Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-02-27
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For the Freeman
Education.
President Hulbert's address, delivered
before the associated alumni of Barre
academy, last June, has been published in
n,mphlct form. The occasion was the So
called " silver wedding" of the institution
over which Dr. Spaulding had presided for
TWENTY-FIVE years, and the address was de-
liyorod in the interest of that academy.
YET the theme discussed is Of vital i'm
portance, and of general interest to all:
1.-The academy; demand for it, and the
conditions of its success The question
is often asked and freely discussed, in our
dlv; {" Has the academy any longer a
place in our system of education" The
cry from some quarters is, Let the Old
academy be annlhilated, OF merged in the
graded schools. Dr.. IIulbcrt's mastery
plea for this honored and special class of
institutions WAS forcible and timely. He
spoke in fitting terms of the common
schools the graded schools and the nor
nal schools, giving to each its place and
Importance, in our improved system of
instruction. Bat neither of these schools
can supply the place, nor supersede the
necessity of the academy. OF the common
schools, Vermont has tUo thousand fCc
hundred dgd nineteen ; of the graded
schools, she Las Miry-three; of the incor.
poratcd academies, she has had t0rty.
Fourteen Of these incorporated academies
have become the high-school department
in the graded system. Hence there are
only twenty-siX incorporated academies in
the state, and many of these have only n
name to live. Too many have been built,
and majority of those which still re-
main can never be sustained as lirst-class
schools, though they may serve good
purpose, like select fschools, in kindlng
back fires for the more favored and more
important of their own kind. Still DR..
Hubert insisted that some eight or ten of
these academical institutions are needed
in Vermont, and will be sustained. They
are needed on the ground of cOnven-
ience and economy. Vermont has two
hundred and seven town which have no
graded schools. The youth who seek
liberal education from these towns, must
90 abroad for their academic training.
They cannot afford the expense of attend
ing the graded schools at the commercial
centers where they are located. OF the
three thousand one hundred and fifty-eght
academic students in Vermont, only a
small fraction would prosecute their
studies, if the academies were not in op-
Grafton Besides, the students from our
rural towns feel n natural repugnance TO
going to the village school. They have
enjoyed fewer advantages, and are sensa-
tive on the score Of dress, manners and
lack of personal culture. Again, there is
moral peril to young people coming from
rural towns,to our large villages, to prose-
cute their studies. To this peril they are
not equally exposed in the academies
The academy has superior advantages
from the very circumstances of its loca-
tion and surroundings. 1t is retired, and
yet has i'm interesting community of its
own; its students are separated from the
crowd of children that flock to the graded
schools,and enjoy the special benefits from
the literary society and the debating
club. Still again the academies are needed
to foster literary and classical learning. This
argument is sustained by the fact that out
Of the ten thousand students in our gradet
Schools, only tWo hundred and tOenty-t,Ct
contemplate Il college course of study
while out of the three thousand in oul
academies, four hundrc1 anil tDenty-touJ
are fitting for college. And finally
christian morals and piety We canno
rely upon our public schools for distinc.
tive religious character. From them the
Bible may be excluded or it may
be retained; and in them positive re
ligious instruction is forbidden. No
30 in the academies. There a religion
Influence may be brought to bear upol
the heart and life, with outlet or hindrance
But we have space only to mention til,
Conditions of successful academy:
l. A fit location. 2 A rigid order o
study. 3. A generous endowment.
A hearty cooperation with it,of the friend
of education, and the leaders of publ
opinion. ). The cooperation Of TIN
college. Here DR.. Hubert urged the ne
cessity of maintaining high standard o
qualifications for admission TO college. no
only for the benefit Of the college, bl
as a means of sustaining the academy, il
lis high aims and attainments. lie alst
Rdministed severe and deserved rcbuk
TO those colleges which complain of tn
poorly fitting academies, while they con
tinue to admit their students when poor
fitted. This excellent address should hay
a wide circulation. o.
New BEDFORD, Feb. Is, 1878.
Mr.. EDIrOR AT the foot of one of on
streets, near the center of the city, stand
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