Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-02-09
in the Montpelier Daily Journal from
which we make extracts.
EI2AAI IANDDI PHI

tenn of management; the school furnish
better condition, the teachers are perma-
nently engaged, extending in some cases
to two years, while before there was
change every term; under the district
system there was great inequality in the
length of terms in the different districts.
now each district has the same number of
weeks, formerly some districts paid a
high school tax, others none at all. Now
there is an equality of taxation for the
schools.
Mr.. ID. H. Morse corroborated all that
had been said about the favorable work
ing of the system. The tax in his dis
trict had been one dollar on each dollar
of the grand list for the support of schools.
Now it was thirty cents on the dollar,
with more weeks of school, better teach
ers and better schools.
Mr.. Il. c. Gilbert explained how teach
tual Improvement in school work under
the direction of the board, and the inter-
est that had been awakened by this
means.
Mr.. A. A. Priest and Col. J. B. Mead
made remarks fully sustaining the testi
mony of the preceding witnesses.
FROM BRIGHTON.
Senator Hobson told the committee how
the system had worked in Brighton,
where after five years trial it had been
re-adopted in full town meeting by near
ly a unanimous vote, only two voting
very feebly in the negative. The tax I'M
der the new system Of management had
been nearly the same as under the dis
trict system, but they had done Il great
deal more with their money. Better
schools, more weeks of schools, a larger
attendance and a new school house in
nearly every district had been provided
with the money. Men that were original
ly opposed to the system were now its
strongest friends. Distrust and dissatis-
faction arose originally among it's oppo-
nents, especially in the back districts,
from few that were not going to like
the system, and that the village was GO
ing to get some advantage. After
trial the back districts had found
thai they were the ones whose condition
had been the most improved, they de-
handed and had their rights, having bet
ter houses, better and longer terms of
school at less expense.
FROM wAITSFIELD.
Representative C. d. Savage of Waits
field gave the experience of that town,
where the system adopted in 1874 had be-
come thoroughly rooted, and by its mer-
its had overcome opposition. A year ago
with the best improved furniture and this
year the town voted, without word of
opposition, to put new seats into all the
school houses, and the buildings had
been painted, papered and put in good
condition.
FROM EDEN.
town adopted the town system three years
ago. There was an increase in the total
attendance from 13, 2l5 weeks in the last
year under the district system to 15,O85
in the first year under the town system.
The aggregate cost for the last year I'M
der the district system was $627; the
first year under the town system S662.
The tax for the first year, when they
built one new school house and repaired
the old ones was forty per cent; for the
second year thirty-five per cent; for the
third year twenty-five per cent. Under
the old system some districts had paid
taxes as high us one hundred one and
one hundred twenty-four per cent. More
weeks of school, better schools, perma-
nent teachers, schools in districts that had
been without schools under the old sys-
TEN, the allaying of district qnarrels, had
been some of the beneficial results OF
three years experience.
FROM wOODFoRD.
Representative Knapp of Woodford
| stated that his town adopted the system
in 1871. Its voters were so we'll satisfied
that they could not be induced to return
| to the district system. The little districts
get the full benefit of the new system ant
their condition is greatly improved under
| it.
To this recital we offer but one adj
dition, namely, that the maintenance
at convenient point in a town of ;
school of higher grade than the res
which shall be free to all children o
the town who are sufficiently advanc
ed to profit by it, is easily managed
under the town system; as may b.
seen in Brighton, Hinesburgh, Mid
dietown. Waitsfield and other town
where such higher school has al
ready become part of the establish
ed system.
The body we represent at Its annu
al meeting on the third day of thi
month
Res0lued. That this Association hereb
renews its declaration of faith In the tow
system of schools as the best now offere
to the people of Vermont, and urges a
friends OF education to unite in effort
to secure its early adoption by the towns
With our own strong personal COZ
victions of the superiority of IL
town system of schools, reinforce
by the concurring opinions OF OF
fellow teachers and by the facts {
, experience partly recited above, v
come asking our fellow citizens
consider well what is the duty of Il
!, hour towards the children of Il
= towns in which they dwell, and th
they will not shrink from any effo
! that promises to improve the educ
p tional facilities of our state.
! For the Vermont State Teacher
- Association.
) EDWARD cosAsr Com.
q W. III. SANDERsoN,
re January, 1885.
VAST ENTERPRISE.
$ The Pacific Mills of Lawrence
"a the largest textile manufacturing C,