Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-27

The Town school system.
AZ our next annual March meetings the cit
liens Of Vermont are to vote upon the ques-
ton OF adopting, or rejecting, the town
school system for their respective towns, as
provided by the school law Of 1870. This is
question Of great importance to the present
generation, aud its consequences to the future
are Unreasonable. Then it stands US in hand
TO examine the matter carefully that we may
deposit our ballots understandipgly. And to
us it seems that the first step necessary in this
preparation is careful reading Of the law it.
self, and, II one reading is not sufficient TO
give clear view Of it's meaning and scope,
read and reread II, until we are sure we I'M
derstand il, and then apply II to our situation
both as related TO the present and future.
Consider the objections one by ono, and then
consider the advantages in the same order, and
strike an honest balance in the account
In this consideration the first thought that
naturally presents itself is, what brought
about the town school system-whst cause
produced the effect? The answer is not that
the population and wealth of the state has de-
creased within the past fifty years, not that
there are less children Of school age, but that
our population, from being evenly distributed
In 80 and 100 acre lots over the hills, has
gradually shifted itself into the valleys, form
ing little villages here and there as hundreds
OF deserted homesteads fully attest. This,
with the westward movement of the young
and prosperous element of society, has left
our farming districts unable to meet the nee
essary expense Of frst-class district school,
while the village districts are able TO have the
best at a comparatively nominal cost. The
consequence has been a sad retrograde move
ment in the condition of our back district
schools.
Something then was necessary TO meet and
counteract the evil effects Of these changes in
society and the friends of education and prog
ress, believing and realizing that the interests
OF villagers and the farming communities by
which they are surrounded are identical, one
and the same, in all that goes to make intelli-
gent and law abiding citizens, have taken this
step toward equelizing the burdens of citizen
ship and brought out the town school system,
and ask you TO give il fair honest trial of
FIVE years, and, il at the end of such trial IL
does not meet your wants, then return to your
first love-the old school district.
Since 1870 this law has stood upon on our
statutes and has met with it's principal oppo-
sitioD as we understand the matter, through
general fear that it took away the rights of
the people and conferred too much authority
upon school board. But gradually this fear
has yielded to common sense, and the people
have learned that district school lines are i'm
aginary divisions, that they are themselves
the body polite, and that their interests
are the better served under the town than the
district system and one by one, according to
the report of the committee of the state teach
ers' association, nineteen towns containing
more than 10000 people, have adopted the
system and testify to its merits, and in no in
stance have they returned to the old system.
II this be fact, it speaks volumes in praise
of the new departure, because it is the fruit
OF experience; and what has proved profta-
BILE experience to these towns will undoubt-
eddy be equally valuable to the other towns
of the state.
The direct advantages of the system are,
LIST, an improvement in the general grade and
quality Of the schools; I'd, the equalization OF
the expense and this item carries with It the
partial removal. at least, of one great barrier
to the rehabilitation of many of our hill farms
in the fact that poor men with families fee
that an education is the only legacy they car
give their children and that they cannot do il
back on the hills where their school tax is from
Is cents to 81 80 in addition to the regular
town tax. This, many times in connection
with the burden of a mortgage, makes the hill
farm dear at any price, and it is deserted and
goes TO ruin. Instances of this kind are con
stantly occurring in the experience OF every
]
which had personal knowledge. We Otter
hear young men with growing families Object
to purchasing hill farms because Of the ex
pense of schooling. Be the farm never sc
cheap in dollars and cents, it is too dear fol
them.
The town system intelligenlly and wisely
conducted strikes directly at the root OF THU
evil and supplies a sufficient number Of
schools through the town for the accommo
dation and education of all the children o.
| the town.
Please note that We say, if ,oise{y and intel
| b9enuy conducted Then should you decide
to vote for the new system, see to it that pro
gressive, liberalspirited and educated mel
are elected to your school board. In the SO
lection of the board to execute the law liei
the germ of success or failure.
But We did not take up our pen as thu
champion and unqualified defender of the sys
TEN, but simply to ask the voters to think FOL
themselves and not wait until the moment FOL
action comes and then act upon somebody
elses thought. will close these random re
marks by again suggesting to every voter th,
propriety Of examining the town school law fo
himself. II you have not got copy of tn,
laws of 1870, go to your Justice of the Peac,
or district clerk and get one. J.