Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-01

teachers is felt in these schools, said the
Secretary. The Burlington schools had
teachers from all of the Normal Schools.
The scholarship is good, but the method
Objectionable.
The most important feature Of this adj
dress was its advocacy of the "town sys-
tenn" as it is called, as provi ded for in the
law of 1870. The present law Is deemed de-
ioctive, aud should he amended so as to al
low towns that have adopted the town Sys-
tenn, TO vote again, reverse their decision
every five Yeas If they saw fit To do so,
aud leaving the towns to determine by vote
at the March meetings the number of pri-
mary schools for the year ensuing or for
live years. That the speaker was fully con-
WINGED Of the superiority OF the town sys-
tenn over the present district system, there
could be no doubt from bis arguments. 1t
would dispen with | 100 school officers to
begin with. The statistics presented show
ed 90 districts without schools. twenty-six
by vote Of the districts, and lO7 registers
were not returned. There had been 2i6
terms with an average of only five pupils,
1904 with ten, ,229 with fifteen, .l92 with
twenty. The Secretary we'll argued that
while the expense was increased by so ma
ny small schools, the rati, OF usefulness
was diminished. Que instance was given
where an entire term was devoted by Il
teacher TO one pupil only, little girl nine
years of age. IT required no argument to
prove the disadvantage Of too small schools,
or the benefits to be derived both to towns
and scholars in consolidation, so lar as is
practicable. 1t is evident, and we quote
the opinion Of the Secretary, that the re1
luctance which has been manifested in
adopting the town system has arisen from
the want of Il thorough knowledge Of il.
With one or two important amendments, ii
was thought the law would become more
popular, and the system be generally adopt
ed. 1t was evident from the remarks of
the speaker, that the present town super
vision is but mperfectly performed, aud
that the source of statistical Information il
to great degree incomplete, aud falls far
short of compliance with tie law. Town
and district clerks, a, well as Superintend-
ents, often neglect their duty, and the re-
suit is that Il machine which is only valua-
''' "i'Ni' ~ - iuh lSilNNNiN lOoNN IL DplNlOil
of It's usefulness, and does not pay either
for the engineering or lubricating.
The State pay of uperintendents, fixed
in times of low prices, was regarded as too
low TO secure the.:servces of competent
men. Some towns pay an additional sum,
but the instances were rare where any ade-
quate compensation had been provided
lie recommended making Superintendent
custodians Of registers, and divorcing them
entirely from town clerks the superin-
tendent and selectmen to the Board to dis
tribute the public money. Disregard OF
law in the distribution was one of the pres
ent evils. 1t was dec Jared that the proper
| ty of the State should educate the children
of the State that equal taxation should Sc
cure equal advantages, and that State tax
for the support of schools would best com
pass these ends. The inequality of the
present system of supporting schools was
| illustrated by an exhibit Of the highest and
lowest rate:per cent. raised on the grand
list by any district in any town Of each OF
| the several counties, which was as fol-
|