Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-03-05
EXPENSIVE NEGLIGENCE.

1t is strange thing, but nevertheless
true, that man takes the least interest
in those things that concern him most
OF those things that contribute most to
happiness, here and hereafter, are tenn
perance, education and religion; and
yet large share Of the people in any
community are stupid, indifferent and
negligent in regard to one or all of these
important matters.
But we only intend in this article tn
-pvaA VI the indifference manifested
toward our educational institutions, es-
pecially schools, hoping to call attention
to some subjects and facts that will
tend to create better interest in regard
to education.
We lately saw an estimate, where the
public expense of educating the children
Of Vermont in the common schools was
set at IS each per year. In many
school districts it Is much higher, in
Barton village, for instance, it is $12.
IL ~ tk;s $780, r -:sLt nr trunl..~ LII
paid annually by the tax payers for the
education of each scholar, there be add
ed the cost of board. and the actual
value Of the labor of such pupils as are
old enough to earn half the pay Of
adults, it will be seen that it costs not
less than $50 to send the average child
Of fourteen years of age to school SIX
months in the year. When the sNhoiar
goes from home to atteud school, the
cost is much greater. If the computa-
tisa IS carried along, it will be seen thai
it costs from one to two thousand dol
lars each. to give the children of Yer
mont an education.
If there were no higher consideration
than the pecuniarY cost Of educating
children that should en~~---- '
Vne character OF schools
their cost ought to be sufficient. But it i
unfortunately true, that very few par
ents know whether the money is vel
spent, or thrown away, that they pay 70
the school. The negligence to know
something about every school taught il
our districts, is foolish and extravaganza
The next serious fault in parents,
the fact that they have little or n
knowledge of the standing of their chill
dren, the character and fitness of thei
teachers, and the way each term G
school is conducted. The man or woma
who would hire servant or agent to d
an ordinary peice of work, where muc
money was to be expended, and impol
tent interests were at stake, who di
not know the employee and did not Sc
him during q whole term Of servict
would be called fool and yet parent
know by personal observation, littl
about the character Of their schools
the way their money is spent on then
Their neglect is unwise and wicked, F.;
we'll as unkindness toward their chi
dren.
Children need advice and encourag,
ment as we'll as study: they require tn
stimulus that they may have by seem
their parents in school, and by sue
merited praises as can be bestowed c
them for their labors we'll done. Th
is kindness due them, and every pa
ent should visit every school, at leas
at the beginning and end of the teri
The parents may then know whether Il
term has been profitable or not.
Parents are derelict of duty
keeping pupils out of school in ter
time. Hardness is the result of
illness on the part of the child,
his parents, and as laziness is a qua
ity that will be no blessing to futu
generations, it should not be cultivat.
or encouraged in our time. Absence
other than those Of absolute necessit
should not occur. Vermonters unde
stand the necessity of using the pleasa
days of May for sowing and plantin
as they have learned that the loss of
few days then, often results in the ID
of the years crop. Fully as impOrta