The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27

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hope the time Is not far distant when the state
! will see that IL Is best to make this system
compulsory. | think towns that do not en-
brace the provisions now made are making
! grave mistake Our records will show a less
cost per week under the town system than I'M
der the district, and the schools are certainly
much better"
Hinesburgh is one of the towns which
was 80 we'll satisfied with the change that
1t has never asked to vote upon the ques-
ton of returning to the district system.
Cabot adopted the system two years ago.
The superintendent says:
"Our schools are much more efficient than
under the old system. BY engaging our teach
ers by the year, we are enabled to secure them
at lower price pee week than the district COM
! mittee could when they hired for single term.
The effect upon the back districts has been
marked They are poor in grand list but
rich in children. In one district their taxes
have been reduced more than one-half and in
others from ten to thirty per cent, while the
number of weeks of school has been increased
and much better teachers supplied them.
Every district that had supported school I'M
der the old system, has had an equal number OF
weeks under the new and in most cases more.
Only one district has been discontinued, and
as there only three scholars In the district,
twas not deemed advisable to support school
there as IL was only one and one-fourth miles
to a good school. There is considerable opposi-
ton to the system in two or three districts,
where, under the old system, with large list,
their taxes had been very small. Now they
have to help the poorer schools, and they find
fault. Another class, which was not satisfied
with the old system, is not satisfied with the
new, but most of our best citizens are heartily
In favor of the new. We have one central. or
graded school, and majority OF the stu
dents are from outside of the district where 1t
is located It is a great benefit to the poorer
people, who are not able to send their children
away, as here they can receive instruction in
any Of the higher branches. IL the people
would take the trouble to investigate this sub
ject, they would have no hesitancy in adopting
the system"
Randolph adopted the system year
ago, and we give below some extracts
from the superintendent first annual
report:
"There has been an aggregate Of 455 weeks
OF school held during the year in the sixteen IN
the board of directors, first, to employ the best
teachers available, and second, to retain them
as far as possible. The school registers COM
pare very favorably with those Of preceding
years, nearly all showing q less number OF alb
sent and tardy marks and greater number Of
visits by parents and citizens. 1t is safe to say
there has never been greater interest in the
schools, on the part of patrons, than this year.
Whatever may have been the opinion in regard
to the new system OF management, all have
watched the schools with universal interest
This is a hopeful feature. 1t has
been the earnest purpose Of the directors to
furnish all parts of the town with good schools
1t is not claimed that this purpose has been at
tanned in every case. . Much has been
learned by experience This is the transition
year from the old to the new system, and can
not reasonably be considered a fair test of its
merits. Moreover we may not expect perfect
schools under any system. 1t is only claimed
that, with fair trial, the new will prove step
in advance of the old. Earnest, consistent eff
fort toward any object Is generally successful.
Such effort has been put forth towards inn
provement in the schools. And believe that,
notwithstanding the want of sympathy which
has been manifested in some instances, and
granting that few schools have not been what
we would have had them, on the ,ohole the
schools the past year have done much more
and better work than in any other year within
my knowledge And believe it is quite gen
orally acknowledged by those who know the
facts 1t cannot reasonably be otherwise.
Schools have been maintained greater length
of time. The buildings have been put in bet
ter condition and more helps have been af-
f)rded both teachers and pupils. The expenses
have been kept as low as was consistent with
true economy. Many days work In attending
otherwise attending to the school interests,
have been given by the directors without charge
to the town. The tax of thirty cents on the
dollar raised for school purposes will meet the
expenses for the year, and this is but little, u
any, dboUe the Average rate raised by the dis
tr,cts for the fen preceding years, NTH the state
tar added. The total expense for the year for
the schools under the control of the town is, in
even dollars So 100. From this should be de-
Quoted the cost of maps and extraordinary re-
paira G10O-lan un 20 300 IA tho ordinary q "
pense for the 455 weeks held during the year,
or a weekly cost of So %. Last year the cost
per week for the same schools was $5.S2 The
difference Of forty cents per meek is consider
ably less than the difference in teachers ,odgeS
oUer the sum paid last year. And 1t is conf
IDENTIFY claimed that the work done the present
year is proportionately greater"
The details of this report show that the
schoolhouses have been made fit habita
tions for children, that outline maps and
other necessities have been provided, that
these repairs and other extras aggregate
$500, and that the school fund treasury
has 81 ,14191, a sum sufficient to pay
teachers wages and board for the winter
term aud any other unpaid expenses, leav
ing uncollected taxes, buttons, and interest
on surplus fund to be carried over to the
next school year. 1t must be admitted
, that the above is an exceedingly favorable
showing, and it should go long way
, towards lubricating places where there
may have been friction. Every farmer
understands that his mowing-machin,
worked better after experience in using
, it, and easier after the bearings had worr
smooth and the machine had been slim
bered up" 1t is not reasonable to expec
. different state of things in the earlier
{ operations of a new school system. 1t viii
work smoothly after it has got limberec
up," and the voters will be quite as likely
, to return to the old district system as thu
farmers to swinging the old-time scythe.
Notes and Comments.
ID. rnanN D,Yr,x,,v. a =, :,