Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-04-07

compromising consolation, Iha1 'heio
but little time for poor teacher to WORK
mischief Larger districts-more schol-
ars to teacher-would give larger
range of cousins and neices to be selected
from, and so a probability OF obtaining
better teacher. Also more means to pay
a really competent teacher. Also better
filed school room, where numbers wouio
give great stimulus to the teacher. Also
a better school house conld be provided,
the influence of which would be most
happy upon teacher, scholars and parents
Also many additional advantages and ap-
planes for teaching, as blaekboards,
maps, dictionaries, pictures of the animal
and vegetable kingdom-wonderfnl incen-
tives to the inquisitive young mind.
turn next to the period or duration OF
our Vermont Schools. According to the
statistics of the Secretary, the average du-
ration of the schools for the past year is
less than 20 weeks, scarcely a fraction
over months to each teacher. Kentucky
is the only State that is satisfied with SO
small a number.
The next in order are, Indiana 10
weeks, Kansas 30 weeks, Maine 20, Mis-
souri, IS, New Hampshire Is, Iowa g.
Then, Michigan and Minnesota u, Penn
sylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin %
to 30. Then California, Illinois, Nevada
and Ohio 30 to "a. Then Connecticut
and Massachusetts, 80 and 36. Then
Maryland, New Jersey and New York ~
and 40. Where will Vermont be in few
years among the Stars and Stripes of this
advancing country.
Another subject, usually regarded as
as quite an important one, is the cost OF
this article, education. Every purchaser
makes the inquiry of the seller, "won't
you take less price ?" So the seller of
brain work and body work both, is picked
and pecked, and squeezed and dickered
with till he submits to be picked and
pecked almost out of his bread and butter.
We might expect to find that in Vermont
the very short term of schools would
make the cost of education very small
affair, But somewhere there is a very
large screw very loose. In New Jersey,
New York, West Virginia and Wisconsin,
the cost of tuition per scholar is less than
in Vermont per month, viz: 40, 90, 80,
46 cents per month.
And this is effected by plan which
can be introduced into Vermont In
Michigan, Minnesota, Rhode Island and
Vermont it is the same 81 cents, while in
but two States fair for comparison) does
it exceed or even reach 81 per month. The
average for all the States is "a cents, so
that Vermont is paying nearly up to the
average. When, considering California
prices, $153 per month Massachusetts,,
great advance il the cause, 1926 per
month, and the peculiar circumstances
and causes operative in certain other
States, the cost of tuition alone Is in this
State very great.
But, if all the money which is spen.
were paid for tuition, would be only too
glad TO report that Vermont stood at the
very head, taking the lead in a just and
noble cause. But somewhere between the
peoples money and the children's good, is
great leak. While in cost of tuition
alone Vermont is below the average, yet
in the whole cost of running her schools
she is in very different condition. Oh
% States, four only pay less for tuition,
while eleven States manage their educa-
tional interest and their various Incl.
dental extra expenses, at considerably
less expense. The average of the %
States is $1.28 per month. Vermont:
average in 1868 was $1.38, in 1869 it was
$1.70 very near. Here surely is some
thing which should receive the careful
investigation of every citizen. The taz
payer is interested. He is paying more
for particular article in this State thar
than in other States which have an
article admitted to be far better. Hi
money does not go for the best part o
this article. Tuition is more valuable thar
incidentals. For this he pays little com
pared with other States, for the indefnit,
incidentals which swallows up so much
he pays very much more. And this,
believe, has not gone for the building o
new and better school houses. Less ha
been expended for these in Vermont thar
in any State of similar area and means
This is a burden which others beside.
the tax payer feels. The parents have al
interest here, great as the welfare of thei
children. They pay what they do for thu
education of their children, but it doet
not go for the education properly speak
it, for incidentals and these are-what
Not what the parent most needs, th
tuition of his child. The children suffer
and in the same manner, only they ar
more seriously, personally affected. Th
days of their schooling are shortened
The tuition they ought to receive they d.
not receive. The power their education
would give them they do not obtain
Their position and usefulness in life
thus unfairly interfered with. ...
The state suffers. 1t is making effort +
advance the educational standard, and
needs that advance. 1t needs the service
of its citizens and it needs its educate,
citizens. 1t arranges for schools. 1t ha
school districts and school houses, and i
supposes that schools are kept in them
1t learns that money is spent, but by-and
bye it will learn that this money doe
not produce the returns it ought. I
looks for its dividends in abundance O
well educated, trained, efficient youn,
men and women, and it does not fin,
them. In few years it will ask "wher
are they" and echo will answer, where
1 do not eroak, causes will have thei
effects. Here are causes at work. w
shall in due time see their effects.
There is another singular fact in on
a