Litchfield enquirer., 1879-10-23
Consolidation of School Districts.

Nr. Editor.-I was very glad to see an arti- cle in your last, from the Secretary of our Board of Visitors, in explanation of the new school law. It seems to be the chief subject of discussion just now in all parts of the town, and it is claimed by those who voted and those who did not, that when the vote was taken it was not understood. The current opinion now seems to be strongly against the new plan, and if a special meeting was called tomorrow it would doubtless be voted down two to one. But if understand the law aright there can be no opportunity to vote on the question again until the the next annual town meeting. If so cannot our schools con- tinue through the year on the old plan, even if an act of the incoming legislature should be required to validate, and by that time the advantages and objections to the new plan could be better understood ? Many that were inclined to favor it at first are now strongly opposed to it, and for one, after carefully read ing the explanations, and also the extract from the report of the Stamford Board, it seems to me we do not gain what we loose. 'Tis true the old law has objections especially in obliging very small districts to keep cer- tain number of weeks or not at all, also in not allowing pupils to go out of the district with out paying tuition, and some others but could not these objections be better regulated by revision of the old law. Tho rew committee plan of three, six and nine, does not look at all favorable. It would seem very difficult according to the explanations of the require ments to 'fll the bill" while the advantages gained would not to me seem to equal the loss.
 word CT two about the bug g-bear of High School in the Ltchield center district For one should think it about time for a school somewhat higher than they have had there for the last five or six years according to the re- ports, would be desirable. It is claimed the money now appropriated there is nearly vast ed. This is doubtless true. and it is true of any district where fifty of sixty pupils from A. B. c. to Algebra, are placed under one teacher. The same difficulty to less degree perhaps can be urged as to the Milton center or Northield or any of the larger crowded schools. But cannot the difficulty in these
 larger districts be better remedied by a school of two departments, with.a competent teacher in the higher department that would do away with our private schools and accademies. Could this change be made in these districts under the law, even with the present appropr- ations believe the schools would be benefited Shorter terms, and better work, perhaps larg- CT appropriations, may be needed, but think not necessarily higher taxes but perhaps more economy in some of our other town expenses, besides, tax payers as general rule do not complain if the money brings a fair equivalent But few like to see it squandered. But have already broken my resolution when I took my pen that would be brief Let us regulate, if possible, the old law, end keep along in the old way. E. H. w.
 Milton, Oct. 20th, 1879.
 If we are not msinformed, the system of separate districts cannot be legally continued. The vote on the first Monday in October abol- ished the old system. Unless action is taken under the new system DO State or town mon- ey whatever can be legally applied to the support of schools. Consolidation is no longer an alternative; it is a necessity. Isit not best therefore, to give the new plan a far trial, to elect good committee, and to test the merits l of system, that has been satisfactory where ever ithas been fairly tried? If the assent given by our voters to the new plan only fortnight since, wasgiven under n1isappre- hension, is 1t not at least equally probable that the sudden opposition that has arisen against it, is owing to a still more serious misappre. hension7- 7-ED. Excl '''" ' Newark, N. r., has had fight over the Sunday question. The Germans propose to l spend that day in their own way, and effort vas made to compel them to spend it in the Yankee way. A defeat of the restrictionists by oyer two thousand majority was the result |. The heirs of the California millionaire Mark
 Hopkins are rejoiced at the discovery of a forgotten balance of five millions, to his credit i at the Treasury in Washington, additional to
 his inventoried estate.
 In spite of the political oppression of the
 negro in Mississippi, it seems that he is pros-
 pering materialy-rapidly becoming land owner and householder. If the race ever arrives at pecuniary independence, political independence will soon follow.
 A new trial has been ordered in the Bucholz