Year: 1867

nv the laws OF the State for the annual
meeting of the several school districts.
These yearly gatherings are OF much more
importance TO the public welfare than
the attendance upon them would indi-
cate. In fact they should be deemed by
the people OF paramount Importance for
their transactions pertain to the well be-
inc of the children OF the State, and
unop their proper instruction in public
schools the future prosperity and char
acter of our commonwealth depends.
ENLARGED views upon all questions re-
lating to the local management OF these
urinary. educational institutions
should prevail, and the bigotry, mar
row minded and penurious policy which
ofteutjmes mark the proceedings OF our
school meetings should give way to an
enlightened and liberal policy, such as
befts the present time. Wise and ju-
dicious councils should govern, that the
standard of education among us may
he elevated in correspondence with the
progress we are making in every other
department, as well as that we may be
on a level with our immediate sister
States upon this subject.


Much has been done within the last
ten wears, though the efficient and we'll
directed labors of the Secretary Of the
Board of Education, in the Teachers In
stitutes, and his string appeals in
0ublic addresses and annual reports, to
arouse attention to the wants aud de-
dcieucjes of our system of public instruc-
ton. For these labors, a far higher
reward is awaiting him in the blessings
that future generations will shower upon
him than the poorly paid remuneration
that the State has bestowed for his
great services to its public schools.
Notwithstanding all his efforts to
arouse the popular heart, and the fact
that the reports Of the Board Of EduCa-
ton are in the possession of every
school district and accessible to all the
people, yet there is great lack of
knowledge upon the part of our citizens
as to what has been doing and the
happy results that are accruing there
from, TO the public benefit. Not only is
this true in reference to the masses of
the people, but it extends in a great meas
Qre to the public servants and promi-
nent men of our State, especially to
those who by their position are called
upon to legislate upon this important
subject. The ignorance ofientimes
evinced by our legislators, who are sup
posed to have taken and should take an
interest in subject so vital to the peo-
Pile, and the pertinacity with which
they oppose all measures of reform is
positively disgrace to Vermont.


When measures have been well and
thoroughly digested and prepared by the
Beard of Education and it's Secretary,
and recommended by the Governor, it
has been frequently the case that action
IS postponed until the last days or hours
Of the session Of the legislature. and
then met with the sternest opposition Of
those who should have been It's friends,
and enacted only by the combined
Efforts Of the active friends of education
by bare majority. While the time Of
the General Assembly has been consumed
n creating private corporations, which
were but a feather in the balance in
comparison to its importance, and
when passed not over one in six is ever
organized, 1t is time that our legisla-
tors take d more liberal view Of this
subject, for no law in the last ten years
mas been passed in reference to our
schools but what was of value, and has
operated to the public good, much to
the chagrin Of those who opposed it. 1t
Is time that our people awakened to this
subject, and let them commence now by
LIBERAL appropriations at our coming
school meetings, and in the provision of
ample and comfortable accommodations
'or their schools, to replace the foul and





contracted quarters now provided in
most Of the districts.


1t may be we'll briefly in this copnec-
hon to call public attention to the large
aggregate amounts that are expended in
the schools, and other statistics relating
70 the subject, The number of heads of
Samilies in the State are 5s, 1884; chiidien
between the ages of and IS years, Ss,-
772 the amount ofwages paid teachers,
pciuding board, sSS4,315; amount of
public money distributed in 1866, s1O9.-
ol2i amount raised on the grand list,
s24O,942, making the total sum expend-
ed $3.50, ,454, and this expenditure is made
with the least care and unconcern as to
the benefit derived from itof any paid in
the State, and this sum Is exclusive OF
he pay Of town superintendent, which,
If added, would make the amount 81
a52 larger.