Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-12
IcRIDA Y.
Brief Sessions-The New Education Bill
The senate Committees.

Brief Sessions-The New Education Bill
The Senate Committees.
MoNTPELIER, Oct. 5.-The Senate got
together at the early hour OF $50 this
morning. Two hours later many of them
were on their way to their homes. The
chief business transacted by the Senate
was the appointment of the standing com
mittees, which were arranged in a caucus
of the senators the day before. They are
as follows:
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On Rules Senators Bates Smith and Stew
ems.
on Finance-senators Smith, Frary and
Perkins.
on Jud dIciary-senators Johnson, Taft,
Bates, Mdnsur, Fisk of Lamoile. Butteriield
On Clatms-Senators Briggs. Hammond,
Mattson. Holmes and Belt
On EducatiOn-SenatOrs Bunker StmOnds,
Fisk OF Lamoilc, Perklns and Adams.
On Agrlculture-Senato Chamoerhn, Hlg
bee and Pa kcr.
ON Manufactures Senators Cramton, Stew
On Electons-Senators Frary, Adams and
ChHmhcrin.
On Military Senators ManSur, Stranahan
and Simouds
On Railroads Senators Hammo ond, Terrll,
Holmes, Fisk of Grand Isle, Crdmton, Stevens
and King.
On Highways and Bridges Senator'S Fisk of
Grand Isle, Parker and MattisOn.
on Banks-Seuators Stranahan, Peake and
King.
On Land Taxes Senators Peake, Bunker
and Bell.
ON Prnting-Senators Perkins Fisk of La
General Committee Senators TAFT, Jones,
johnson. CrdmtOn, Bates.
On Federal NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Simonds,
Holmes and Gddiugs.
On State Prison-Senators Butterheld, Rip
ley and ierrlli.
on Insane Asylum-S Senators Giddings, Hig-
bee and Frary.
On Grand List-scnators Jones, Hammond
and Fisk OF Grand Isle.
The Senate then adjourned to Monday
next at p. III.
The House also held a short session of
two hours and then adjourned TIL Mon
day afternoon. Three bills were lutro-
duced The first, was in the interest of
agriculture, and was introduced by DR..
HOltou of BrattlebOrO, Its objects beng
the better protection of the puOic against
spurious dairy products. Bills NO. ana
3 relate to education, and one of them Is
perhaps the most important measure OF
the session, being that reported by the
COMMISSION to revise the school laws.
House bill No. ,, introduced by Mr..
Phelps of Westminster, allows towns
which have abolished the town system OF
schools and returned to the district Sys-
TEN to reposses school property by dis
taxes among the same.
THE SCHOOL BILL.
The main features OF the House bill No.
3, are as follows: The bill provides for Il
State superintendent of education as now,
and a supervisor for each county. The dis
trict and town systems are boLn presel we'd,
but the minimum expense for maintaining
schools in each district must be at least Is
per cent of the grand list, to which the
public money will he applied so far as it
will 90. The public money Is to be divid-
| ed one-half up to Sl2OO, among the dis
tricts equally of the next $1,000, one-siXth
| to be divided equally of the next $500,
/ one-tweltth TO be diviued equally the
amount to be divided equally not to eX-
| ceed 500. The remainder shall be- div Id
| ed among the districts according to aver
age attendance aud a register system Is re-
/ quired. No district shall receive sum
greater than its cash expenditures for
teachers wages and the running expenses
of the school.
Selectmeu are empowered to require
schools to he taught where they should be
and To levy taxes upon the districts for the
cost of support. The school age IS lower
| ed to IS Years instead of 20, and attendance
within school age is made compulsory.
1t is optional with the towns to adOp'
the lOND system. FSdCn lONu VI uiSlI lCl
must maintain at least "a weeks of school
each year.
County uniformity of school hooks fol
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 County Court, and the county su
pervisor shall be a member,
The supervisors are to have advisory
power over the location, construction and
repair of buildings. They are also to holC
public examinations of teachers and tC
grant and revoke certificates.
The Office of town superintendent is tc
be abolished.
Graded schools, town central schools
and one State normal school are provided
for.
Districts employing II or more teacher,
may employ person for special super
vision, under the committee and The
county supervisor.
The State superintendent shall be ap
pointed by the governor and Senate ant
he pad 5000 year and his expenses. H'
snail hold the teachers Institutes as re
qured by existing laws, the expense o
each not TO exceed $50.
4 The county supervisors shall be appoint
ed by the governor and Senate, must b'
citizens and entitled to vote in treemeni
: meeting and must reside IN the county
The supervisor for Grand Isle county shal
: be paid 500 Il year, Essex county $500, La
= HOlIle county % " duu Ia OlueI COuullt'
$1,000. All the latter must give their en-
nre time to the work. Rutland anC
5 Windsor counties are 10 have assistant su
: perVlsurS at salaries not to exceed SiOO I
. year. The supervisors and assistants snal
have their expenses paid, after audit by tn,
State auditor. Th4y must vlslU th'
schools AS often AS practicable, note tn,
methods and progress, observe the condl
ton of the buildings and apparatus aut
ascertain if all the pupils are supplieC
, with proper text books. On complaint o
/ selectmen or prudential committees spe
cial investigation shall be made by thu
? supervisor at any time. The supervisor
may hold public meetings and teachers
meetings. Teachers are required to in
, form the supervisor what schools they ar,
TO teacn.
When in the opinion of IA supervisor
district il inadequately supplied With ap
= paratus, building or furniture, he shal
{ notify the district committee and they shal
= report IL to the annual meeting.
Three grades OF certificates may b'
granted by supervisors. First grade, L
he orr Cd az bI Ian Il a. a