Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-16
Educational.

A somewhat one.sided attention seems to
be given to matters affecting the general
welfare OF the people Of the state. Tax
reformation and the correction of abuses re-
lating to the expenses and manner Of con-
Quoting minor judicial proceedings in the
state have long engrossed popular attention.
Notwithstanding the fact that remedial
legislation has been successfully applied to
each Of these subjects, each, and especially
taxation, still maintains a strong hold upon
public interest and largely occupies the
columns of the press. The fact that there
is another matter, equaling II not exceed
ing in Importance taxation and court ex-
penses, involving the levying and disburse-
ment annually of nearly half million dol
lars in taxes which for the most part is never
publicly accounted for, and concerning the
expenditure of which very little definite in
formation exists, has thus far eluded any
thing like adequate attention. Governors
have not honored IL with notice in their
messages, nor has the legislature given it
that careful attention and investigation out
Of which came the act to equalze taxation
and provide for the reformation of court
expenses. A lsnguid interest in the sub
ject was revived by the meeting at Castle
ton last week of the Vermont State Teachers
Association, and it may be fairly said that
the attendance upon this meeting and the
general cast Of the exercises partook very
largely of the slumberous character of the
interest in education throughout the state.
The attendance was far less than ten per
cent of the teachers of the state, and these
were mostly from academies, colleges and
normal schools. The programme was chiefly
filed up with topics relating very remotely,
If at all, to common school or any educa-
tional subjects. Matters relating to the fun
damental work of teaching and of educa-
tional progress were either given very
insufficient time or were crowded out of
place by long and verbose dissertations
which had the remotest possible reference
to the special topic assigned, or were appar-
emily introduced to allow their authors to
disport themselves in the public gaze. If
educational reform in Vermont depends
upon this association, as at present consti-
tuted, for an invigorating forward impulse,
it will be very likely to await boom in
vain. There were present gentlemen, and
doubtless ladies, too, who are actively at
work in the schools or in school administra-
ton, enterprising and ardent in the business
of improving the public schools, who came
for enlightenment but who went away quite
as empty as they came, and who viewed
with disappointment the prospect of the
schools for effective assistance from this
quarter. And yet an association of this
kind, efficiently differed, and having the
and active support of the ener-
getic teachers, educational workers and
friends of schools generally, should be the
source of regenerating influences.
A thorough reorganization of the associa-
ton, radical change of method, the infu-
sion OF an aggressive and practical spirit
into the management, the devotion of its
time to the consideration of fewer subjects,
and those bearing more directly upon the
need and welfare of the common schools,
would make state teachers association
which would command something like the
the general cooperation of all educational
friends and workers and redeem the body
from any insinuation that it is a so TT OF
fOssilizad mutual admiration aociafv