131 



applying the amount which may be received from the State 

 and from the rate^ills of the pupils instructed. I see no hard- 

 ship in insisting that no town should enjoy its privileges as 

 such, which would not come up to this requisition ; and that 

 in such case, it should not be organized, or if organized, it 

 should be dissolved, and annexed entire, or in parts, to such 

 towns as would meet the condition * 



I am aware that propositions of this sort, which contemplate 

 important changes, are apt to strike the minds of observers with 

 alarm. But I know also that these monsters, which seem 

 such w^hen viewed at a distance, often undergo an apparent 

 transformation, so that an aspect which was thought to be ut- 

 terly terrific, is finally converted into a countenance of consi- 

 derable beauty, when its features are brought under a near and 

 calm inspection. I am not without strong hope that such may 

 be the result with the subject in hand. I think it may be 

 made to appear, that with the introduction of proper changes 

 and improvements, our common schools may be supported, ac- 

 cording to the elevated standard noAv contemplated on all 

 hands, even without any additional burthen on the people 

 which would for one moment be made the subject of serious 



My proposition of reform begins with the districts. There 

 are not only too many of them, but they are out of all pro- 

 portion to the exigencies of the case, on any plan of instruction 

 whatever. There are upwards of 10,000 of them in the State 

 for the accommodation of 540,000 children j an average of 

 more than twelve in every town, and one hundred and eighty- 

 one in every county. The average numl>er of children in each 

 school, actually instructed, does not exceed fifty. In Prussia, 

 in 1831, there were 2,043,030 children instructed in 22,612 

 schools, or about ninety in each school. In Baden, an assis- 

 tant school-master is not allowed, unless the number of scho- 

 lars exceeds one hundred and twenty. 



