Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-06
Town Schools.

schools, and adopt therefor the newer sys-
tenn Of town schools. It was provided that
the selectmen of the several towns should
insert in the warning for the March meet
ing, either of 1871 or 1872, an article for
that purpose. A few of the towns of the
State, not already provided with munich
pal systems of their own, but seeing the
need of something of the kind, at once
took up the question, and being prepared,
intelligently adopted the town system at
the last March meeting Some other towns
voted on the question without prepar-
alton, and rejected the town system J;
while in others the question was not even
considered. a- -- sass 81.
Now the subject is one that ought not
to be lightly passed over, and dismissed.
The people do not understand nor appre-
ciate the great Importance of this matter,
and the imperative need that something
such as this act proposes should be done.
| Larger sums of money are required now
to pay well-qualified teachers, and sustain
the schools. Good teachers can command
better wages, and will go into other States
if not adequately paid at home. Besides,
good teachers, those who make teaching
business and an art, are not numerous,
and when we do have them, we cannot
afford to waste their time and labor as is
done under the old system. As wise men,
we must encourage, by adopting system
that will give the largest and best results
for our expenditure. "-'
This question of town schools is no new
one. 1t has long been in successful oper-
alton in other States, where the people
were wise enough to try it. Our late
Secretary of Education, Mr.. Rankin, says,
vermont is one of very few States
which retain the old system Several Of
the Western States that transplated our
| system have abandoned it. Vermont cam
not afford to be the last State to abandon an
etete system. She cannot afford to be out
done in the contest for intellectual and
moral superiority"
The old system is not adapted to NUM-
cipal districts. In Ia district of three
hundred scholars it is practically failure,
and its trainers never contemplated its
application to more than one school in a
district.
1t provides for committee to be chosen
for one year, and the office is usually
passed round from year to year, so that
every man in the district can have his
turn to hire some relative or favorite for
teacher.
No authority to examine teachers, and
confer the magical certificate is given the
committee. He may find at the last
minute, when it is time for the school to
begin, that his friend, or daughter, or
cousin, is rot qualified, and will not be
accepted by the duly chosen superinten-
dent.
Why not employ town board to ex-
amino aad hire the teacher2
The committee has no authority to di-
vide the children of district and grade
them in such classes and studies and
books as they are fitted for; and suppose
he were to take it upon himself, (which is
no desirable task to grade the scholars
and appoint the studies, some provision
should be made to do it at the close of
each term or year, else it will all 90 for
naught. But somebody would be dis
satlsneo, ana in any event a new commit |
tee will be chosen the following year. |
Perhaps the new committee will employ
new teachers and neither committee nor
teachers can be prepared to grade
scholars, assigning their classes and /
studies, until at least several weeks of a
term have elapsed. ALI new teachers and
committee men must labor at a disadvan-
tage and waste of time for period; and
in district of 800 scholars it is no desir-
able Office to be ON the school committee
even for year. IT a permanent improve.
ment of the schools be aimed at, it cannot
tration of teachers and committee for more
than one year.
Sometimes it will happen that a first
class teacher cannot be procured immedi-
dIbly dlLeI iHS CuOlCB VI committee III
the annual school meeting, and if one is
sought for at any other portion of the
school year the committee can only hire
for the balance of the year, while perhaps
under the municipal or town system of
another state the same teacher will fod a
more desirable place and take employ
ment because he can engage for year
with committee who has power TO con-
tinue his service while he gives satisfae.
faction.
Teachers are discouraged and will not
engage where the inevitable change of
every March necessitates
a change of teachers. That such COM
plete changes do occur year after year
to the pslpable detriment of our schools .
is written down in many book of school
records. .
New without enumerating all the evils :
which painful and costly experince has ,
taught some of our people in connection
with the district system, what affirm ia,
that the old system is not adapted to large :
towns and villages, and is failure judged {
rom the true view of education. q
The town system has many advantages :
t will put the business of the district :
chool meeting into the hands of board,
hosen from the best men of the town o.
It the town meeting, and the board will
70 continuous, not changed entirely in Il
ess than three years, while every member :,
f the board will have the benefit of ex-
erience, and nothing will be lost to the
chools by violent and sudden changes
The board will have authority to exam y
ne teachers when they are hired, and can :,
ppoint to the different schools of the =
own such as are most fit There will be "
saving of outlay in the consolidation of
he schools and the better graduation suf- :,
cient to pay for the services of the COM ~
,ittee.