The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-10-07
or: SCHOOL SYSTEM.

10 h. Peoil' Of the So'e g l0Mod:
The time has come when the cause OF cd
ura.ion demands thorough revision of our
system OF common schools. y few thoughts in
relation thereto may be the cause OF deeper
and more general thought on the subject
whereby orr too much complicated school
system n,av bc abolished. and one more
simple i'll it, construction and details be sub
strurci in its place.
The division Of towns into school districts.
Is, and always has been. Il fruitful source Of
con,cntioii III town meetings, and attended
often with more or less expense, and inilvId-
ual Disadvantage: and the locating and the
building of school houses in the districts have
ALWAYS I.ccn aftcn;cd with discomfort and
houses 80 badly constructed as to incommod"
both the tc;hcrs and scholars. And then.
the towns in this State will average about
four or five school districts TO each town: and
each district has It's collector of taxes only
think a thousand collectors OF school taxes
and the same number Of petty clerks. and Il
host OF prudential Committees and those
not always OF the most elevated intellect and
prudence. for school districts have always
hal the Democratic notion that the burhcn
Of an office must he shared by all It's mem
bcr+. c>pvriailv when it is not lut ratlvc
Now what propose to have done is, t"
have the several school districts IT. each OF
the several town. III this State aboi>hcd,an'
the law dividing the towns into school DIS
,rcts. repealed 10 give the town SHpciin-
tcn,!cn. Of common schools the sole charge
Of the several schools in each t0wn.supplv living
them with competent teachers. and rcmoNn"
those Who are colnictcnt-having authofi-
y to draw money from the treasury OF the
town to dciray the expenses OF the several
schools under his charge. and TO perform oth-
duties which may hc thought necessary for
the benefit of said schools. To constitute
the >clcctmcn and justices of the peace IN
each town, board having the power to To-
cate and construct. (whcn necessary and al
so to furnish AMI keep in suitable repair. the
several school houses in their respective
towns. at the expense Of sad towns. md
furthermore to constitute the Governor OF
the State. the state Superintendent of com
mon schools, III the State of Vermont" who
shall have GENERAL supervision OF all the
schools in said State and to whom the several
town SupcrintcndcntS shall make their re-
ports of the condition of the several schools
in each OF their towns rcturnablc, at certain
time annually
The benefits rcsulin. from such a change ii
the school system would be, the placing III,
collection of the school taxes in the hands OF
the proper officer to collect taxes. one who
has to GIVE bonds to the town for the rc.pon
sibii.v. and who is sworn to the faithful dis
.harc,. of his duty There would he 10 lon
ger necessity for the division Of the public
school monies accor'lin" to HE number Of clii
dren over four aud under eighteen wears %
acp and the scholar, would attend the school
which would ,rthc most convenient fort hc II
The town Supciin', ndcnt. being partially re-
moved from lo,al influences. would not hav,
that dclicac, III removing an lncomictcn
teacher. which Is sometimes manifested w
the district prudential committee and being
the person ,o eXaminc candidates for teach
crs. he would hc better able to Judge Of then
qualifications. and obtain rood teachers : and
when II comes to he generally understood
that teacher Is continually on trial. latl,
to be removed at any time. it will call
forth the energies and capacities Of the teach
ers to their utmost abilities. iNrEovEMENr
~ about forty children. bows and girls.
started from New York on "Wednesday after
noon. to find homes in the West They are
sent out bv the Chillrcn's Aid So,ic:y in
charge OF Mr. T.. r. Smith. Most OF them are
orphans gathered on, OF the streets.
Tin FruiIIvE SLAVE LAW. The con-
s.iutlonaitv OF the Fu.i,ive Slave Law is to
he tested soon before the t. $ S.prcmcC Court
in the Booth case appealed from the Supreme
Court OF Wisconsin. Attorney General Cush-
M is preparing for the struggle
g The Bath (Mc. Mirror SAYS that a reg
u!ar system has been devise. for the use of
second hand naturalization papers. by the
AID Of which persons not natnra!izcd are ena-
t!ed TO vote. NiIainous }artizans on the
'icrea>e OF a naturalized foreigner, ge: posses
son Of his papers. pass them over TO a new!
arrived Nj, kew and under the assumed aan;e
OF "TrdIv O'foolc." he is enabled to vote
alter haIn. been on shore but five hours.
lHL Dir:ElENCE.-ln Europe people take
Oh their hats 20 great men; in America great
y, tai Il