St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-06-05
The American School.

FRIENDS: Il do not propose this
evening to discuss the methods or
the policies of school organization or
management, for they are too broad
and too deep to receive justice in
paper like this. | should prefer to
leave such important details TOR
furture consideration.
But in the brief time allotted me
will simply touch upon those general
aspects of education that call forth
our patriotism and our loyalty-the
foundation principles upon which the
superstructure OF education is built
know Of no subject OF more i'm
portonce than the proper education
of the people. In this | mean the
cultivation Of the man in the broad
est sense, so that he may stand forth
among men in the fullest and the
most complete manhood.
The sense in which would con-
slider schools and education would be
that generally understood and advo-
Gated by our more Thoughtful citizens,
and which receives the sanction OF
American law in principle and prac-
tice. This principle is fully incorpor-
ated in our free school system, which
means that schools shall be provided
at the public expense, that all chill
dren shall have equal chance before
the law, and that they shall receive
instruction in all the branches that
will make Of them good and useful
citizens.
cannot refrain from speaking OF
the grand action Of our American
Fathers when establishing the new
nation. 1t seems to have been al
most their first thought, as it was
their insiration, to educate the peo-
pie. In establishing a new govern
ment they were trying bold and
dangerous experiment, such as the
world had never before known. But
they realized that the only way to
maintain free government was
through the intelligence and the edu-
cation of the people.
The lack of these things, as our
fathers well knew, was just what
had kept the countries of Europe
semi-barbarous and arbitrary. The
fathers, therefore, seized upon the
most effective weapon with which to
defend and to perpetuate the new
government.
Education, therefore, was to be
our nations best work, and the
fathers most truly considered it the
corner stone in their great fabric of
liberty. AS westward the star of
empire takes its way, so westward,
through the law OF general progress,
was there to be built up the grandest
country and the grandest civilization
the world had ever seen.
To establish higher and a better
way for men was the prime, as well
as the wise, object Of the new nation.
1t was not designed to throw away
the old things that were good, but
to add to them the newer and the
better things already awaiting them.
This new order OF things is known
to us by the words, progress, free
dom, liberty. And upon these princi-
pies, both for individuals and the
nation rest their Americanism, their
, trust and their honor.
And now that the educational plan
, OF the fathers has been so we'll estab
lished, why shall it not 60 on, to the
, welfare and glory of the nation
, Why has there been seeming question
ing, and halt, by any upon this i'm
portant matter? 1t behooves us a:
people, to keep intact and sacred {
system of education so wisely inaug
= urated, and thus far, so well main
| tanned.
S 1t is not so very strange that tn,
, new immigrant should bring will
d him all the idiosyncracies and strang
t notions of his poor foreign life. Thi
: has always been so, and probabl,
i always will be. Under these condi
> tions it has already been our labor
: and will continue to be in the future
+ to show him the way, to educat
i him, and assimilate him with tn
S customs and the laws of the land, s.
t that he will no longer be foreigner
t but good American citizen.
X AS proof Of our education inhu
. ences, no one can fail to see the maj
4 velous change in the majority of foi
s eigners in few years after contac
If with our free institutions. Why, tn
If very contour of their faces become
n moresy numerical, their dress is in bel
II ter taste, and their manners more IT
e fined And if they have had trainin
a in the public schools, where there
e competition and responsibility, the
If soon become more truly patriotic
d and they soon learn to be proud {
i their Americanism.
n Now education never hourishes i
y indifferent hands. We ought to Civ
~ great honor to the men and tt
~ women of this country who devot
If their lives in the instruction of tt
" people. | can think of no professio
lie that makes greater sacrifices, or
I. more loyal to the country, than tt
N splendid profession of national il
IN structors.
8. In my mind, one Of the great fea
j, ures of the public school is found
30 the law of compulsory attendant