The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-11
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.

In addition to TIE taxation subject Oh
! Legislature has other matters demand
ing action now before t. A measure
} paramount Importance to Ihe people o
the State to come before the Genera
Assembly is that providing for n morI
effective common school system. Tn,
district system, as at present admins
tered, has outlived its usefulness, anC
the town system does not seem to neet
with sufficient popular favor to warrant
the Legislature making the adoption Of
the system compulsory on the towns
The Legislature, recognizing the neces-
sity of solving the educational problem
intelligently, the General Assembly Of
1886 enacted law err titled IAN act az
pointing committee of three to draft a
new Educational B II so as to increase
the efficiency and improve the public
schools of the State Under this a
committee consisting of Hon. Loveland
Munson of Manchester, President Ezra
Brainerd of Middlebury College, and
Principal S. w. Landon of the Burling-
ton High School was appointed. This
commission has labored assiduOusly to
solve the school problem, and the result
of their efforts il embodied in a Compre-
hensive bill to revise the school laws,
which has been printed in full hut il too
long for our columns this week. We
give, however, the following principal
features
The bill provides for a State Superin.
tendent of Education, as now, the Super
intendent to be appointed by the Gov
ernor and Senate and be paid $4,000
year and his expenses. He shall hold
the Teachers Institutes, as required by
existing laws, the expense OF each not
to exceed $50. The Governor, with the
advice and consent of the Senate, APP
points at each session of the Legislature
Supervisors of Schools in each county,
providing for them "A salary that should
command the services of competent
men. These officers are t. have the i'm
mediate supervision Of the schools, under
the general control of the Superlntend-
ent of Education. Provision is made for
examinations and for granting certifi-
Gates, hich, so far as can he done by
statute, should secure efficiency in
teachers. The issuing of certificates to
candidates under Is years is forbidden.
The selection of text hooks and all the
details of administration are carefully
plON luCu lOl. luz uiSlIIOb huN tD"n
systems are both preserved, but the min
imum expense for maintaining schools
in each district must be at least IS per
cent. of the grand list 20 which the pub
lie money will be applied so far as it will
go, The public money is to be divided,
one-half up to $1,000, among the distrcts
equally; OF the next $1,000, one sixth to
be divided equally; of the next $1,000, |
oue-twtllth to be divided equally, the
to be divided equally not t., ex-
coed 5000. The remainder shall be di-
vided among the districts according to
average attendance, and register sy,-
TEN is required. No district shall receive
a sum greater than its cash expenditures
for teachers wages and The running ex-
penses of the school. Selrctmen are en-
to require schools to be taught |
where they should he and levy taxes
upon the districts for the cost of sup
port. The school age is lowered to IS |
years instead of 90, and attendance with |
in school age is made compulsory.
1t is optional with the towns TO adopt |
the town system. Each town or dis |
trict must maintain at least "a weeks of |
schools each year. County uniformity |
of school books for five years is required,
and towns may own the books if they
prefer. The selections are to be made
by board to be appointed by the Coun
ty Court, and the County Supervisor
shall be member. The Supervisors are |
to have advisory power over the lOca-
ton, construction aud repair of build |
ings. They are also to hold public ex-
aminatIons Of teachers and to grant and |
-. rnrTiItratpC Tho nGfpn IF To I,
is to be abolished. |
one State Normal school are provided |
for, Districts employing - or more
teachers may employ a person for spec
lal supervision under the committee and |
the County Supervisor.
We note by the comments of our ex-
changes, that this bill is likely to become
a law, and shall possibly give it in full
at some future time. 1t is probable that |
the Herald voices the sentiment at
when it says editorially Il
''The estimated extra cost of this new
system-$l0, 900 for the whole State is |
much less than we supposed any i'm
proved system would cost. The Legis- |
lature will hardly hesitate moment on
this account, # satisfied of the merit of
the changes proposed.
Thus early in the public considera
ton of the Commissioners bill, we do
not pretend to be able to judge of it |
wisely, but it seems to be a moderate and
studied measure of progress,
which bids fair to secure the greatest
with the least change.
Zone thing is certain; something must
be done. The people are not prepared
for the town system of school manage
ment, which works so well in other
States, and the Commission has not rec
it. But il has recommended
the hest features of that system and
the interest and responsible
ty of districts and towns, with outside
and suggestion"