The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-10
EDUCATION.

The form and nature of our government
are such that virtue and intelligence are not
only its foundation stones but its walls of
defence. 1t is conceded by all that high
development of these qualities can only
come with superior educational facilities.
The trainers of the constitution recognized
this fact in the provision that laws for the
encouragement of virtue and prevention of
vice and immortality ought to be constantly
kept in force, and duly executed; and
competent number of schools ought to be
maintained in each town for the convenient
instruction of youth; and one or more gram
mar schools be incorporated and properly
supported in each county in the state.
The people and their representatives have,
at all times, sought to carry these provis-
ions into effect; the only differences arising
have been those relating to methods and
systems rather than to the ends sought to
be accomplished. That the present district
system contains serious defects, can not be
doubted; that the common schools have
failed, in the character of their work, to
keep abreast with the progress of the times,
is admitted by all observant people. New
methods have been proposed and discussed; ;
the town system has been perfected and
offered to the people, only to be rejected,
and to-day we stand in the position oCcu-
pied ten years ago, with the district system
in force in nearly all the towns of the state,
unimproved and full of glaring faults. In
/
some of our best educators hoped for sue
cess believing that under its provisions
a better system of supervision could
be obtained, and that an efficient super
vision was the prime necessity of the
hour. That this system has worked adj
mirably in certain places, can not he
doubted; that it has failed in others, can
not be denied that the great aiority of
the people prefer the district system and are
averse TO any other, is as plain to my mind
as any fact in history can be made. Recog-
| nlzlng the necessity of solving this problem
intelligently, the general assembly of 1886
! enacted a law entitled " An act appointing
a committee of three to draft a new educa-
tional bill, so as to increase the efficiency
and improve the public schools of the state, y
| under which a committee, consisting of
| Hon. Loveland Munson of Manchester.
President Ezra Brainerd of Middlebury
College, and Principal S. w. Landon of the
| Burlington high school, was appointed.
| These gentlemen entered the work with
enthusiasm, and have devoted much time
and energy to the study of the question,
and in devising a remedy for the evils
| found to exist. The results of their work
will be laid before you at an early day;
| space will not permit a discussion of it in
this address, but you will pardon me in re-
marking that the plan they propose COM
mends itself to my judgment and meets
with my warm approval. Upon the general
assembly rests great responsibility; with
1t there has come great opportunity
parents throughout the state are looking to
You for action, and public interest demands
it; expense is not to be considered in a
question of this importance, unless the
amount required is disproportionate to the
end sought | am sure l need not urge you
to lay aside all prejudices in favor of or
against any particular system, or to rise
above any personal or selfish interest in the
matter. Your purity of purpose, your loyal
love for the best interests of our state, and
your appreciation of the absolute need
there is for reform in school methods, will
surely lead you to vigorous and intelligent
action.
In conclusion permit me to wish you "A
pleasant and harmonious session the re-
suits of which shall be marked by evidences
of wise counsels mature consideration, and
courage equal to all the demands of public
! interests.