Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-02-28
SHALL RANDOLPH CHANGE Q

Facts Regarding the Effect of the xex,
Law.
Having been asked by several to define
some points in the New School Law.
and how it would affect this town, we
have carefully looked the matter up, and
present the following facts:
The usual article is in the warning .ero
/. see if the town will vote TO abolish the
! town system of schools and adopt the
distric. system
Randolph can legally vote out
There is now different district system
from that of a year ago.
IL is well to enquire and ascertain can
didly what we are voting out of and shall
vote into if the article is adopted.
Every voter should examine this ques-
tion fairly and without prejudice.
Since the yexed question of equaliza-
ton of school district property has pass
ed by, for the past three years, there has
been an equal tax on all the districts of
25c on the dollar. In nearly every dis
trict 80 weeks school has been maintained
There is now nearly $4,000 to COM
mence another year, or enough to pay
for the spring-summer term if the town
realms the present system. or enought o
epotevery school house in town in good
pair.
relIence it is safe to say that 25c on the
liar will furnish 30 weeks school for
each district that has scholars enough to
make a school and keep all the school
houses in good repair.
Now how does the district system ap-
pear in a financial point of view.
Under the new law if the town adopt
the district system we shall have TO raise
what is called state school tax of II cts.
ON the dollar.
Each district must raise tax of at
least 10 cts. on the dollar, none of which
can include anything for repairs, or pur-
chase of school property, so that each
person must pay at least pc on the dol
lar, and repairs and keeping up school
property in addition.
The school property cannot be kept up
for cents on the dollar. Every one
knows who is acquainted with the sub
ject that this is the case. Hence it will
cost more under the new law than in the
town system. See sections 237, Dds and
239 of the new law. If the district sys-
TEN be adopted there must be an equali-
zation of school property, (see sects. IA,
l45, and those following Some districts
where considerable repairs have been
made will have quite large taxes TO pay
for this equalization. See. l49 is so inn
portant we re-publish it, (the italics are
ours.N
SEC. l49. At the annual town meeting
at which the town system of schools is
abolished, the voters shall elect clerk
for each school district, who shall be a
voter in such district. And such clerk
shall call The first meeting of said school
district. which shah be held on the last
Tuesday of Jane merit succeeding said tolca
meeting. by posting up notice as provided
by law for holding the annual meetings
in school districts; and said school dis
trict may at this meeting elect officers
for the year ensuing, and do any business
that school districts may do at their an
nual meetings.
Under the new law there can be no
schools in this town. should the district
system be adopted, until the last Monday
in August. The new law is at best an
experiment and those best informed re-
gard IL as a very doubtful one at that,
aud very few have any confidence in its
long duration.
Its success depends as before stated,
almost wholly on the county supervisors
aud these are armed with authority more
arbitrary than any board of school d.ree-
tors.
Let every voter. outside of graded
school. no. Is, which has no voice in the
matter, settle the question as he thinks
will be for the best interests of the
schools Of Randolph, and decide wheth-
er he wishes to change from a known
system to one That is practically untried.