Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-08-28

preference between the effort TO elevate
the schools We have to the character de-
sired for the lower grade, and the esta0-
fishing of one fully up to that character,
knowing that others would surely follow
should the educational work 90 on.
A body of men and women who make
teaching their business. By teaching to
gain reputation, in teaching to find enjoy
ment. How to secure such body of men
is the aim.
For one thing it is evident that we must
have schools for such people TO teach. A
teacher without school soon disappears.
The where | can stand, is important for
the dong of any work. The ordinary
district school kept for twenty four weeks
in the year ut an expense of seven dollars
a week does not offer an inviting field to
any man or woman who desires first to live
and next to rise in the world. The best
possible supervision supplemented by the
best possible schools for the preparation of
teachers can never secure very high de.
gree of combined ability, education and
experience for such schools.
For our professional teachers we need
another class of schools. We have anoth-
er class of schools of which we need Il
larger number. The secondary schools
furnish the positions which support our
professional teachers ontside of the COL
leges. More of these are needed, more
high schools.
Of high and highish schools we have
not far from forty that are Of sufficient
permanence to offer a years employment
each year to a principal and to one or two
assistants, and the income for teaching
which is to support one family and one or
more persons without family.
This is all the standing ground we can
find for the several hundreds of well edu-
Gated men and women whose activities
should be- employed and whose hopes and
ambitions should center in the business of
teaching in the public schools.
The needed positions for the support of
teachers are to be found by supplying
what our common schools greatly need,
that is high schools.
| The chef part of what is done, is done
by imitation The farmer plows and
sows and gathers the harvest rs his father
did or rs his neighbors do The mechanic
initiates him of whom lie learned his trade.
In the professions men follow the custom
The magistrates and the courts inquire for
he precedent Use and wont unconscious
" followed or consciously obeyed govern
most things Our school work is mostly
an unconscious imitation, and OF unskilled
actors.
Go to the town which has no high
school, which does not join q town having
! high school, which is one of II series OF
Towns no one of which joins a town hay
ing u high school, and what is the standard
Of instruction? Some good teachers will
ne found there and some good schools.
But mostly the teachers are young persons
inexperienced in teaching and in other
things az well, who themselves were
taught by persons equally inexperienced
graduates from like schools of inexper
ence. 1t is II dreary scene that confronls
pne in such towns. and there are mlny in
Vermont Yet in each of II majority Of
our towns there are young people needing
md ready to be gathered into a higher
school than exists there enough TO give oc
cupation to at least one strong and wei
educated teacher for n full school yeal
each year.
With the establishment of such schoo
II powerful educational influence would bt
introduced. The character Of many youn4
people would be moulded, society woul,
be affected. Models of good teaching
would be furnished and be justified. The
teachers of the lower schools would sooI
be chosen from among those who had al
=. tended the higher school. Better models
would be initiated, better instruction
; would be given in the common schools
f greater numbers would be awakened t
desire better educ tion and after having
2 passed through the high school mt HON
would seek the large academies, the nor
nal schools and the colleges ; helping t.
nil all with more and better students.
These high schools once established
would furnish positions for permanen
teachers and so help US TO make teaching
u profession. The need of the high school,
may be shown from many points OF view
but it is enough perhaps at this Time te
, show that without them we lack the place:
in which TO put and retain good teachers
were We provided with them.
Our high school law provides that an,
community desiring it and able TO supper
1t NAV have Il high school, but it does no
like the law of Massachusetts, requr,
certain towns to support high schools, 10
like the law of Maine encourage them b,
granting aid to the towns.
Here again appears the usefulness of /
state school tax from which portion MAJ
| be reserved for Il high school fund fOm
: which a town having supported higl
| school for one year might draw from tn
, state treasury one halt us much us tn
| town has paid for the school, up to SOM
3 fixed maximum.
The statute should define a high school
which should he free to all the children q
3 the town qualified to enter it. The tow
may be empowered to hold the severa
Z terms of the school year in different place
e and my be empowered to make agree
: men 5 with the trustees of an academy o
f with the prudential committee of II dis
. trict maintaining high school by whic
t the academy or district high school shoul
: become the high school OF the town. Tw
i or more towns may be enabled to unit
n in the support of high school,
: by such plan Essentially the Main
n high school plan) large liberty is given I
the towns TO adapt the schools to the
e wants or to utilize any existing institution
IS and there is reason to believe that if ii
v system WIS inaugurated many tow
o would make haste to profit by it.
Need more he said to induce the teacl
# ers and friends of education in Vermont
l. favor an enlargement of cur high scho
n system, and the laying Of Il state scho
n tax US II means to that end?
d These Judge to be the measures mo
y worthy of advocacy.
q |. 70 increase the power and respons
5. bility Of the town superintendent.
j. 2, To add permanency and strength
"A orr normal schools effort.
II 3. To enlarge our high school syste
:. through the steps of state school tax.