Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-26
THE TOWN SYSTEM.

We print elsewhere an extract giving
the results of "A trial of the town system
of schools in IIinesburgh. That is a
fairly representative town. Its popula-
ton is made up almost exclusively of
farmers. Its village is small. about the
size of Brdport. The proof of the good
ness or badness of Il law of so wide scope
as this school law j. to be sought. not in
what its friends or enemies. reasoning
abstractly. may say it will or not accom-
plish. but in the experience of the towns
that give it trial. Nor will its opera
ton in cities and large villages serve to
guide the actions of voters in the average
town. But IlineSbdrgh is Just like scores
of other towns. so that the experience
had there is worthy of consideration by
voters in almost every one of the towns
in this county.
As the voters are again to decide on
Tuesday next what their respective towns
will do about the matter. we will repeat
the statement, made year ago. of the
main features of the law regarding the
town system. When "A town votes to
adopt the town system. the school dis
tricts cease to exist after the first day of
April next, except for the purpose of set
Ting their affairs. School houses and
other district property is appraised by
three persons named by the assistant
Judges of the county court: "and the
amount of such appraisal shall stand to
the credit of the several school districts
respectively, to be adjusted, allowed and
equalized between such districts by ap-
plying such valuations upon the taxes
thereafter assessed, under the provisions
of this chapter, upon the grand list of
the several school districts; and such
school houses and other property shall
become the property of the town." In
case of fractional district, the town in
which the school house is situated takes
possession of the house and other prop
erty and the selectmen of the towns con-
cerned decide the proportion of the prop
erty owned by the inhabitants of the 9TH
er town or towns: and if the sCiectmen
cannot agree, the assistant judges appoint
commissioners to make the appraisal.
The same meeting which adopts the town
system must choose a board of three or
six school directors, One-third To serve
one year, one-third two years and the
rest three years; and at each town meet
/ ing thereafter successors are chosen to
those whose terms then expire. If va
cancy occurs, the selectmen appoint, the
appontee serving till the following town
meeting. The directors, on or before the
/ first of April, elect one of their number
chairman. They also choose one, not of
themselves, clerk, who records their do
| ings, and makes the returns to the town
clerk which under the district sys-
ten are made by the district clerks.
The directors are sworn. They have
the care of the school property, ''shall
prescribe the number of schools, employ
teachers and fix their compensation, have
the management of the public schools,
examine and allow claims arising there
from and draw warrants for the pay
ment of such claims upon the town treas
urer, and in general shall have the pow
ers and perform the duties of the pru-
dental committee and clerk of "A school
district. They may establish graded
schools and provide for the instruction of
scholars in the higher branches, and may
make regulations, not inconsistent with