Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-11-19
Tn, Town system of schools.

printed label with his name.
II the date is already past, r,''if al once Al you
will oblige the Publishers.
The Town system Of schools.
Sunpose the District System swept away,
what would we put il its place? What sort
of town organization would best secure the
ends desired?
We would have the schools and all belong
ing to them put in the charge OF special
Roard or Committee; this Board should be
elected bv direct vote of the people, yet in
such way as not to be wholly changed IN any
one wear and it should not be 50 large ar TO
be unwieldy. Probably a committee OF
three would be better than Of five or seven, /
at least in most Of the towns Of the State. |
1t would be difficult to get large Board TO-
gether as frequently as might be desirable
and they would be more likely to be ham
pered in their action by inconvenicnt differ
ences of opinion. Let the Board consist oi
three. then. each holding Office Tor three
wears and let one member be elected each
wear. This will give the needed degree oil
pernanence TO the Board and It's policy, and
at the same time permit the people to change
It's constitution, or testify their appreciation
of past services by reflections. This Boald
should be invested with all the powers and
charged with all the duties that at present
devolye on both Superintendent and Pruden-
tisl Committees They should hold Public
Competitive Examinations, open to all COM
ers, and make selection of the best quail
fed. These they should distribute to the
several schools Of the town, With careful
reference to the wants OF each school, and
the special aptitudes and requirements OF
each teacher. Of course they would supply
such charts, blackboards and other simple
apparatus as are needed for illustration and
exercise in the common branches. Ihey
would require such reports, and make such
visitation, as would keep them fully IN
formed as to the status and needs Of each
school. The teacher found incompetent for
the post assigned him would be quietly
shifted to another, or allowed to leave the
ranks altogether. Teachers who did good
work, ~ho filled and fitted the places given
them, would be retained for terms and for
years, if possible A System of Instruction
would be marked out and followed, it, sue
cessive sters defined, and care taken that
some natural and progressive order of studies
should be pursued.
How far we are at present from any proper
system and succession Of studies, all super
intendents and teachers must know. But we
are as well off as we can hope to be, SO long
as the present regime continues. The thing
that hath been is the thing that shall be.
With change of teachers and Overseers, the /
school must change. The educational edifce
is torn down each term to be builded anew
after new plans.
Now what are the advantages Of the plan
proposed? Let US set them in order:
|. 1t will be more efficient. The teach
er's certificate will not be SO cheaply obtained
as now. lie viii get his place only by prov
ing that he is fit for it,-that he is one Of
those best fitted for it. The Committee will
not be obliged to content themselves with
empty recommendations Of repairs. appara-
tus, &c. they will he able to direct as well
as to advise.
.. 1t will secure better teachers.
;. 1t will prevent incompetent teachers
from infcting themselves on district after
district of the same town.
1. twill secure better adaptation Of
teachers each to his special field.
) 1t will secure more permanent teach
ers. Says a school visitor in a certain town
in Connecticut,-a state now in transition
from the District to the Town System Sc 1t
is of no use trying to educate the district
committees in respect to the duties Of their
Office During a twelve years residence in
this town of seventeen school districts, do
not remember a single instance of district
committee continuing in Office more than one
year" No wonder, then, that the duties of
the Office should prove unfamiliar, distastelul,
onerous that the committee should be to a
great degree unacquainted with teachers,
and consequently find it difficult to be dis
eliminating and iudicious in the selection Of
those whom he employs.
e. 1t will tend to promote harmony and
unity of action in school management. The
teacher will not owe divided allegiance.
All orders will issue from single source,
and SO that friction and conflict be avoided,
which not seldom results from the present
double-headed system. The experience of
stockholders, too, will not be in vain Now
ices will be relieved from the performance
of duties which they neither relish nor IN
derstand.
7. 1t will equalize the advantages Of pub
lie schools. At present, wealthy and pop
ulous districts have very decided advantage
over those which are thinly settled. 1t is but
right that the poorest ard most remote
should, IN this matter, as in that of roads,
bridges, &c, have the help of the more IA
vOred
s. 1t will equalize the expense. And
this is just. The property of the State
should provide an education for the children
of the State. The advantages of the public
school should be afforded as impartially as
possible they should be dispensed like the
air and sunshine and the burden should be |
distributed with the same impartiality.
9. Ii is the most economical method of
supporting schools; that is to say, more can |
be had for the money in this way than in /.
any other. The schools might cost more
we sincerely hope they would in some towns
but the return would bear higher ratio
to the outlay. The machine would not be so I
likely, as now, to run without accomplishing
anything. All materials, apparatus, &c.
could be procured at better advantage. being |
purchased in quantities. Taxes could be col |
lected by the town, without additional ex-
pense. Houses would be better constructed
and more seasonably repaired. But especi- |
ally