Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-23
Educational.

Times have changed Late in the last
completed year of our Lord distinguish
ed writer, MIR. Richard Grant White, put
forth brilliant article in derogation of
the American common school. Unsym-
pathizng wealth and wonld-be aristocracy
read with satisfaction. But straightway
there began fusiIlade supported by can
non shot and followed by bayonet charge
upon said distinguished writer Mr.. White
was proved guilty of gross ignorance and
inexcusable prejudice.
A minister has been heard to say, If |
cannot live BY preaching l can teach. Mr..
Richard Grant White seems to have said,
If my articles on language fail to be
widely interesting, can write on educa-
ton.
Attacks on schools are not new. Tn.
willing tax payers and persons DESTROYS of
farther distinctions between themselves
and the common people we're never want
ing. But body of men supplied with
facts, acute, eager, springing at once to
the defence of the schools in the daily, the
weekly, the monthly, the quarterly, body
of men large and widely dlffused, moving
instantly by common impulse-that is
new. That all avenues of approach to
the public mind are open for a discussion
of this subject is also new.
Among the causes why tho "ress gem
orally is open to this discussion, and why
% many competent men are ready to enter
upon it, is the fact that we now have an
educational press.
Once a school journal was puny thing !;
the strongest appeared monthly; the
weaker, occasionally. All were bilious
or f1atulent. We now have variety of
weeklies, monthlies, bi-month!ies not
green nor decayed; but healthy. hearty,
jolly, determined; good feeders. good
workers, good fighters.
Among these may be mentioned the New
England Journal of Education weekly,
the Prim ry Teacher (monthly), Educa-
ton (bi-monthly), I'LL published in Boston
under the direction of Thomas w. Bick.
nell, who has organized larger and ADLER
working force than was ever before com
bined in behalf of educational journalism
This Bicknell in his youth went tc
school in Vermont and rang the schoo
bell and otherwise worked his wav. A
busy life he led then, and has since su
perintending the schools of Rhode Island
infuslng new life into the American insti
tute of instruction, crossing the Atlantic
more than once in behalf of his educationa
publications. Bicknell is of almost end
less length, with arms and legs suited 70
climbing pyramids or Andes. and with
body surmounted by radiant, fsr-shinins
face.
! BY contrast one next thinks of G. w
Bardeen, publisher of the School Bulietti
(monthly), at Syracuse, N. Y. He is shor
and thick, but nimble. and stand. in hi
shoes-no man stronger. He too one
attended school in Vermont, fun lovini
oy, not wholly disinclined to self.protec
ton. Even now hard knock or two n
8 wise disconcerts him. His Bulletin is lik
u its editor.
s Whether E L. Kellogg of the Ne,
= York School Journal, New York, eve
Q attended school in Vermont cannot tell
It but if he did not he was born to grea
j ness. His weekly is among the soundes
and strongest as it is one of the mo-
aggressive and pungent of the educationi
y periodicals.
Many other excellent school journa
a there are, but they cannot be named her,
u My earnest Vermont friend, will W
> not try one of these and learn for yourse
i that there is good, juicy meat in themp