The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-10-11


meEi ia csss a Ia secupa or laird prosecu.
iiot.
liss Eps The tiEae rene shen . feuiencs
" lavslsosnest SHOULD failsv the fs'
oo1risfson un5ss this lsv. asd vkes !
prosision a. that character woala DO ners
70 step ssles IN toe larger villages thar
say esAsr measure yet pr0poseSy sfu
sironsiy q The opinioa thst II has, bnl
ste subject ~ one which by lb impcrlsne'
70 addresses iiseli 10 your pssicsi scrriiry
lDsi Suggestions are Unnecessary.
The form and nature Of oar sovgnmcEi
are snch that virise and intelligence are
soi orly IL corncr stones. bat is walls Of
aefenco I, j. conceded by all that high
development q these qualities can only
come with Superior educational facilities
The trainers 81 sbc constitution recognized
ihis fac, 10 the provision iha, flaws for
The encouragement oi virtue and proven
ton Of vice and immorsliiy, ought 10 be
constantly kepiia force, and duly erecu
ted; sad eompelc1l humber Of schools
Ought 10 be msintsined ia each town for
the convenient instruction Of youth; and
onc Of more grammar schools he incorro
rated sDd properly supported. 10 each
cOuniy 10 tie state.
The people aud their representatives
have, al all times. sought 10 carry these
provisions iu,o effect; the ouly differences
arising have been those relating 10 meth
OILS and systems rather than TO the epds
sought 10 be accomplished
Ths. the present district system con.
tsins serious defects. can not be doubted; ;
that the common schools have failed. 10
the character Of their work. to keep sbrens,
sith the progress OF the iimes.is admitted
by all obseryant people.
New methods have been proposed aud
discussed; the town system has been per
feeied aud offered 10 the people, only to
be rejected, and today we stand in The
position occupied l0years ago, with The
district system In force in nearly oil the
towns OF the state, unimproyed aud fall Of
glazing faults.
In the proposed adoption OF the town
system, some OF our best educators hoped
for success. believing that under its pro
visions better system Of supervision
could be obtained. ard that al efficient
supervision was the prime necessity OF the
honr. That this system has worked sd
miradly 10 certain places, cannot be doubt
ed; that il has failed in others cannot be
denied; that the great majority Of the peo
Pile prefer the district system and are
averse TO any other. is as plain to my mind
as any fact in history eau be made.
Recognizing the necessity Of solving tins
problem intelligently, the General Assem-
bly, Of 1856 enacted a law entitled IAN act
appointing committee Of three to drait
a new educational bill, so as to increase
the efficiency and improve the public
schools Of the state. under which com
mit,ee, consisting Of Hon. Loyeland Nun
son of Manchester. Pres. Ezra Biaiucrd OF
College, aud Pm s W Ian,
don Of the Burlington High School, was
appointed. These gentlemen entered the
work with enthusiasm. and have devoted |
much time and energy TO the istudy ofi,hs
question. and in deyising remedy for the
syils found to exist The results II their
work will be laid before you at an early |
lay; space will not permit discussion Of
i in this address, but You will pardon me
n remarkiog that the plan they propose
itself to my judgement aud
meets with my warm approval.
Upon the General Assembly rests great
with II there has come
yreat opportunity; parents throughout The
state are looking to you for action, and
,ublic interest demands it; expense is not
o be considered 10 a question OF this i'm
,ortance. unless the amount required is
,reatly disproporiionate TO the end souga It.
am sure need not urge you to lay aside
II preludices in favor Of or against any
particular system, or to rise above any per
onal or selfish interest in the matter.
four purity ST purpose, your loyal love
or the best interests OF our state, and your
appreciation Of the absolute need there is
or reform in school methods, will surely
cad you to vigorous and intelligent &C
ion.