of the reading that now
attracts the attention Of the young,
which dissipates rather than cultivates
and improves the mind. The gradual
accumulation of such library in a
town would scarcely be felt by the
inhabitants, except by its wholesome
influence and lasting benefit, to the
ola as we'll as the young. l think it
is 70 be regretted that towns do not
avail themselves of the enabling act
authorizing them to establish such
libraries. Whether any further leg
islation on this subject is advisable at
this time l submit for your deliberate
consideration.
rejoice to see that the interest of
agriculture, which has always been
regarded as second to none in the
state; an interest intimately identi-
fed with the prosperity of the state,
and which must, at least for a long
time to come, be the business and
employment of the greater portion of
our people, is enlisting increased in
terest and attention, not only among
the people, but on the part of the
legislature. Our state is also rich in
mineral wealth yet to be developed,
and in water-power, affording abun-
dant facilities for manufacturing pur-
poses not yet utilized. These interests
have not been, and should not be,
overlooked. The Board of Agricul-
ture, Manufactures and Mining, re-
Gently established by the Legislature,
it is hoped will do much by the appli-
cation of science to practical expert
ence, and by other means, to promote
and develop these important industrial
interests; and in this ] trust the
Board will be aided by all just and
proper legislation.
l refer you to the report Of the trus-
tees Of the reform school. and to- the
report of the superintendent, for the
history and operations Of the school
f., fl,n s,P.