Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-26
THE VERMONT PHOENIX AND FRIDAY FEBT

portion Of Superintendent DARTS letter. AZ
therein not only questions Of general princi-
pie are answered, but particulars are given.
Mr. Dart says!
oFFIoE or suPr OF EDucArIoNl
SPRtN0FGELD, Feb. II, 1886,
Jos. j. green, Ncwfane, w.
Dear Sir: There are now 81 towns In the state
which have adopted the town system, I have visited
some Of these towns aud observed the results, aud
have sent circulars to them ALL asking the charnan
Of directors for answers to my questions Twelve
have reported, aud the others do so shall
send the Information TO the other towns Of the state
hope to have II ready before March meeting
have studied the working Of this system carefully
for the last Eve years, aud am fully convinced Of its
great superiority over the district system. No town
that has given II fair trial has gone back to the dis
trot system. II gives, after trial better school priv
legesi equal aHationi permanent management, and
Tho schools are not centralized or brought together
unless II s for the interest Of the scholars Schools
are supported where they are needed Where there
scholars enough for school, there Is Que support
ed aud n not scholars enough then what there are
are provided with transportation to another school.
Many towns have the same number Of schools under
the town system as under the district system some
have less, and one or two have more The design Of
the system IL not to deprive scholar Of schooling
dhe district system often does that, but TO give all the
scholars better school privileges better houses aud
teachers, and more weeks OF school.
Now for reports from the towns. I have before me
reports from ~ towns, and the facts follows
sr have the number Of schools under the old
system has three more; three have one less one
has two less, aud one Ave less. OF these ~ towns
which have reported, all but have more weeks Of
school than before the adoption Of the town system
In two the cost per week s less IN two II Ia the same
and In eight IL more-rom Is TO go cents per week
In ii Of these towns the school houses better than
before; this fact accounts for the slight increase OF
expense All but two Of these towns report the
dition Of the schools greatly improved under this
system. My own observation agrees with this last
statement. regret that reports from all the towns
are not w, but they WILL on the whole, be more favor
able than those OF these H.
Since writing the above have received another re-
port-from the town Of Watsncd, which adopted the
town system 10 1871. III this town there are the
number Of schools as before except that under the
district system there a school with few scholars
part Of the time, which il now discontinued The
condition Of the school houses has greatly improved
all In good condition, with modern seats Teach
better, aud schools In much better cond-
tnn generally. This statement in regard to the
dion Of school houses aud schools Ia the same from
nearly every town which has the town system. with
respect, l am very truly yours,
JUsTUs DARTr.
At the date Of preparing this article for the
press We have not received answers from all
the towns, but FROM ma GRITTY OF them, and
we have much more ia detail that might be
given, but we believe the foregoing covers
the ground
III II. BAILEY
p. WHITE, Committee.
j. J. GREEN, }