The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-12-13
Honor to whom HonorIs Due.

The 81. Adams Messenger in It's review
OF the Last Legislature speaks OF several
Important measures which became laws,
and 8olong them the following remarks
on ouE8new educational statues
That the matter of the reorganization
of the public schools in Vermont has
been taken in hand is largely due to
Hon. Charles P. Marsh of Woodstock,
the author of the bill IN the Legislature
of 1885 creating a board Of investigation
with authority to report new system.
Governor Ormsbee was highly success
full in creating this commission, whid
consisted OF Hon. Loveland MunsOn OF
Manchester, Prof. BrainaId of Middle
bury aud Prof S. w. Landon of Bur
lington, whose good opinions upon the
subject took shape in bill presented to
the Legislature substantially as passed.
The grand scheme is theirs. But there
we're many details that 1t become neces-
sary 10 change in order that the measure
might received the sanction OF the Leg
isature. Speaker Grout was most happy
IN his selection of a chairman of the
committee on education in the person ot
the member from Newport. Mr.. Chas
A. Prouty, who was indefatigable in his
labors from the time the measure was
introduced to its final passage. 1t Is
radical measure. and in Legislature as
conservative as that of Vermont, slow to
accommodate itself to new conditions,
it would most certainly have been de-
feated without int LUCENT and earnest
engineering The credit for the concep
ton of the system, its adaptation, and
for the fact that It has become a law, is
due to all these gentlemen mentioned,
and to many others of the leading mem
bers OF the house who earnestly aided in
the passage of the bill.
But whether new school law IL to be
come popular and entirely acceptable to
the people of the State, will depend in
great measure upon the manner OF Its
execution by the superintendent OF edu-
cation and the county supervisors.
law of this nature may be ever so com
plete in It's design and fa,l in the end Tor
want Of proper officials to work 1t out
the same as the designs Of a most excel
lent architect would cone TO naught 10
the hands Of incompetent bul ders II
is to be hoped that no mistake has been
made in the selection of the master
workman" although the election for
superintendent of education fell upon
one who had found Lion in his way
through all the stages OF the pa sage Oh
the bill through the House. There Is M
doubt OF Mr.. Palmer's ability, and 1t Is
to be hoped that he has also the genius,
discretion and determination sufficient
to the occasion. The position is most
responsible one, and his most intimat"
friends are sure that he will max sue
cess Of it. But it is equally necessary |
that he be sustained by county super
vsors adapted to the SITUATE n,and more
than ordinary care should be tx relied |
by the friends Of educa ion in the srltc-
ton of these officials. The sys EN- adopt |
ed is as the grandest piece Of aIchrtec-
ture, but it will remain an experiment
until it is TAI hfuily and intelligently |
worked out Should the system prove
to be ~ advantageous to the S are as its
friends have reason to expect, it will
richly repay the commonwt alth for the
entire expense Of the Legislature of 1888
Though no other business had been done.