The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-16
VERMONT SCHOOLS.

The County Boards of Education met
throughout the State last week and elect
ed the County Supervisors, as follows ::
Addison county, Principal E, A. Hassel-
tine of Bristol academy Bennington
county, Principal E. w. Howe of North
Bennington Graded Schools Caledonia
county, w. II. Taylor of Hardwick !;
Essex county, j. II. Walbridge of West
Concord Franklin county, II. E. Rus
tedt, late States Attorney and leading
lawyer of Richford Grand Isle county,
w. N. Phelps of South Hero {; Lamoille
Hyde Park Graded Schools Orange
county, e.. W. Goodhue of Wells River ;
Orleans county, Mason Stone of West
field Rutland county, Principal w. F.
Walker of the Proctor High School ;
Washington county, Rev. l. p. Booth of
Mortified Windham county, l. II.
Dunbar of White River Junction.
The people of Windhau county do not
take kindly to the Ignoring of home
talent" as is shown by E. w. Gibson of
Londonderry in published letter, which
we copy "Much dissatisfaction is ex-
pressed hereabouts at the necessity of
going to New Hampshire for Supervis-
or of Schools for Windham county.
Three or four candidates, residing with.
in the county, were in the field, but the
Board ignored them in such a way as to
insult not only the candidates, but Wind.
ham county and the State of Vermont as
well. To be sure there is nothing in the
law that limits the residence of Super
visor to the county from which he is
chosen but here the question arises,
why couldn't New Hampshire, or some
other State, furnish us with all of our
county officers as well as supervisor ?h
We think the point is well taken, and
doubt if another instance can be found
of going into another State to elect a
State official. Why could not all the
supervisors have been elected from citi-
zens of Canada or British Guiana, as
well as of any other of the United
States
This is all germane criticism because
of the duties and makeup of our school
officers under the new system. The
county boards are composed of one
member from each town, who are elect
ed at the annual March meeting. These
educational boards constitute a Text
Book Committee for their respective
counties, and are charged with respon-
sible duties. We know this has been
disputed, but the action of a ajority
of the school boards indicate that they
consider themselves a textbook COM
mittee. Much public interest has been
taken in the election of Supervisors, as
the friends of education everywhere felt
the necessity of selecting capable and
efficient men for this office. The school
law makes the position of County Super
visor one of considerable responsibility
and importance. The duties of the office
embrace all of the work hitherto done
by Town Superintendent, in addition
to the jurisdiction of the county as
whole. The Supervisor will have imme-
date supervision of the schools in the
county, and he is required to visit each
district and note the progress made. He
is also to observe the condition of the
school buildings and theiI appointments,
rnd make such recommendation to the
officers of the district as he shall deem
necessary. He is required to see that
towns comply with the law in the APP
preparation, apportionment and expen-
diture of funds from town treasures for
the support of the schools, and he may
recommend changes in the boundaries
of school districts, which must be acted
upon. The Supervisor is to conduct
teachers examinations and issue certifi-
Gates to such as pass the required test,
and he is to revoke or annul the eertifi-
cate of any teacher whom he finds in
competent to teach or govern a school,
In addition to the above-named there
are certain contingent duties resting up
on the Supervisor. He may be called
upon by the State Superintendent to
conduct teachers institutes in his own
or other counties. He may require the
attendance of all teachers in any town
on any Saturday during term time to
meet for instruction in school work and
school methods, and at the request of
teachers he must meet them for that
purpose. He may investigate as to the
employ ment OF children of school age
in mills and factories contrary to law.
No school can be held in the county be-
tween the last day of June and
the last day in August without special
permission of the Superintendent.
From this it will be seen that great
change from our old ways is contempla-
ted. We hope friends of the system
have been chosen so that it may have
fair trial.