Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-12


forced to admit that the condition of
many of these schools Is unworthy the rep
utation and character Of our State and
should he n constant reminder of the Sc
rious neglect of our duty to the children
of the commonwealth" These senti-
ments end statements by the chief educa-
tional officer of the State, and former ones
from the same source, and emphasized =
repeatedly by and through executive com
munications constitute serious indict,
ment for NermOnterS to plead to, anu
avoidance or denial. do not seem to be
available; therefore, it is in order that
you should make conscientious, consider
ate and determined effort to find and APP
ply an eiieCtual remedy. This condition
of things was recognized at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature; and after much
earnest though fruitess effort to find
cure for the trouble that might be applied
at once, act No. III of 1856 wa3 passed
with substantial unanlmity. BY this act
the governor was "authOrized and direct
ed to appoint committee Of three com
petent aud practical men whose duty it
shall be to revise, redraft, and 50 far as
may by said cominittee be deemed neces-
sary, draw up a new bill, rejecting all or
as many of the sections of the school law
now in force as they may deem desirable,
and substituting therefor such new sec
tons as will best add to the efficiency and
improve the public schools of the State,
and report n bill to the General Assembly
at its next biennial session" To be re-
sponsble for the selection of this commit
tee to be charged with the performance
of the duty proposed, was indeed onerous
and well calculated to impress me with ,
the gravity and seriousness of the duty
imposed. 1t any failure or mistake has !
been made in the personnel Of the com
mittee, 1t was not for want of appre citation
OF the magnitude and Importance Of the
work to be committed to 1t, or Il want of
appreciation of the grave responsibility
resting upon me.
In compliance with the direction given
by said act No. Ill, | appointed as such
committee, Hon. James VI. Tyler of Brat
tleboro, Rev. Ezra Brainerd of Middle
bury, aud Prof ). W. I.andon of Burling
ton, aud before but little action had been
taken by the committee, Mr.. Tyler resign
ed on account Of his appointment as one
of the judges of the Supreme Court. and
| appointed to fill the vacancy Hon. Love
land Munson of Manchester. This com
mittee was seasunably appointed and
entered upon performance OF their duty,
and have given 1t much time, and | be-
lieve their best endeaVorS, seriously lln-
bued with its gravity. magnitude and
Importance and have, | feel assured, had
but one object in view, and that being to
present as a result of their work such a
code of school laws as will in their ludg-
ment most improve the public schools of
the State. How we'll they have succeed
under your scrutiny and judgment. The
committee have completed their work and
it will be before you. The act under
which this committee was appointed only
requires the presentation of new bill,
but at my request, the committee have
supplemented the bill they offer, by re-
port in support and explanation thereof.
If it should seem to you that by present
Ing this supplemental report the commit
tee have transcribed their authority, it
will be plainly your duty to visit the con-
sequences upon me- 1t seemed to me that
it was due to the cause in hand, to you,
and to the committee, that you should be
informed of the reasons that governed
their action and lead to their conclusions,
with full explanation of their work;
hence the request that report accom-
pauy the bill.
Should the measures presented by the
bill offered seem to you to be radical in
the changes proposed, or extreme i'll any
Of its features or provisions, | beg to re-
mind you that the trouble sought to he
alleviated is also extreme, aud that the
disease sought to be cured involves the
good name of the State, and the happiness
and intelligence of the children of the
commonwealth | bespeak for this snb-
jet due appreciation OF its Importance,
and candid and earnest thought and ac-
ton. The bill submitted has, as whole,
my approval.
NOkMAL SOuOOlS.
The present system of maintaining and
supporting normal school instruction will
expire in August, 1890, lt'no action is had in
reference thereto AT the present session.
In anticipation of this fact, the last Legis-
ature took action in the matter and by
joint resolution No, l24 directed the gov
ernor to appoint four suitable persons,
who, with the State superintendent OF
education should constitute "A committee
ito inquire into the system Of Normal
school Instruction under the patronage of
the state, and report TO the governor be
fore the meeting OF the Legislature of
1883, as to the dscontinuance of the pres
ent system after August, 1890, the desra-
biity of establishing one State Normal
school owned and controlled by the State
and in connection Herewith, the practical
billty of Normal school instruction coD-
uected with the Graded school, IN each
county in the State"
In compliance with said direction, | APP
pointed as such committee. Hon. iona
than Ross of 81. Jonnsbury, Ii. .. w heel
er, esq, of Burlington, Hon. Albert y.
Swain of Rockingham, Prof Edward ii.
butcher of Brandon. Before the commit
tee entered upon the performance OF their
duty, Mr.. Swain resigned by reason of
serious illness in his family, and | ap-
pointed Prof ii. NJ. Willard to fill the
vacancy This committee have, | am sat
isfied, performed their duty with entire
/
and have given to the subject an amount
of time, attention and service greatly out
of proportion and III excess of the provis-
ion made for compromising them. Inc re-
port of this committee will be before you.
1t merits and doubtless will have your
best attention and consideration What
| have elsewhere said on the subject of
education has direct force and application
to this matter. Should it he your pleasure
to legislate i'll the direction OF greater
efficiency in the public schools, you seem
ing!y cannot omit to make provision in
some form for Normal school instruction, I
for reasons too evident to demand illus
tration or argument. This report pre-
sents duty that cannot he postponed or
| ignored, and covers field OF public in
terest that pertains to but few subjects
and it is expected that you Will perform
/ it upon broad and unseliish grounds and
! principles, having in mind the conceded
retrograde condition of public instruction,
/ the important and seeming inseparable
/ connection between the common schools
and Normal ,hool instruction, II high
] .,.ft "a, IL tt IA