Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-02-26

The answer to the first OF the above gu 's
tons is, that in most of the towns the mum
Der Of schools has not materially changed
the ma jority, perhaps we may say, support
the same number OF schools AZ under the dis
trict system few support more, and several
less
The answer to the second question is en-
phatcally and universally, Yes, in every town
where the system has been adopted any length
OF time.
The answer to the third in every instance
is that I'VE have built new school houses
wherever they were needed, and furnished
them with the needed improvements, and
have more weeks of schooling aud a better
grade OF teachers consequently our school
expenses have increased a small per cent"
Several of our correspondents make especial
mention OF the fact that when they get good
| teachers they retain them through q series OF
terms. thereby adding much TO the value OF
their schools.
The answer to the fourth question is that,
| while il requires care, there 10 in fact no diff
Guilty in a practical application Of the law in
taking the school district property and equal
| izing the grand list.
The answer to the fifth question cannot be
given with simple yes or no, and none OF
| our correspondents undertake to say that eve
| ~ one is satisfied, or that the system was
adopted in their towns without opposition.
| One correspondent tells US that in his town
they adopted the system some three years ago
in the same hasty manner as the town Of
| Nottingham did in this county, and upon re-
Election concluded that they made q mistake,
and voted to rescind but, upon taking legal
advice, they found they could not and the
school board established the schools, and for
three years they have been maintained with a
constantly growing public opinion in their ia
vor. The universal testimony OF all our cor
respondents is that the longer and more thor
oughly the system is tried in a town. the more
firmly it becomes fixed in public favor, as the
following from the Burlington Free Press Of
the 18Th, on the town school system in Hines
burg, fully attesls
1.-THE town system Of schools was adopted In Hines
| burgh In 1871, aud has steadily worked its way up
ward In public favor Az the time Of it's adoption the
town nearly divided but now, after trial Of is
years, few, If any, would wish to return to the old
way. Seven new school houses have been built,
which Tor convenience aud adaptabity 60 school pur
poses a great improvement on the old 1t is safe
to say that few country towns have better school
houses than Hinesburgh. The number Of schools
under the district system was IL, the number main-
tanned under the town system Is 49, the average NUM-
Der Of weeks OF school in year under tue old system
was 25 under the new Is 80 The average cost per
week Of the schools in 1870 $500; the average
cost per week In 1855 was 50 o. or course these hg
ures do not include repairs, II we compare the ef
cheney OF the schools under the two systems the re-
suits decidedly in favor OF the town system. Dis
trict quarres are entirely eliminated, Uniformity Of
the schools is maintained from year to year, with
scarcely any friction. The burden OF school support
in some districts under the old system onerous
often from 90 to 100 per cent Of the grand list Now
that It is borne equally by oil rarely exceeds 25 per
cent For the last ave years the town has raised but
IS per cent school tax aud this has maintained the 10
primary schools and high school of AZ weeks each
year. The Hinesburgh school board numbers six,
elected for three years, and with the exception Of the
chairman, who acts as town superintendent, they
ceiYe pay. school supervision, although under the
direction Of the whole board, is really divided amoug
the directOrs- each director has two schools, the
superintendent having three to provide for aud with
in certain limits each director IL free To his
schools as he peases, as prudential committee, but
he is accountable for all his acts to the full board and
extravaganza and nepOtism IL checked. Tho direc
tors advise much together, so that uniform rate of
wages and other expenses 10 maintained thus the bur
den of supervision is reduced 10 minimum, aud
while there Is plenty Of for improvement, ye
tue success uniformly attained for series of years
has been all that could 10 reasonably expected. Per
haps fairer town could be selected 10 which 10 es
this system than Hnesburgh II has all the diversity
of HILL valley aud plain, not only In its topography
but In the life and character Of its people; aud thai
the town system meets the wants OF all, aud has work
ed Its way, through an opposition which proved al
most fatal IN the early days Of It's adoption TO be uni
yersaly esteemed, is Indicative, at least that It hal
great merit. Its friends have been confirmed b.
years of trial. aud its opponents converted seneet
by its superiority the antiquated and numbering
q district system"
/ The answer TO the sixth and last question
8 ! can best be given By presenting the principA