Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-11-08
The Town VS.. the District System.

| The Town VS.. the District System.
The town, as contrasted with the district
system, has been not little discussed. The
State Teachers Association, in its annual
session at Barre. in August last, heartily
recommended the town system. The State
Superiutenjents have earnestly advocated
the town system for years past. Ii has also
received the hearty support OF many of the
most judicious friend. of education and
| best judges OF the school system.
Information upon tie practicability, eff
cheney and expense OF the town system as
compared with the district, is what is re-
| quired to help form correct Judgment in
this matter. We are fortunate in having
some facts. carefully collected by one of our
most experienced and judicious educators
| and friends Of schools, primary and aca-
| demic, j. S. Spsuliing, LID. Of Barre.
and relating to the town he has so long
| hOnored.
In the town of Barre the district system
| prevails. The town has fourteen districts.
Six districts in the town, he writes. report
forty pupils in attendance upon their
schools during the year. The whole cost OF
supporting these SIX schools for sixteen or
eighteen weeks only was 1886 80. being an
scholar. In the other eie 1T districts the aver
age cost for siI months, school or twenty six
weeks, was less than SIX dollars per scholar.
This shows that in the smaller districts it
costs twice as many dollars TO teach child
sixteen or eighteen weeks a it does IN the
larger twenty-six weeks. Besides, in the
small districts the teachers are always
young, inexperienced, and frequently not
really qualified to teach.
The whole cost for all the schools in the
town of Barre at the time these statistics
were collected was. for teaching, board and
fuel. 81 1874. %
To show the practicability of the town
system in Barre, DR.. Spaulding maintains
that seven schoOl-houses could DO so located
in the town that very few would be obliged
to go more than two miles to reach the
school. Allowing to each of these seven
houses, or their teachers, $40 90 per month
for teaching and board for SIX months
school would cost 81 $50. This taken from
the sum now expended in fourteen districts
ga, 1874 23-Would leave in the town treas
ury 1854 90, minus the cost Of fuel for the
seven schools.
Besides the pecuniary advantage OF the
town system over the district system in
Barre, there would be secured by the town
system what recommends it more than the
saving of expense-better teachers in all
the schools, and so better schools. The |
facts above given are moi peculiar to Barre.
They are true in many, if not most towns
in the State
Dr. Spaulding-an1 who has larger ex-
perience in this matter contemplating the |
whole subject, writes: Il am satisfied that, |
with our present system of schools, We have |
arrived at the end There must be sooner
or later complete Overhauling of tho laws
and reconstruction of the system" No |
other interest entrusted to the legislature |
and people of Vermont exceeds or equals |
this. None other requires more careful con- |
sderation and judicious legislation.-
ChrO mole
VERGENNEs.-Last Saturday evening, a |
team attached to heavy farm wagon, be- |
longing to Ohm Smith, of Addison, was
left with a young lad named Freddie Smith, |
in front of McCuen's store with Instructions
to drive to the watering trough short dis |
lance away. Several barrels were in the |
wagon and as the boy mounted one OF |
these, it rolled from under him, and he |
fell to the ground. His leet were entangled |
in the lines and the horses becoming fright
ened ran down Min street. dragging the
boy some distance before his feet were
freed. Rev. Mr.. Dayfoot and daug liter, of
Panton were entering town, and when near
turned the corner towards Water street.
Owing to the darkness they did not
realize their danger, and an instant later
the runaway team struck them. the
pole OF the wagon entering the body
OF their horse some eleven inches, .
and the team, wagon and all came crashing
over them. and ran up to the fence near the .
church, where they were secured How the
occupants OF the buggy escaped instant
death is mystery. The horse died almost
Immediately; the buggy was completely
wrecked. and Mr.. Dayioot and daughter
were picked up and carried into Foster Bros.
meat market near by, where Drs. Hopkins
and Woodbridge were at once summoned to
attend them. Strange to say, aside from
several severe bruises and the shock to the |
nervous system, no severe in uries were sus-
tanned.
Rev. Joseph kerlidou othciatei at the |
Church OF the Holy Family in this city, on !
Sunday last. lie has recently returned !
from Europe, where he has spent the last
two years regaining his health.
Apples are plenty at ) 10 Sl.25 per bar
rel cider at 81 50 per barrel; potatoes are
scarce and readily bring 10 cents per bushel.
Several boat loads OF coal have arrived
and are dlschargibg their cargoes. L. Mack |
received 100 tons of coal by boat which he is
per ton. The Stevens Hotel received 100 tons.
The coal combination which was said to
have rented all the known docks and land
ing places. with coal at $3.50 and So per
ton have been pretty effectively broken by
this proceeding Two places where boats
could discharge cargOes were overlooked,
and here they landed their cargoes. Sew
eral boats have landed their loads at Ferris
burgh, while eight carloads were recently
brought there from Burlington. IL Is
estimated over 500 tons have been disposed
of in this vicinity, this Fall. Tho coal trade
has increased until from this point OF dis
tribution, between 900 and 800 tons of
coal IS used yearly.
Barnard Bros, have removed their har-
ness shop one door below their iormer place
OF business into the new store in Adams
Block, where they have ample room for
their increasing business. Tne Barnard Bros.
are excellent wCrkmen and carry II large
stock Of goods.
During the recent severe gale the new
dwelling house built by Mr.. lockwood Of
New Haven, located near Durfce's steam
mill, WIS turned around, and one corner
dropped into the cellIr, by the forco OF the
wind.