Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-03-15
old.Tlme Lyoeums In the Country Towns

| OIo- lme Lyceums IN the Country 7 owns.
1t is gratifying to observe that such an
excellent educational institution as the
Brigham academy Is still old fashined
enough to hang on to the lyceum debate
as a method Of developing the reasoning
! faculties and powers of ready and fluent
! expression Of its student 1t is only TO be
regretted that others do not do the same
| thing. There have been and are a great
! many Improvements in educational meth
/ ods, but II will be a long time before the
! lyceum debate Is outclassed by any new
! device. 1t is difficult to make some in
| structors realize IL and perhaps more
difficult still to interest students in it in
| these days Of strenuous athletics and kin
dergarten fraternities in high schools and
academies.-[St. Albans Messenger.
1t is refreshing to find occasionally
| common sense idea like the one quoted
/ above, as to the effect OF some Of the
/ modern methods Of instruction in the
| schools. If athletic games have super
| seded the lyceum is it "A change TO be
/ proud Of? There was a time within the
/ recollection Of all our older class of peo-
| pie when lyceums were held at times, if
not regularly in nearly all Of our larger
school districts This was the fact as far
as my knowledge then extended and pre-
]
England. \ lyceum in connection with a
high school or academy was at one time a
matter Of course
In the little village OF West Wardsboro
lyceum was maintained for more than
twenty years. ! noted at one time that it
mad held regular meetings at the school.
house or elsewhere for twelve winters in
succession. With less regularity the de-
bates were kept up for several years, both
before and after the twelve years of regu-
lar sessions. l can now recall the names
OF more than forty persons whom l have
heard speak in the West Wardsboro ly-
ceum or in adjoining or nearby districts.
Most OF these were school boys, students
or teachers. Some OF them are still liv-
ing-none Of them are still young. Fifty
years make a notable difference in many
things
OF the whole number that ] remember
who took part in these debates thirteen
have since been members Of the Vermont
Legislature. or member Of the legisla-
ture OF some other state. -Four have been
members OF the state Senate Two have
been chaplains of the House. one became
missionary to China and lost his life
in the cause. Two others lost their lives
in the war. one became a county super
intendent OF schools and mayor of Mays
vile, Mo Another was superintendent Of
the colored schools in New Orleans. One
became a judge Of one OF the higher
courts Of the state OF Texas. Another
was a member Of the constitutional con-
vention OF Illinois in 1869, and drafted and
secured the adoption OF an important
amendment to the constitution. He was
also at another time mayor OF Geneseo
Illinois. Another whom l well remember
hearing speak in the West Wardsboro ly-
ceum about forty-fve years ago is now a
judge OF the lately organized superior
court OF this state. Another became a
territorial governor by appointment of
President Harrison. Among the number
was another presidential appointee.
Besides the younger people there were
for many years in the little village of
West Wardsboro a class Of older persons
who were permanent residents always
ready to take part in the debates and to
help maintain the lyceum. The village
including the whole OF the school district,
had at its best only about two hundred
inhabitants. Where now is there such a
lyceum in such a place?
NJ. o. HOWE.
Newfane, VT.
Burt H. Vim, IS, a successful lawyer