The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-29
A Better Popular Education.

We have not of late taken much part
in the discussion of this question, finding
it so ably dealt with in the general edito-
rial columns of the paper. 1t appears
certain that there is now a greater inter-
est among our citizens in regard to our
schools than for some time past. Some
heightened writers insist that no improve
ment or advance in this direction ever has
its origin among the "people," that the
initiatory movement is always from
"above," and that nothing can be ex.
pected from the GLOVER classes " but in
difference or resistance, Notwithstanding
thew or their children are the benef-
Charles in the case. 1t would be a diff
cult job, at least here in Vermont, to
draw line dividing the "people r" from
any supposed " superior" class of society,
and we think, in most cases, that those as
signed place "above the line would be
more apt to cry out against division
which left them out in the cold than
would any of the comfortable" common
herd" The little grain of truth con-
tanned in the assumption we have referred
to is Just this, that poor, and especially
an indebted, community is apt to have
poor schools. But if anybody thinks, for
instance, that farmers like poor schools,
or are Indifferent to the value of good
education for their children, we can pro-
duce any quantity of facts to refute
this. We have visited nearly every part
of the state, having the matter always in
our mind, and we believe the schools in
every county and town are the very close,
if not the exact, index of the financial
ability of the inhabitants, at least, so far
as the cost and expense of school build
ings and teaching are concerned. AS to
the ability of the general direction and
superintendent of the schools, and the
consequent quality of the instruction i'm
parted, these may not be so closely re-
lated to the wealth of the people; but
there is evident everywhere, at least the
purpose to give the children as good an
education as possible. We say this with
out ignoring the opposition of the mean
and selfish citizens to be found in every
town and school-district, because we
never knew their policy to prevail in the
long run, where there was real financial
ability on the part of the people to have
good schools.
What is really needed is not so much
disposition and willingness, as it is intel
ligent direction and steady, guiding
hand, which ought to be supplied from
the common source of authority, the state
government. But here we are driven
back upon the difficulty of finding avail
able individual qualifcations,-men, in
short, who are capable, honest and indus
trious, to guide and direct our public
school system as it should be done. 1t is
we'll for the press to exhort the people
upon the Importance of improving their
schools, but this exhortation is addressed
to people who, if ever so DESTROYS to act
need instruction as to what ought to be
done, and continuous, effective aid in
doing it.
Many are seeking panacea for the &C
knowledged defects in our schools in wha'
is called the town system, and we believe
that to be an improvement upon the dis
trict system, and perhaps the first steI
that ought to be taken. But the town
system can be as badly worked and a
stupidity botched as the district system
unless it, in its turn, is sustained ant
guided by state regulation which shal
give aid, help and guidance to those witt
have control of the matter in the towns
The old state board of education die
in the odor of jobbery, and we doubt i
the public would agree to its re-establist
ment. But certainly the state ought no
to stand careless and indifferent in tn
matter. We have had in place of tn
board state superintendency, it is tru'
but this has no authority, and therefor
little respect. Something more effectiv
is required, whether it be board, con
mission or a SUPPLEMENTARY. The pra'
tice of our legislature is often to do thing
in sort of two-cent way, which is in r
atty the most wasteful way of all. 1t
80 with our normal schools. The sta
ought to support one in every count
The three that we have do very goc
work for the money they get, but son
fifteen years experience shows that thu
have substantially but local attendant
Every improvement that is suggested
attempted treads on somebody's TOT
The literary colleges united to kill Il
agricultural college, and did it. IT
academies are jealous of the norm
schools, and the academy interest does
it can against their being improved