St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-11-22
For the CALIFORNIAN
THE SCHOOLS OF VERMONT.

Farmers of Vermont, what are you
thinking about, to hear the cry for the
town system of schools If it means
the consolidating of the school dis
tricts, or rural districts, we do not sup
pose it means to have the village
schools interferred with in the least. If
it means to have districts equally di-
vided off, calling villages and towns
to meet the country districts half way
it might be fair play in wrong act.
But we do not expect that. A certain
few want to make serfs of the farming
class, step far advanced in monarchy.
We claim we can hire as good teachers
and have as good schools if parents
will do their duty as in former years,
before the school laws bound us hand
and foot.
! L want to ask any mother if she
wants her little ones sent two, three
or more miles from home to school. If
so how are they to get there 2 1t has
been suggested that team go around
and gather up the scholars. What will
that cost, and will the conveyance be
kept on hand to take home such as
may be taken sick, as is often the case,
and need Immediate care 2 There are
too many delicate children TO be left
to the care of thoughtless learned men
that do not take in the whole situation.
| Oh, no!
One word to the farmers who have
beautiful homes. Do you want your
farms removed two, three, or four
miles from schOol2 Surprising you
want to sell you find a purchaser and
arrangements are about completed,
when the question is asked, GLOW far
is it to school 2" "Oh, it is about three
miles since the town system was es-
tablished. 1t took the school away
from us. 1t used to be quite near"
"Well, Mr.. H." replies the wOuld-be-
buyer, 81 am very sorry, like your
place very much, but L have three lit
tie children to send to school, and |
can not afford to carry them so far, it
would cost more than to hire teach
Ell in my house. No, l cannot buy
yonr farm, but why do you want to
sell ?" "Well, to tell you just the truth,
it is OH that account. L expected my
youngest son to stay with me on the
Iarn, Dut lie saw now 1t was 10 De WITH
the little ones, and his wife strongly
objected to the school privileges, or
want of privileges, so he has gone. He
advised me to sell the place and retire.
My oldest son is Il lawyer in western
state; the second is in the mercantile
business the third is studying for Il
Dr., so you see | shall hardly have Il
farmer in the lot, and | have to thank
those few weak minded, or one sided
men for it. 1t is the worst thing that
ever happened to the rural class"
Now don't you think there are more
of our smart men in the country that
have come from the rural ranks ? Yes,
it is Il fact, we ought to have aroused
ourselves before the act was passed,
and |, for one, do not feel fiattered that
we do not possess the ability of hiring
ii teacher or knowing if we have good
school. When | went to school there
were forty scholars, and some of the
higher branches were taught. | studied
Algebra, Surveying and Ancient His
tory. OF course the teacher worked
hard us well us the scholars, and | do
believe we might have as good schools
now if the office seekers were set aside.
This is one pen picture.
| hope before more laws are passed
in regard to schools the wise men will
be sure ofan Improvement. Truth.