The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-10-13

1t will be noted that while probably
twenty per cent Of the children of school
age are not enrolled in the public schools,
but from sixty-three to sxty-ive per cent
of those enrolled are constant attendants
upon school. Our revenue for common
school purposes for the year 1856 was
1921 ,370.29. 1t is not this large sum of
money annually devoted to this object that
gives it its chief Importance. Our great con-
Germ is or should be to see that it is well ex-
pended and for the best good of all our
youth That such is not the case now all
statistics clearly demonstrate and all men
admit. There is every natural reason why
the standard common school education
among the young of this state should be far
above that of most of our sister states of the
North and West. The homogenousness of
our people invites it. The annual expendi-
ture warrants it. 1t is the birth-right of
every child to share evenly with its fellows
in this outlay. The public is pledged to the
care of the morals and the mind of every
child alike at its birth. There is no trust
which the general law executes so inequit-
ably and inadequately as that relating to
the education of the young. The law of the
last general assembly, submitting the ques-
ton of the adoption of the town system of
schools to vote of the people at the an
nual town meetings in 1885 and 1886, was
acted on by most of the towns, while sew
eral did not vote upon it, Sixteen towns
only voted to adopt the town SYSTEM all
others which voted on the question voted
against it, seventeen towns had previously
adopted the same, and the town of Norton
organized with it, so that we have thirty
four towns in the state in which this sys-
tenn is in operation. The general inaction
of the voters of the state upon this vital
school question refers it back to the repre-
sentative wisdom of the general assembly.
The proportion of the voters who gave their
voice on this question stands related to their
vote Tor governor very closely as one to
three. That something should be accom-
plished at this session to improve our
methods in the bestowal of these moneys
and in the more equable diffusion of educa-
ton among our children through the schools
seems almost necessity. What il should
be your wisdom will rightly determine.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
The work of this board has been devoted
mainly to the holding of institutes through
out the counties of this state in connection
with the various industrial dairymen's and
other agricultural associations, and in lee
turing upon and discussing with the practi-
cal farmers of the state, all subjects of agri-
cultural interest. These meetings have
grown in interest from year to year. In the
winter OF 1856 sixty-four meetings were
held-generally of two days each. Over
nine hundred addresses have been given
and much general discussion has followed
Professor Cook of the State Agricultural
College-joining the board at the expense
of the college to lecture upon fertilizers and
agricultural chemistry-has been of great
service to this interest. 1t hat been my
privilege to attend few of these meetings
and have been impressed with the zeal
practical learning and advanced views of
the gentlemen of the board upon the special
ties assigned them for discussion, as well as
with the interest enkindled by their pres
ence among the many farmers who join
them in their valuable work. A larger edi-
ton OF the report Of the board should be
provided for, and a more general distribu-
ton had. The questions treated of in this
report having special reference to the pro-
ducts and soils of our latitude and longi-