Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-07-11
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY IL, 1879.
The State Normal School at Randolph.

RESIGNATION OF PRINCIPAL LEAvENwoRTn.
We print below the resignation of Captain
A. f. Lcavenworth, as Principal of the Nor
NAL School at Randolph, and the letter of ac-
ccptance of the same on the part Of the
Trustees, which tell their own story.
MIR. LEAvENwoETH'S LETTER.
RANDOLPH. VI, May ID, l,1s.
Et,catics Committee Of bard et Trustees, STATE Nor
mui SchO0i, randolph.
GFxrIEMES ON the thlrteth day Of December;
l,,l you entrusted To nv care the interests ana
management OF the school under your charge,
plrtlnng the completion OF fund OF ten Thousand
dollars amt an Enlargement ul IN" school huliulR ~
double the size AMI capacity II then Afforded rms
pledge YOU faithfully discharged the nI-t year nl
inv service with you. Steadily since then, Win
Your approval and support have sought To enlarge
and strengthen the courses of study and to increase
aud strengthen the teaching force and power oil the
board ut instruction.
The FIRST course ct study has been gradually en-
largrd until an additional term OF study has been
found necessary To lis successful complexion
There have been added one quarter in arithmetic
including the metric system and geometrcal FORMS
one quarter in grammar, one IN iree-hand draW :
ing. two quarters in reading, embracing brief
stuly OF the English classics advanced physiology,
duuhle-cntry bookkeeping mineraogy, zoology,
political economy, and methods Of teaching.
The second course has been likewise strengthen
eel AMI Increased by the uiltlpn OF TWO quarters IN
rhetoric, outlines of general history, theory and
practice, and moral philosophy. All the study of
botany. bookkeeping and physiology now required
Is confined To the FIRST COURSE
The eight classes which have been privileged to
graduate. number one hundred and seventy -nlne
fnr the irst course and thlrty-one for the second
course. Nearly all Of these are teaching or perfect
ing themselves In higher Studies that lhey may
do better work. The most of these are aborlng in
This state hut a few NAV he found line reach
ing Ia California AMI frequent reports come OF sue
ctssful and approved work. They have been EN-
ployed IN many uf the prominent schools OF our
STATE.
The present term las been, in many respects, Il
very satisfactory one Ia me- The graduating class
IN the first numbers twenty-five and repre-
srniS nine counties AMI eighteen towns complete
" rrhnttIng the tfeqrnt charge lhai our school II
local one. only i've are under twenty and none
under seventeen wears OF age, while the average
age OF the class l. nearly twenty-five. Seventeen
have taught from one 10 twenty-n terms with an
average of eight terms of twelve weeks for each.
Many have pursued higher studies IN other schools or
at college. These facts rehut the further charge
that we are merely furnishing good academical
course TO boys and girls of neXperience.
The members Of the graduating class IN the sec
ond course number four, with anaverage oitwenty
| four and an average experience IN teaching OF
eleven terms of twelve weeks for each.
The attendance has become more continuous than
formerly. in both COURSES while the numbers seek
| np the advantages of the second course are also
| increasing. there being thIrty-one IN attendance
this term against twenty-threc Tor the three pre-
| vous terms. The large number OF graduates dur
| ing the last years OF Superintendent Conants SER
| wee and the first of mine necessarily diminished
| the attendance some what
The Board of instruction has been increased tofve
and for two years to six. and desire most heartily
| 10 bear testimony TO the high character of the
| work performed by nv assistants and 10 their I'M
renting devotion to the work entrusted TO them
| The value of this work cannot be estimated by the
| salaries which have been paid to them. hut must
he measured by the increased power for usefulness
secured 10y their trhlnln9 10 the pupls uhuer ineli
charge. II may have seemed too eXactlng anu
severe times, hut We feel sure that good results
| will follow and that IN their future years our
pupils Will appreciate and value II All the more he-
| cause OF lis severity.
You, too gentlemen. have given 10 me the en-.
enlargement of your approval OF my genera
| management al your annual meetings anu nave
been disposed 10 he enien towards what seemed tC
YOU faulty. Perhaps you have entrusted so resp0n
slide business, involving the selection oil teach
| ers. the passing OF judgment upon the standing
and Advancement of so many pupils, Inc collect
| ing and dlsbursng of four thousand dollars annu
ally, too confidently to the Judgment and action OF
| one mind, for, surely. q In the multitude OF coun
| sellOrs there Is wisdom"
These wears have been To me pregnant witt
anNieties. cares. responsibilities AMI hereavements
| When came 10 YOU had happy family OF eight
| Now three, the choicest and best, have been sum
moned to their rest though one stll fingers on th'
| border Of the grave
For the sympathy and neighb1rly attention have
| received in the hours OF my bereavement, lee
more grateful than | can express. For these TIT
Kind all Father will remember and bless you ali.
During all these years have been conscious OF 1
gradual weakening of my lifelong power for physlca
endurance and have often looked forward viii
longing 10 a season Of relief such as our vacations
filled with correspondence and preparations for th
| coming terms have not Afforded, and have oftei
felt for two wears past, that tins desired rest nigh
| perhaps lee hal only beside the beloved dead.
But inv relations To the school and Its manage
mcnr are such n this time That ! am permitted Il
| take this rest.
came among yOn stranger, having nelthe
kth nor Kin on this side Of the Green Noun
ianS You received me with confidence AMI hay'
treated me with uniform Kindness and courtesy
even when your Judgment has led You To criicis
AMI liSappruvr nv action.
Thanking You, gentlemen Tor all this, | now ten
der To YOU, amt through yuu To the State Superin
tenirnt of Education. ny resignation Us prlnclpa
of tins school, 10 take effect with the close OF tn
current school year.
And he assured that while shall no longer he II
qured To direct in It's management nor 10 assum
the responsibilities heretofore imposed upon me,
shall never cease To further It's prosperity III ever
way permitted 10 me, 10y my influence and by m
unworthy prayers.
MAY the rirhesi blessings Of Heaven rest upo
You and the school. II has a perpetual life We
transient one. In very few terms the pupils tina
have known me will have passed from these hall
and shall lie remembered no more.
But NAV not he accorded small niche in II
archives ~ one who did what he could though it'll
IN the estimation Of men. for lis advancement an
Increasing useiulnuss2
VERY respectfully,
| Your uleilIent servant,
ABEL Z. LEAvESwoRTH.