St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1871-03-03
Tawa Ncciing ncri THc>d"U-

DO the voters of Vermont understand
that they are next Tucs.lly to act upon
the important question OF aboli,hing the
school district system! We gave the
law last wccl, AMI now we copy so.nc
comments from Il late number of the
burlington Free Press. After rccapitu-
lating the law providing town system,
it says:
The glcat advantage Of the system so
mapped out, is that it makes the bust
ness of managing the schools, of import
ancc enough to command the time and
care OF the men best fitted for it in the
community. At present, tie office OF
prudential committeeman of 4 school
district is one o: little account. If he
has niece or si-;cr-in-lIw VIII o wants q
place b. teach, it will enable him to give
it to her, but beyond that he commonly
gives little care TO tie school. Holding
Office but Il sin.lr year, he OF course
shovcs any troublesome question over to
his successor, who passes it along to his.
The schools aye thus left to run them
selves, i'll Il great measure.
Bat with central board, controlling
all the schools in Il town, the Office OF
school director becomes one Of Importance
and responsibility. The voters will put
into the beard their hest men for the
place, and they will manage the schools
for the best interests of the community.
They will not overlook or disregard thc
little outlying districts. On the contra
ry, experience shows that the feeble dis
tricis are those most benefited by the
change. The school board will secure
tie best teachers it can, and allut them
to the schools best fitted 70 their capaci-
ties. Buying all tie fuel and supplies,
and making all the repairs, for all the
schools, they can contract for them at
lower rates than for Il single school
We are saved the trouble Of setting forth
additional reasons for the change, by re-
calling the concise recital of them made
by Secretary Rankin i'll his report for
1869. Urging the adoption Of the town
system, lac says:
Let Us now see ii we can eathcr up
some of the results that would grow out
OF this change which is advocated.
|. 1t would secure Just as many schools
as the necessities Of the community de-
mand, each being an INTEGRAL part of enc
central organization, and adapted to the
wants of each individual community
,. 1t would dispense with large
number Of school officers.
). 1t would establish uniform rate OF
taxation.
i. 1t would furnish more uniform and
equal advantages and privileges to every
citizen.
>. 1t would allow the child TO attend
school where his own interests would be
best conserved, with 10 restraint save
what the general interests might require.
6. 1t would prevent strife about dis
tlict lines.
:. 1t would diminish the agar, cate
expenditure for schools.
s. 1t would secure more eflicien!
system of school inspect ON and super
vision
j. 1t would scrure prlmancncy of SUI
pcrvision
H. 1t would secure greater perma-
nency OF teachers.
II. 1t would secure II better class ot
teachers.
II. 1t would secure better compcnsa-
tlon to competent teachers, and less en-
ploymcnt Tor incompetent ones.
10. 1t will secure better school houses.
III. 1t will secure greater facilities to
teachers for reference and illustration.
Is. 1t will enable towns TO establish
graded schools.
10. 1t will secure uniformity of text
books in the same town.