Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-03-27
81 F-s

The financial statement of District No 2
will be ready next Monday and published In
q pamphlet form for circulation among the
voters Of the district
According to the table, District No. IL paid
the highest rate per scholar of any ungradsd
district in town, and had only two terms Of
~ and IA weeks each. For the same money
they could have sent each one OF their sohol.
ars to the academy In the West village for
the three terms OF ~ weeks each and paid
for the classical course. On the other hand
it is noticeable that they we're willing to put
their hands in their pockets In order 70 keep
their children at home. Their rate OF taxa
ton is the highest outside OF No. 2. Dis.
trict No. 8 sent their children to District No.
Z and got an extra terms schooling at an ex.
pense much less than the amount Of public
money received. The law this year will give
them no more public money than will suiioe
to cover actual expenditures. As the money
to be divided this week Is nearly one third
more than ever before, it is evident that saw
eral other districts viii reach their limit.
The number Of scholars Ia private schools
found in Districts Nos. 1, o and shows that
the West Brattleboro academy Is factor that
must be taken into account In the school
problem. While the tax Is light In District
No. ., the table shows that more than one
third Of the scholars are In the academy.
With very few exceptions all In the higher
grade are there. The matter simply resolves
itself into the question, Who is 10 pay for
this tuition, the public or the parents OF the
children Thus far it has been an extra tax
upon the parents, and in consequence the
public school tau has been light Certainly
those who have children to educate would
not complain II their burden was shared by
their mel ghbors.
With one exception, It will be seen that all
the smaller districts have Q light tax, and no
one sustained a school for less than 20 weeks.
This coming year with the money TO be di.
vided the tax must be even smaller, unless
expenses are increased. With the email tax
the privileges are correspondingly small for
1t is difficult to maintain . first class school
with only four or i've scholars In regular at
tendance. Probably under the town system
the attempt would not be made On the
other hand, It is questionable whether the
farmers could send their children out into the
adjoining districts for longer or more fire.
quent terms than they nov have at home.
No one In town to-day is deprived Of school
privileges, and no one In the outlying dis.
triots is burdened with taxation. The town
system would largely increase taxation out.
side Of the villages. Would II increase priv
ileges correspondinglyp
The matter Of attendance Is q very i'm
portant factor in school work. Some Of the
smaller schools are much in fault in this 70.
spect. An examination OF the table will
show those that are most Temiss. In some
cases, like No. 8, the figures may be mislead-
ing, since an unusual proportion of scholars
were attendants only one term. In the main,
however, the table gives truthful report. Ii
will be remembered that the public money is
divided upon the attendance, aud not upon
the number OF scholars.
As compared with the year before, the mum.
Der Of scholars In the public schools has fall
en- of l45, the number In private schools In.
creased SO, aud the aggregate attendance in
creased 22, 22l. This last may be owing 10 the
unsettled condition Of things and shorter terms
the year before In District No. 2 In oonse-