Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-11
SCHOOLS.

In our colleges, normal, high and graded
schools, we have corps of teachers to whom we
owe debt of gratitude. They have grown gray
in the performance OF i-requited labor for the
common good Their duties are the most ardu-
Gus, as they are the most noble and dgnfed of
all secular professions. Thoroughly devoted to
their work of the higher grade, they have never
failed TO recognize the supreme and commanding
importance of the common schools, and have ever
been ready to do labor for their improvement
One of these is our present superintendent of ed
ucation, who enjoys and deserves the confidence
of all that know him, yet regret that he has not
associated with him, board OF these veteran
teachers, for official advice and counsel. 1t is
thought, however, by many Of our Oldest and
most experienced teachers, that the popular dis
trust of this method of official supervision which
was occasioned by the employment OF a secretary
who had pecunary interest in the enforcement
OF the law requiring uniformity of text books,
has not sufficiently subsidized to Justify return to
it, 1t was this that caused the extinction of the
board and the creation of supervision resting
solely in single person. and 1t gave the cause
of popular education in Vermont a blow from
which 1t has not yet recovered. The board, with
its secretary was abolished by the legislature by
an almost unanimous vote in 1874, but its books
remained until, by another step backward in 1875
the uniformity of text books was destroyed by an
act allowing each town to select its own books
The obnoxious arithmetic then left Vermont, only
two towns voting to retain it, while one hundred
and eghty-six towns went back to the obsolete"
arithmetic of 1867.
The act of 1878, creating as many boards" as
there are towns, providing over seven hundred
persons, instead of six, TO prevent the too FIRE.
quent change of text books in common schools"
was not as destructive Of uniformity as might
have been expected. The TesOute good sense Of
teachers and town superintendent secured to
some counties absolute uniformity, but where this
was not the case, the result has been deplorable
Before the meeting OF the next legislature, two
hundred and forty other boards will be elected to
create further diversity, unless your wisdom in
terposes and provides some other course. re-
spectfully suggest, as most economical and con-
sentative, that the superintendent be directed to
select list, from the books now in use in the
largest number OF towns that towns be allowed
to continue using books now adopted; but that in
case IA change is made by any town In 1884, as
provided by law, it shall be to the list prepared by
the superintendent. Thus will a majority vote OF
all the towns decide what the list shall be, and
we shall gradually return to the old system,
should however, desire TO change some of the
readers in use by our schools Emphasis and in
Election, pitch and meditation, can be taught az
well from the Orations of Patrick Henry and Dam
lei Webster, from the writings Of Andrew Jack
son and Charles Sumner, from the patriotic poe
try Of Whittier, Holmes, Bryant, Lowell and
Drake, as from the works OF Defoe or the plays OF
Shakespeare, while from the daily drill in reading
such lessons of freedom, nationality and patriot
ISM there will be taught love and duty toward
the country and its flag, which, when occasion
arises, will present race OF patriots as devoted
TO liberty, and as ready to defend 1t, were our
fathers Of the revolution and those who succeeded
them in more recent contests.
The following table from the report Of Mr.. Co
nant, the superintendent in 1880 gives some in
terestng facts:
1850. 1860 $50. 1880
Number Of school distrcs..... 1884 1881 2lsO 2,S5s
Number OF children the
schools. .,,,..,........ sslOO 1851 1925 1929
Number OF teachers. ......,,... 5000 ass ASS
Average wages per week, In
Guiding board, OF teachers S3.l5 S1,72 S606 SjbS
Entire expenditures by districts and towns for
schools, 1850, S217, i02. 33; 1860 S33l, g32 90
1870 S5i3, G2728; 1880, Sag, 21600.
The cost here given does not include that OF
books which, when no changes of law are estma-
ted TO cost Sl250 per year. In the confusion in
cident to frequent changes of law and supervision,
the price of books has greatly increased, and
most Of them are of such poor quality in pa