The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-06

garding grand juries. Both these sug-
gestions are very valuable and If fol.
lowed would be a move in the right di.
rection. There is another matter which
would be the means of reducing expenses
very materially in the administration of
justice, and / desire to call your atten-
ton to it at this time, hoping that
some action viii be taken to correct
what | consider serious defect in our
system, and one productive OF much ex.
pense to the state and to parties In liti-
cation, As the law now is, and repeat
edly announced by the supreme court,
whenever that court is called upon to
review the action OF the county court.
ii the supreme court finds any error. a
case must be reversed and new trial
granted, unless the record affirmatyeIy
shows that the error was harmless 1t
seems to me the rule should be that the
supreme court should not reverse unless
that court was OF the opinion that the
error was such that If new trial were
granted the result would probably be diff
ferent. do not believe ii Is right that
a case should be reversed in the SUI
preme court and sent back for new
trial simply because some slight error
may have been discovered even though
that error could have had no bearing on
the result of the trial. 1t Is manfestly
proper that any case should be reversed
where an error is discovered which prob.
ably would have had any effect on the
result of the trial, but where such error
4 n
manifestly improper that such case
should be reversed; but as | understand
the law at the present time, it is obliga-
tory on the court to do SO.
Education.
This subject is the most important
one which viii come before you because
the quality Of the education OF the child
determines the degree Of intelligence.
morality and prosperity which shall be
enjoyed by the people Of this state The
last census showed that we had fallen
from our position OF fourth, as regards
iiliteracy, 10 the twenty eighth place;
a condition very much to be regretted.
do not, however, believe that this is
wholly because OF tile condition OF our
schools, but is rather because SO many
foreigners have come into our state to
work in our factories, mines and quar-
ries. whose families have not had the
educational advantages that we have
here Under the present law, it should
be impossible for any child of school
age to be without an education. and
where such conditions exist il is entirely
the fault OF those in. authority. II isl
useless to pass laws that do not have
public sanction and approval and that
the authorities either will not or cannot
enforce 1t must, therefore, under the
present law, be simply a matter Of en-
forcement. in order that every child may
have at least good common school
education, But there is an important
matter which confronts us and which
we should carefully consider, and that
is the quality Of the educational advan-
tages that are provided in the smaller
districts throughout the state. What Is /
said in regard to this does not apply
to all such districts, because in many
cases those having charge Of this matter
are broad-minded men, having the desire
TO provide the best facilities possible
On the other hand, there are a very
large number of schools under the con
troll of those who seem to be simply try
ing to see how eheaply the schools can
be managed. IL does not seem with
them to be question of quality, but
of cost to my mind, this is the most |
serious matter which confronts us to- |
day. No one would expect a carpenter
who had never had any training or ex-
perienee to do fine Job of cabinet work |
No one would expect man without ex
perience in that line to be able to in |
struct Others in bookkeeping. neither I
should we expect young girls, who have
had neither experience nor training TO |
successfully teach the children IN our |
schools The mind of the child is like |
the delicate film of the camera, on which |
all impressions received are recorded. and /
those impressions made during the school |
age are such as will follow through life. |
The training received during this period /
is the foundation on which the future /
success or failure of the child depends |
It is exceedingly important, therefore, ,
that none but those @no have had spe- /
cial training and are peculiarly fitted |
for this work should be employed as
teachers in our schools. Under no cir I
should immature girls, who I
have received practically no training for
this work. be employed. II is because i
Of the necessity for trained teachers
that we have in the past and are at the /
present time providing normal schools /
where such training is especially given.
At present this state maintains three