Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-01

The penitentiary during life, and put 70 hard la
Dor Let him not be pardoned out OF prison. In
case the court believes that the accused and con-
vcted person Ia sane let IL DO the duty Of the pre-
siding judge to pass upon him the sentence OF the
law OF the state where he Ia tried and convicted,
Whatever the penalty may be in that state
II the changes have Just indicated could be
made in the law, think It would prevent the
plea Of insanity being offered in most cases.
This plea il a dangerous one, because insanity Is
80 easily simulated or fegned. Let shrewd,
wicked man fegn insanity during the three
months before he puts into execution his murder
Gus intention which he has cherished all this
time, and he will be almost certain to be ac-
quilted on a trial for murder Then, there are 80 |
many varieties and 30 many different degrees Of |
any two cases being just alike
from the monomaniac to the hopelessy crazy |
idiot, as to render 1t extremely difficult to deter
mine whether one Is 80 insane "a not to be NOR |
ally and legally accountable or responsible for |
his murderous act. person may be insane on |
certain subjects, or to considerable extent, and
still be both morally and legally responsible A |
man must be very insane indeed, not to know
and feel that numbering fellow being is wrong,
and an atrocious crime. Ell BALLoU.
Our Public Schools.
Mr. Editor IL subscribed for your paper at the
beginning OF the year, and notice, from time to
time, articles upon our common school, and also
that you invite correspondence upon that subject
As mother | naturally feel deep interest
in the place where my children spend much of
the precious seed-time Of their lives and believe
whole chorus OF mothers would join with me in
giving thanks II we could see our common schools
progressing in proportion to other interests in our
state We hope 1t is true that new interest Is
being awakened in this subject. There is need
enough OF 1t. And we hope It will be felt, not
only in larger places, but in every little remote
corner Of the state. The common school has been
very properly called the peoples college," and
1t is still more emphatically the farmers college,
and they will soon be brought to see that it is
wholly incompetent TO meet their demands. But
how Is 1t likely to affect them7 All know how
difficult it is to this big wheel out of the rut
! fully recognize the fact that much depends on
home culture and discipline, well-furnshed
schoorooms, etc Mothers need to renew their
zeal. 1t has become part Of our work. and may
God give us wisdom to assist in the elevation Of
our common schools. 1t has become quite the
fashion for those who have the means to send
their children away to school and think the dis
trict school is Of small consequence anyway. This
answers one purpose, but in this country Of free
schools our motto should be, 1.-THE greatest good
| to the greatest number" 1t IL too selfish TO
think we will elevate our own children and let the
rest go. The Master would have us cultivate all
the talent he has bestowed upon his little chill
dren. Then let us put aside all envy, pride and
| jealousy as unworthy Of our high calling, and
labor for the good OF all. think mothers
association would be almost as valuable as a
teachers association. Every true teacher knows
he has got TO throw his whole heart and soul
into the work and take personal interest in each
pupil, II he would accomplish any real good.
And every mother ought to know that her chill
dren will bevery much more interested II mamma
takes part in each lesson. This is not so dis.
agreeable when one becomes accustomed to It, !
rather enjoy speling-essons and coffee for
breakfast, beefsteak and geography for dinner,
bread and butter and grammar for tea, with
popped and arithmetic for dessert in the eve
ming, but do not enjoy to do the teachers work
and let her be idle We want faithful teachers,
and then let us work to help and sustain them
And now word about teachers ] do not want
to find fault with them, for large proportion Of
them are doing the best they can under the cir
cumstances, but most of them need more normal
culture before they commence teaching. | am
the teachers friend, and know It requires more
moral courage, wisdom and self-reliance than
most Of us possess to control and instruct school
properly and little girls just out Of district school
have no right to attempt it. 1t is true many
teachers after a few years practice get self.
normal culture which answers very good pur.
pose, but they are constantly passing off the
stage and the inexperienced are trying to supply
their places. Can we afford to lend our children
for apprentices to practice on? Still the ranks
must be filled, and we must have teachers of some
kind When young teachers are urged to attend
the Normal School they make the following re-
plies: :" 1t is SO far from home, would cost 80
much and do not intend to follow teaching
always" Another says 81 wish | could have
gone when | was fifteen years old instead OF
wasting my time at district school, but now
cannot spend time. | want to take classical
course" Still another answer is, 81 do not
think need to spend year or two on studies
that am nearly familiar with now, but IL, In a
few weeks could learn better methods of ex-
planning different branches, should be glad to
do so'' Now, why cannot Normal instruction
be brought to them in the form OF Normal Insti-
tutes7 They could be holden in each county II
necessary and continue two or three weeks when
schools were not in session. or course every
teacher must be compelled to attend unless rea-
sonably excused or forfeit her certificate Or else
no teacher should be allowed to hold certificate
who has not attended one more institutes.
This is not an original idea, for something SINH.
lar has been practiced in other states with good
results. In fact it may have been practiced in
this state but II 30 it was before my remem.
brance. My object in suggesting this is to prevent
persons going directly from the district school as
pupils into school as teachers. 1t is as degenerat
ing to the school system as ntermarrage is to a
nation. am aware that expose myself to
crtcicm in presenting this plan, but II it provokes
discussion which shall result in good am con-
tent. 40.