Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-01-14
Our Educational Policy.
The work which the New England
Educational League Is Undertaking


Educational League Is Undertaking
20 DO.
A new and promising movement is in
progress, the purpose Of which is to secure
more nearly equal educational advantages
for the children Of New England. The
movement proceeds upon the ground that,
while the educational system of the New
England states has reached high stand
ard Of development as a whole, its best
advantages are enjoyed by the children of
the cities and large towns while those of
the rural sections suffer lack This is in
equality, and in its practical effect it
amounts 10 injustice. For one ilustra-
tion: Children of immigrants, who gener-
ally cling to the cities, have the best edu-
catiOnai service, while children Of the ma
tive population, such as are mostly found
in smaller towns and rural sections, are
| subjected to greatly inferior advantages.
| How existing conditions have grown up it
| is easy to understand when a few leading
facts are recalled These facts relate
| to changes in our material affairs and i'm
| the grouping of population. The tendency
| OF the last half century has been to con-
! cenirate the population about urban cen
] llto ~ itIudlkdOlt ueEltt, III country
/ districts where, il the early part Of the cen
! fury, there were schools OF 80 or - pupils
/ OF all ages, there are now hardly oue-tenth
as many. In like proportion the city pop
/ ulatiOn has increased and the graded
/ school system has developed. The prob
/ lem which the educational movement
which We have mentioned undertakes 10
/ solve is that Of establishing reciprocal re-
/ lallOus between the centres of uOuul Al ion
/ ana the outlying sections The means to
! be used is New England Public Educa-
. uohaI league, and This is The plan OF for
malloh ana WORK:
inc League shal consist OF a general
/ committee Oh IOO members located a. tvl-
/ lows. MASSACHUSETTS,. 20 members; Maine,
/ Ip' New hampshire, 10: vermont, 10;
/ hhoIt island, l6; Conuectcui, l6. Total,
/ IuJ. me- general conduct OF the move
mthl sha!l rest III the hands OF This COM
mitlee. BESIDES there may be an uuIlmit-
/ ed number ti subscribing or auxiliary
member' in New England or among friends
7 OF education els"wher" who rrco-uz' the
/ relation of education IN New England 90
+ uulVers Al education. !. is further sug-
Ees'td thal committees Zee formed with
headquarters at capital of each New Eng
lana state aud each county thereof % co.
"p'lhl' ih lut Work undertaken.
These committees will cooperate. SO
tar as possible, with tie public educational
Work a. now conducted ID New England.
Ihey VIII avoid antaeohlsm and Needless
criticism and place themselves In line with
educal"ua. administration and progress.
Ihey Will rely much Oh the moral influence
OF dItused information and increased gen
era Interest iu education To- produce ID
time suitable legislation and needed rtaI-
Jusimenis 90 education.
lhey Will collect facts showing actual
condition of schools. study possible ad-
Vanlaer> resulting from consolidation OF
schools and Transportation of pupils. con
slider plans Of Improvement, iuyrs. igate
the economic, IrSa. and practical ques Ious
involved IN such Improvement and mature
COURSES OF instruction looking TO broader
scheme OF training within the Limits OF
pubic education, These facts aud plans
may be- brought IN Judlcious manner TO
the notice Il those most directly interested
as individuals, school districts, towns,
cities and states. Public meetings, circu-
iars OF Informal on and the press may be
used when desirable
In addition, he question may be kept
before the various STATE legislatures IN such
ways as are proper and likely 10 prove
I'D lac. fFff az