Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-26

American boy know something of the breeds
of cattle, than that he should be able to
distinguish a monkey from kangaroo. Let
our teachings be of common things, the po-
will be able to contend with them success
fully, when occasion requires. We could
get more into our common schools ii we
would set ourselves about it, but we must
have system about it. Throwing loose
facts at boy is not educating him, but is
wasteful of time that should be employed in
teaching him how to use and systematic
facts. As proud as we have been of the
New England school system, it is not the
best, and the sooner we stop Boosting, and
learn what others are doing, the better it
will be for our children. II the Board Of
Agriculture and the Board of Education
would put their heads together in this mat
ter of school teaching, they might do better
work than either has ever done. Our col
leges, as they now exist, are great national
blessings, but they are not turning out boys
that will help manage their fathers farms.
Cheaper winter schools, with competent pro.
fessors and practical farmers for teachers,
are wanted. Prussia has many such schools,
and they pay her well. Had we similar
schools, our greatest difficulty at first, prob
ably, would be TO get the boys. 1t seems
almost as IL we were on missionary ground,
and that our boys and girls are dreaming of
ease and luxury that can be had in cities
without paying for it, than which greater
mistake could never be made The agricul-
tural school, where practical education
can be acquired, such as will be needed in
the everyday affairs of our people, is what
America most wants. We need it not alone
for helping the farmers, but we need it as a
people. Freedom is worthless to a people
who know no restraint, and the greatest
safeguard we can have against despotism is
kindly feeling among all the people toward'
shop work and farm work.
These remarks of Professor johnson, who
is unquestionably the first agricultural
chemist of America, if not of the world, ar,
full of wisdom. 1t encourages us greatly
in our humble labors to see that he fully en-
dorses much that has been put forward
from time to time, in these columns. Hi
called for fuller endowment of our agri
cultural schools, that tuition might be free
and they should be farm schools producin,
great part if not all of the food of the
pupils at cheap rate. The routine ant
methods of the literary colleges are entirel.
unsuited to farm school. The majority o
the students, for lack of means, can onl
take partial courses, and these will be bes
attended during the winter months. TIL
proposition to establish an independen
school in Connecticut has taken a YER
promising form. An announcement wa
made by the chair that gentleman nov
residing in Brooklyn, New York, but ma
tive of Connecticut, was desirous of doin
something for the advancement of agricul
tural education in his native state. If tn
legislature will accept it, he proposes to Civ
to the state farm of fifty acres, upon whic
are now standing new large buildings suit
able for school, boarding-house, ant
stables. If needed, he will also give on
hundred acres of other land adjoining, an,
his brother proposes to give the sum @
$4,000 to help the project along at the start
The farm is good one.