Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-03

Our neighbor, the Rutland Herald, has
taken issue with all who advocate centraliza-
ton in schools of learning. The governor
Of Pennsylvania has expressed the thought
that "it would be blessing to the state if its
score or more of colleges could be blended
into three or four frst-class Institutions. -
Others have expressed the same idea in ref
ereuce to our colleges and academies. Our
neighbor takes the ground that because the
Vermont academies have done great work
in days gone by, not only in fitting young
men for college, but in awakening them to a
desire for such culture, they should not be
suppressed, and concentrated into better in.
situations, but rather "we should encourage
the establishment OF others in every county
in the state"
What the Herald says in regard to the
past usefulness OF our old academies, we en-.
dorse most heartily. Aud if we must have
UNCONVENTIONAL iu distinction from religious
schools for the education of our people, We
say let them be endowed and literally sus.
tanned. But we confess to some doubts as
to the propriety and desirableness Of "estab.
fishing in every county in the state" more
Of these departed or barely lingering
schools" like those mentioned. 1t seems
to us that it would be great folly to build
two academies where we have shown our in
ability to support one to establish ten where
the five have departed or are barely lnger-
ing"
We would not here attempt to argue the
desrableness and importance of uniting our
colleges. That effort was made years ago,
by the sincere and earnest friends OF educa-
ton, but it failed. They would not, and
probably will not be united. But can any
sane man doubt for moment, that if the
two colleges should concentrate their means
and their learning into one grand institution,
that the cause Of collegiate education in
Vermont would be greatly promoted there
by? If we are correctly informed more of
the SONS of Vermont who enter college, leave
the state to enter larger and better endowed
institutions, than remain at home. Might
they not be retained and others called in
from abroad, if the excelencies and abilities
Of our noble colleges we're combined? SO We
believe.
And in regard TO our academies, our
, neighbor has not over-estimated the impor
lance Of local schools to "beget an educated
atmosphere, cultured tone in the surround
ing community" but they have forgotten
that graded schools have taken the places o.
the academies in all our larger towns auC
they are doing better work than the common
unendowed academies can do, both ia "put
, ting young men and women on the track Of
securing liberal education, and in fitting
them for college"
1t does not follow because our academies
and have done a good work in the past that al
many more are now needed to carry forward
e the same work. The common local academy
having been supplanted by the town graded
school, is no longer useful, and this is th
very reason why so many of them are eithe
dead or dying
The classical academies such as st Johns
1 bury, Burr and Burton, Barre, and other
O like them, and the higher seminaries an
normal schools are still in demOnd for thei
work cannot be we'll done in any other insti
h buttons. But there should be no more @
). these, even, than can be well equipped AM
we'll sustained