Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-19
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1882
The Root OF the Difficulty.

M. Editor Every now and then there comes
up question, the solution Of which s demanded
at the hands Of the people. Such question, and
one moreover OF great Importance to us as
people. Is now claiming the attention Of all
serious-minded persons Next in Importance to
freedom and equality among men In this era Of
the world, is intelligence, moral strength, and
purity OF character. Being entrusted as we are
with great responsibility, having in our keeping
the welfare Of future generations, IL behooves
us to be beedful and considerate, not only on
account OF our present prosperity but so to act
that the future shall receive benefit. One Of
the many questions that stand out in particular
prominence at the present time Is that OF popu-
lar education especially as 1t relates to our coun
try system OF district schools. Oflate much atten-
ton has been given to the subject by the press.
Not more, however, than 1t deserves, for Mt least
one prominent political reason, and that is that
government by the people, for the people, and Of
the people, cannot be sustained in its perfect
strength and purity without distinctive intelli-
gence on the part Of Its citizens. Turn the theme
over as much as we may, we cannot exhaust its
interest by any limit Of discussion, because dis
cussion is not final; but we can by this means
put 1t in 30 many positions Of light and shadow
that nil NAV am that ,, a,o,a,eo,r. ,o,~ ,,,ro
mated nv tho variouov contracted ,,n,s ,bo, r,,,
no in this ,yav davaionod u ,,axa n ,,,,,loss
thing for mn ~ land a hora q, ,,o d,sora.,o,,
NJ tonic alreadv yoI, o,onod nm hv a,,a hands
Init 40 tho frea axnros.;on ~ orr o,,n,ons 4. a
b,rtbriobt NJ averv ci,izon ana 90 r;ah, Ia rorar
an strong as In tho mul,i,,de NJ i,s snrnortar.
fail ouietlv into tho ranLs ,vi,bor, avcrso
In the first nlace before anv considerable i'm.
nrovement can be mazda in our svs.em NJ scboo,s
there mpst be n oenoraI rrdarstand,na ~ ,ho a.
srabiitv Of such an improvement and an interest
awakened among al, classes Of neople For var,.
ous reasons inst in pronorton az this 10 dome will
our success he measured In wba, vav this can
best be done ia indeed n serious and difcuIt nrob-
lem. and one with which we have first IN deal
Perhaps IL can in No wav be batter accommodated
than NV keenno the spbiect copstantlv before the
public by means of the nress and nIatform. thus
drawing out. as we have before stated. all phases
of the question and stimulating to a thoughtful
consideration on the part of all citizens 1t il a
mistaken notion. aeeminelv entertained nv MANY
enthusiasts that our svstem NJ educaton can be re
modelled at once. No greater mistake could poss-
| blv be made IL will reonire mucb time and ma
tience on the mart Of tho working few before all
that sbould he done can he accumulated Force Of
habit in these THINGS IL strong and must first Of
all be uprooted IL ia very evident to any candid
person that neither superintendents nor teachers
| can of themselves do mucb toward imnroving the
general condition of the schools for the reason
that lust the moment an innovation Is made in any
direction, the generality consider 1t direct stroke
| at their blessed rights and privileges. and remon-
strate accordingly II H. after a little Thought.
an equally evident fact that legislative enactments
can not reach the great root of all evil that lies
| at the yery foundation of the trouble. Superin-
| tendents NAV faithfully nerform their duties.
teachers may bring all possible enthusiasm into
| their work. the schoolroom NAV he snnnlied with
| all needful apparatus (which for reasons which
follow. ia not often the easel and vet schools fail
| or beino n spccoss WIN 4, Ia nat,ral % osl, "a
success M, at,anad ,nder c;rcumstaroes az favor.
| ahle . Tho conditions tbamsovao 40 ,ar no CON.
| di,ions no .ro indood mol, o,o,r,h h,. mo 40
nrono 10 foroo, tho foo, ~ orr ha1n, 20 dooI NO,
,v;,h nan;,a,o ,h;,, ,t.. o,,o,, ,,o.,,ro, i., h..
| with vorro r;rds in ovorv ,oss;h,o CONDITION ~
deve,onmont -,ninds "a aas,lv daro,onad IN ono
drec,ion as ano,hor and inst 90 srscon,;hIo 10
onts;de as 10 inside iranence We NOV a,.o tor,
oct or from, ,act ~ ovnoriorco not Lnou tho,
no a rul ta littla narea 1oI
;n,aroa. Il, ,ha oa,,, oa,o.,,o, -, ,ho,u o,ua.o,
This NAV seem an extravaganza statement and
,r;,ho, Iou.h 80 a., ,,,,.,.o r.. o,;oa.
and little looking arornd will be enough ,o sa,-
sfv a,most arr ono ,bat srch ia tho cose Hare
| ,hor wo have Tho .n.wor 20 .ho =. whr %.
| bero ia tho birdrorco. boro tho 700, ~ oil
evil, subdividinp itself in every direction nm.
dermn;no tho ybo,e .rorrdwort ~ orr rres.
ont srs,ar, and ,,or,d nndorn,ina onn o,hor
uoro ,hor tho ,ahor ~ rotor,n ma, ha,,n. Tho
6rs, h,o mns, he s,rrc, NJ ,bis naralv,c state ~
the nnh,;c mind and No, until ,b;s ia dona can ue
hona for any rail Gain A aroa, marv noon,a
have no. Tho ;dao mt ,hoir ,,oads Tho, orr COM
mon scboo, svs,or, &. n oroot ona ,,orior, ,rs,;-
,r,;on. ona ,hara Tho ;dao onds /. no. haoor,a :.
mart of their creed to send their scholars to school
six months in the year. vote little money to de-.
frav expenses find all the fault possible with the
teacher and their ueipbbor's children. encourage
their own to stand up for their rohts in defiance
of school regulations. know az little a. possible
about the work that il actuallv beinp done in the
| school texcept what John and Mary tell when
| thew recite their troubles at NIGHT after scbooI