The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1853-02-12

to the number Ut returnable scholars: fr7-
yided that no district shall receive any share
of such moneys, unless, during the year next
preceding such distribution. there shall have
been kept in such district, school for the
term of of two months, with other moneys
than those which NAV he drawn from the
town treasury, nor unless the mony sodrawn
shall have been tadLtaliy erp.nIed by such
district in paving teachers wages and board.
and for no other p'npoSe.
We see from the above, that no District is
entitled TO draw from the treasury, unless ii
has expended the full amount of the money
to be drawn, nor unless the money has been
expended IN the mrn'"r amd far the purposes
prescribed by the law. So that no District
ought to be allowed TO draw money from the
town treasury for the purpose OF building or
repairing school houses, or for the purpose of
supporting the two months school which it is
required TO support bv other moneys
Now it Is notorious fact that large num-
Der, if not all the Districts in this vicinitv.,lo
not thus faithfully expeni the public money,
They appropriate a portion of ii TO other pur-
poses than those DESIGNATED by law. Many
OF them, having Il large number of returnablc
scholars. and consequently drawing larnc
share of the public money, manage in such a
way that they support their schools nearly all
the year with the public money .notwith>tand
ING the law expressly saws, that no District
shall receive allv share of such money, unle>.
it does support two months school with o'he,
mon' ys than those drawn from the town trca.
urv.
venture to say that not one District il
ten in this vicinity. cxpend< all the none,
which it draws from the town.but at the clos,
ot the school wear ii has money in it, treasury
which it ough; to have expended. or which
ought to have been distributed among other
Districts and expended: that not one in tel
support, the two months school with o'b.l
fnan liz pnL'ic mon'g<
This h"ing the case fraud is practiscd OF
the scholars and more especially on those of
the poorer class They are deprived ofright
which the law has given them They Deepen,
mainly upon the District school for their ed
ucation. and if. through the management of
the District they are not allowed TO have III,
full benefit Of the public money a 1c>ienc,
hv the tram"r> Of the law. they are deprive,
OF that which makes the District no richer
but makes them poor indeed.
II is curious 70 observe the way some Dis
. trirt> manage. They draw their full shar
OF the public money, then. by Ia,ing >na!
wages during the, winter season, they have {
/ nough left in the treasury to support achca
, school during the summer, with rcry littl,
if any tax on the District.
This. | >ay. i wrong that should he al
tended to. No District should he allowed Z
draw more from the frcasurythan II has dct'ld,
~ "Jpo,d.l in the manner prescribed by til
statute. This being matter which concern
: almost every one.cyrry one should know in
! how the ease stands in hi> own District. IN
sine" it : the duty Of tn" Grand Jurors I
look to The subject, /, Is sincerely hoped the
, Will take the subject into consideration an
, act promptly at oar next term of Court.