Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-05-31

system. though less in weeks, were nearly equal
to the schools Of the previous year, showing un-
mstaksbly an increase Of interest and attend
snce during the psst year. Besides. the length Of
schools had varied under the district system,
and doubtless will under the town system
From these generalities Taxpayer ascenis to
PARTICULAR, and undertakes a comparison in
detail between the cost of the schools under esch
system. And here, after accusing the board Of
making up Fictitious" report for the rake Of
effect, Taxpayer" accepts their statement of the
cost Of schools under the town system as correct;
and then gives the reins so completely to bis
Pegssus Of fiction" and s'f.ncies'' that he
misttates the cost Of schools under the district
system in every item. We quote two or three as
samples of the whole Taxpayer" ,svs the cost
Of the Centre School, under the district sNstem
wss $40. The sworn statement of the district
clerk FAYE it was SlS0,92 From the same
source we learn that the cost of the school on
Brigham Hill was Sl37 instead of SS4; that al
the Junction cost S36S,l7 instead of S227 50,
snd thst at Buffers corner cost S209.17 instead
Of Sic. "ConteQuently' the totsl cost Of the
schools under the district system was not
Sl6OO.l2 "a Tax payer states. but it Was
S2l7o.ol, an error Of only S57S,69 in tax
payers calculation. The total cost Of the same
class Of schools under the town system WAS
Sl734 s., difference OF S443 % ia favor of
the town system. So that the school. under the
town system dit not cost 1918, more than by
the district system az "Tax-psyer'' a.seril
An inspection Of the School Registers will verify
these figures.
Moreover the board supp emented the dstrict
schools With the advantages. ahigh school, free
within certain limits as to number, to zll
who had the requisite qualifications for simis-
sion. And even with the necessarily larger ex-
pense Of conducting the high school the total cost
Of sl the public schools in town during the year
past, under he town system, is less than one
huHared dollsrs more than under the district
system the previous yesr. Tie figures are town
system, including high school to May LIST, 1872
S221ie0; district tystem S2l7S 81; difference
SO 3D. A difference more than couuterbasnced
by the superior advantages which the chill
dren Of school age in town have enjoyed. beyond
what was ever possible under the district system.
And yet Taxpayer ASSERTS that the system Of
schools which has accomplished 90 much in
single year-it has not had "a trisl Of two
yesrs'-is the offspring Of restless, jesuiticsl
spirit that is striving under the plea of economy
and progress, TO undermine and destroy. that
syEtem which our fathers reared and guarded
with SO much wisdom and persistence
Hsving disposed Of the school report D." Tax
payer next proceeds 10 discuss some features
Of the law which he declares TO be q" anomalous
well as obnoxious" .. Unlike other town
officers the directors are not required to hsye /
their accounts auiitei.'' And simply because .
that unlike other town officers they have no
" accounts - 10 be audited. " They receive .
nothing for their labor, aud Of course hSve no /
" accounts 10 render to anybody. Their .
clerk receives the same pay, snd no more, -
tbe district clerks formerly received The .
IL F
and receives pay for his services. 81 such only,
from the State Treasury and bic sccouyt is
audited 10y the State Auditor according 10 law
and, besides " Taxpayer must be aware thst in
the Authors settlement with the town treasu-
rer every order drawn by the Board of School
Directors WAS produced snl verified. But the
directors " can make an incorrect report Al the
expense o. the town. So also can selectmen
and other town ctiicers, sad one has no more
temptation 10 do 20 than smother The vouch-
era for expenditures in the shspe Of selectmens
and overseer's orders must all be produced and
examined, bur Sui.,0rE have no power TO deter
mine The payment or nol-psyIuent Of them
Then again the directors 90 have the entire con-
tro, Of the scho0l9" Precisely az the pruleu-
tisl committee under the dis;ri,t system had
" control Of the schools" Instead Of 90 one or
more' Tor each district the number Is reduced
tc six, and they have precisely the same duties
TO perform for all the schools in town, which
pruieutIa. committees performed for their
several districts. The board can put no books
into ,he schools nor t.ke any our. The list Of .
books 20 BE used, is prescribed by law, under
the direction % she state Board Of Education
The directors haze 10 power over them what
ever Nor have the board power 20 " locate
the schools where they please. The schools
must be l1cstet where the school houses are, snt