ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Dest VERMONT BOARD OF EDUCATION, WITH THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY MADE TO THE BOARD, SEPTEMBER, 1860. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIS INSTRUCTION BURLINGTON: FREE PRESS PRINT MICHIGAN DEPT. OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION JUN 7 35 REPORT. To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of Vermont; The Board of Education, in making their Fourth Annual Report, congratulate your honorable body on the evidences of progress which appears to have been made in the cause of the Common Schools of the State during the past year. The course of operations, set on foot under your appointment and sanction, has commended itself to the deliberate judg ment of the community. These operations have not been under cover or in the dark. Everything has been done in as public a manner as possible, Public scrutiny has been invited. Discussion has been sought and encouraged in all proper ways. The expression of opinion has, accordingly, been free and unconstrained. The doubts and the criticisms and the cavils, which anybody has wished to offer, have been offered. The result has been an uncommon unanimity in a sentiment of approval, encouragement and enterprise, on the whole. The evidence of this has presented itself in detail before the eyes of all our communities, in many ways, during the year. This evidence, combined and methodized, will be laid before you in the Report of the Secretary of the Board herewith transmitted. It is to be regretted, that in the original framing of our School Laws the scope of their provisions should have been no wider than it is. The policy of most of the new States and some of the old, which includes the whole system of Education, from the primary to the collegiate and professional schools, in its provisions, is unquestionably just, patriotic and wise. This is beginning to be felt more and more. The great question, concerning the training of the youth of the State, is coming to be regarded as the highest question that can be asked, not only by parent and teacher and philanthro |