Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-04-26
The Town System.

The following communication was received
many weeks ago, but the pressure upon our col
umns has not admitted OF an earlier publication
wATsFIRLD Vermont, March II, 1882.
Mr.. Editor Having for over forty years taken
a deep interest in our common schools, and a long
time ago occupied the position Of a teacher with
limited qualifications, have deeply felt the neces-
sity OF giving our children greater advantages in
our public schools. In my youthful days, when
attended the common schools, well remember
how anxious our fathers were for good schools,
and for many years they procured teachers from
Middebury college, who impressed upon the
minds OF their pupils the Importance of an edu-
cation which did much towards arousing the in
terest which has generally been manifested in our
schools 1t is true that we have not always been
as successful as was desirable, but think may
safely say that the reputation Of the schools in
our town has been on an average with any in the
state. Some eleven years ago majority Of the
town thought 1t would be taking an advanced
step, also an improvement TO our schools, to
adopt the :" town system" Being one who ia
vored the new way" and placed in position
where must necessarily know something OF the
results, have watched its progress closely. The
first thing settled by the directors was that we
must have first class teachers, whereas, under the
old system some districts were obliged to employ
ordinary teachers at the least possible expense
from the fact that there was no property Of any
great amount on which TO raise a tax without its
being burden they were not able TO bear; while
other districts could employ a first-cass teacher
and their tax on the grand list be comparatively
nothing. At the time we adopted the "town sys-
TEN more than one-third Of the grand list in our
town was in one district. Hence you see Mr..
Editor, the injustice Of supporting schools under
| the old system. II education is important and a
great public benefit, why not all contribute ac-
cording to their means, for the education and up
lifting Of the rising generation Let us, cti-
zens, be willing to do all that lies within our
power to sustain the cause OF education, and not
let self blind us because we are located where our
burden Is light, while others have more than they
know how To endure. 1t Is for the general good,
and all ought to be Interested in the welfare Of
the town
One great objection to the system is that 1t
tends TO " monopoly" that the next step would
be county board, and from that placed under
the control OF the state, where they would be In
the condition OF state prison convcts, as far as
their parents were concerned" sad picture,
indeed | would ask, does not the state make II
compulsory that children shall attend school,
that they shall be supplied with books, what
branches shall DO taught and in what manner
| the school shall be supported? Is this a step
towards monopoly? Does not the stability OF our
government depend upon the virtue and intelli-
gence OF the peope2 That the town system is
an advanced step toward the better education OF
the youth OF our land, no unbiased mind can
deny, Notwithstanding the schools may not al
ways prove what would be desirable. But eleven
years has proven to the voters Of Waitsfeld that
1t is THE way. 1t is fresh In the minds OF many
citizens OF our town when the wood and board
| was raised on the scholar. And when the legis-
lature enacted law that 1t should be raised ON
| the grand list the same wall went up a. was
heard at the time OF the adoption Of the town
| system"
| We are glad our reputation for schools stands
| fair but they are not what we would have them,
nor are they yet what we expect they will be, al
though we have u few among US who still cling To
| the traditions Of their fathers. q. Il. josiah