Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-12-19

youth every ePPsrtHnity which shall
strengthen them for life's work
that we are in duty bound to give
all the education which is within the
range of our means and chances.
We thea eoRae 80 the question, "Are
we as 8 public doing this?"
answer no, Hardly a state in the
Union which in its common schools !
gives SO few days Of school in the
aggregate, in a year. Hardly state
in this great sisterhood of states,
but what can show better record as
to attendance, and advancement
made, than Vermont. Our leading
educators (smeng them our State
Superintendent tell us that we are
being diStanced in the matter of
school progress, not only by the 9th
er New England States, but by the
new states and territories of the great
| west. Any one at all conversant
with school affairs knows full well
that as to any manifestations of in
terest in or schools on the part of
parents, there is an almost entire
stagnation. Now what the remedy =?
What shall be done to meet this
growing necessity for earnest action?
We say give us the Town System.
1t is asked, HAS it been tried :? f."
i Yes, and found equal to the emerg-
ency. The great State of Massa-
chusetts, which ever takes such high
rank in matters of education has
tested it fully, made it compulsory
upon towns and considers it one of
? the greatest advance steps in the
cause of education that she ever
took. But further 1t has been
tested IN our own State, under the
existing law, permitting towns tc
adopt it by vote. Nineteen towns
have done so, and no one of these
g where it has been in use sufficiently
l. long to note its workings, could b'
/ induced to return to the district
e system. You say "eertain towns al
e this late legislature asked to be re
S leased from it," That is true, anC
@ yet it was clearly shown before thC
III Committee to be working splendid
G Iy, and the opposition came from
t. some one who cared more for hi
d paltry dollars, than for the educa
W tion of his poor neighbors children
If or was the still smouldering ember
N of some old district row. No more
h complete yindication, so to speak
e. could be given than that which thi
l. system received in the meeting o
1T the Committee of the Legislature
h and that from the towns where i
re had been tried and tested.
lie What does it give? This | vii
y answer in few words, 1t gives equa
T. taxation. One district now, per
d haps the village district, supports it
d schools for a year with tax of fiji
~ teen cents on the dollar. 1t has
is large grand list. Another district
es on the hill, has to raise seventy-fiv
es cents on the dollar, and has les
ct weeks of school at that. The Tow
of System of schools equalizes this tax
Id alton, and puts the support Of schoo
IS on the equal ground with the SUI
"a port of all other town charges, an
at the highways. Again,it gives equalit
n of taxation to the rich and poor, an
ne the children of such parents. TheS
wv two reasons alone ought to be {
to sufficient weight to decide any or
of candid mind in favor of I'll
. change. No district loses one Gel
of its property. No district whie
49, has new school house is called upo
to build new one in another di
trict without getting every ceI
back. A large, wealthy one cannt
l." take the advantage of poorer on
v" The outlying districts and the vii
=" age will be on par There will
oe no district connections and dispute
~ the strife for the honors of prude
GU tial committee clerk and mo-
leV orator will be no more; and we sha
III have equal taxation, equal privileg
do and moro and better schools at lie
~ expense of money. All this is pro
ne en- fact by the testimony of tho
ne who have tried it. Ask the Peep
ny of Brighton about it. l trust sor
'he of them Will tell us. Should not tt
ecu reasons here given commend it
vas every lover of EDUCATION in Ess
- County? A CITIZEN.
lily
ter
tho PROM SNOW TO ROSES.
eld How to Go sOuth-HOw We Wen