Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-15

THE SAME OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT.


For the Waterman and State JAurnal.
THE SAME OLD SCHOOL DISTRICT.
1t may be recoected ,Iht in Ssse give n little
sketch IN the Waterman of ga Sulguldr school
disiyic - it was district No. II, aud former
known byte name Of the new" district ; it had
been organized at the above date nearly forty |
years and Mr.. Thomas Chteuden was Chair
man of the first w udentia committee, and they
have had more or less schooling ever since the
organization. At the tine referred To-, some OF
the inhabitants had become lureh0nded" while
others were in " low circumstances" Their first
school house had become old, and ont of repair,
aud had been hacked and mangled some by the
inmates OF the school, and in fact, was not equal to
some Of the school houses i'll the neighboring dis
tricts OF course new school house must he
built, for the district would not be ondone by any
other district in the vicinity. Previously TO this,
they had made some provision Tor the education
! of their grand children and great grand children,
| and the children of such foreigners might
he eafier migrate their district, by fund to he
created by setting aside part of the rents and
productions of the district And they voted that
this fiind should not he appropriated until the in
erest should amount Ia Il sufficient To support
the school in their district. Ofthis (allhough |
reside in the district) migld proudly beast, as
displaying The liberal and benevolent disposition
of the district. Some of the inhabitants, however,
discovered some little degree of selfshness as
new school house, us each wanted TO have It lora-
ted near his own door, without nny particular re-
gard to the general good or the Inconvenience of
the other inhabitants OF the district; and major
Ivy of The district said that # the house was oca-
ted near the centre of the district, those who resi-
ded thereaDout ought to build the house at their
own private expense aud rather than have the
house located where all could not get 10 it i'll
proper season. they concluded to delrny part OF
The expense graluunsly. Tho new house was
accordingly built, and located near the centre Of
the district and nearly on the site OF the old one
and for convenience and durability 1t is thought
the new I'ouse is not surpassed by any other
school house in the country. The expense OF The
building rather exceeded the estimate, TOR by the
way it was no sham OF a ihing) and when they
had finished it, and built The steps and little
door yard fence, they found themselves somewhat
involved and US some of the inhabitants were in
low circumstances, ms i before Remarked
shey.codld not get II vote u raise u tax 10 meet
the deficiency. notwithstanding the claims against
the district did not much exceed 100000 The
district therefore authorized one Of the committee
men, The same, by the way, that they had before
employed to take care of The school fund.- 10 bor-
row money of some OF the most wealthy Of the
inhabitants; and after trying the "experiment'
and finding rather expensive for the district 10
loan their fund, and hire other money 10 meet the
demands against them, they at l8ng,h directed
their committee man tn borrow of himself the
The fund being about rs large us the diStr CT debt
Aud they contracted with him for reasonable
compensation To take care of their school fund
aud loan ii To the district aud 10 Keep distinci
and regular account OF the same, To cnilect and
add tile interest ct tie fund 10 the principal, and
make report TO each annual school meeting OF The
state Of the fund. 10 !cIisr with the amount OIL
claims against the district This IN lhod succeed
ed very we'll until lhey found thar, by paying in
tGres, on the borrowed mon y, ard salary o
800 10 their committee man tor taxing care 81
The fund The district deht was 'Ikry 10 exceed thai
oiIhe fund Then some OF the district were 10
resembling the vote 10 create fund, and for up.
proprating the fund to pay the debts contracted
IN the building Of their new school house, aud thus
avoid The chagrin aud modification OF being
"snnbbed and twiltedn whenever they happened
to go into neighborng district, of being in debt
And they further argued thar as Congress =
bout furnishing every district with school fund
out OF their surplus or pocket money, the said vote
ought to he rescinled. Some, al the snme meet
ing, were in favor of raising tax on The list Of the
district sufficient to meet all the Claims ag 'lnsI
them. And some were liberal that they
would have another fund, to he called the
poor fund, the interest of which, when il should
amount to a sum sufficient, should he appr0pria-
ted for the support AMI maintenance of The pooI
in the whole district These propositions were
rejected for the reason that the three cent tax
annually assessed tor supporting The school, wa
more than some OF the inhabitants could grapple
and they would, some OF them, get their taxes
baied. There were some ut the meeting in favor
of the credit system" and as they had laid the
foundation of school fund, were opposed to in
being appropriated for any other purpose, MOI
even tor that, until about the commandments o
The Goth century aud theis argafneiri WIS that the
district might become poor, md unable to supper
their school, aud they would have school fitnt
left for future generations, even il the district deb
should increase to double the amount of the fund
and be enlailed. In this situation the subject wa
left; but it is expected it viii be further debated
at the next annual meeting, after which, some fur
ther extracts from their journal will be given.
ONE OF THE DISTRICT.