The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-01


1t is full time that the spirit of the oonsti-
tuition should pervade and shape the entire
system, as justice and expediency clearly
dictate"
Again, the superintendent discusses
equal taxation in schools where legal
studies are taught" No one claims, he
says, that it is the duty of the state, under
the present statute to provide schools of
the same grade and character in all the
towns. But it is most strenuously in
sisted that our practice and management
of the schools, and taxation to support
them, must harmonze with our theories of
schools and taxation. This undoubtedly
would require that the public schools, in
lchich are tdught those studies required bv
lar to be taught, shall be substantially Of
the same character and usefulness The
wealthy towns can, and should provide
schools where the higher branches may
be taught, and boys and girls fitted for col
lege."
The next topic discussed is "How the
fund should be divided If a state tax is i'm
posed" On this the superintendent says:
" 1t should be divided among the towns on
the same principle as the public money is
among the districts in the several towns,
namely certain amount among the towns
equally and the rest on the school popula-
ton. 1t is divided in New York in this
way. A tax on the grand list of the state,
divided per capita, is not a sufficient relief
Tables, carefully prepared by Mr.. f. A.
tlndlhi ItCtullN IIlutlldl VI Lut w dltI-
bury graded schools, are submitted in sup.
port of this statement. In concluding the
discussion of the needs of the small schools
the superintendent says; " II it is thought
that the superintendent has devoted too large
a space to the small schools. his excuse is
that he believes the only obstacle to the
complete success of the new school law is
this inequality of taxation, and, with that
rectified, we should have as good a system
of public schools as there is in America"
The second general subject to which at-
| tenton is called is that of the town sys-
tenn" The superintendent saws: The
reasons urged above for a state tax to equal
| ize taxation among the towns have equal
force in favor of the town system for the
purpose of equalizing taxes among the dis
! triCts. II is difficult to see how one reason
can be given for the support of highways,
| bridges and the poor, by tax on all the
| property Of the town, that is not of equal
| force in favor of supporting the schools in
! the same way The superintendent is aware
that there has existed in the state a strong
prejudice against the town system, but be-
| ieves that it is much less at this time: hut,
at all events, he is firmly persuaded that
the school question can never be perma-
nently settled until the burdens of taxation
are adjusted as they ought to he.
! Section 22S, as presented by the learned
commissioners to the legislature, required
the towns to raise tax of eighteen per cent
of the grand list of the town. This section
would have been very much better if it had
passed as originally drawn. 1t would have
. been a great advance in the direction of
equalization. But the present law is far
| from adequate. The old district system is
worn out: and to attempt further equalza-
ton by still more cumbersome laws relating
to distribution of the public funds would be
poor husbandry, like patching the roof or
propping the sides of an old building, when
the defect is in the foundation" AS show
ing how inequtable the present law is,
table is given, from which the figures re-
lating to few representative towns are
taken; LincOln-average rate of district
taxes, 46; lowest rate, 10; highest rate, 1B.
Ripton-average rate, %; lowest rate, 80;
highest rate, 100 Searsburg--average rate,
1870; lowest rate, 50; highest rate, 1876.
Bakersfield average rate, 80; lowest rate,
7: highest rate, 2l5. Chittenden-average
rate, 53S; lowest rate, 10; highest rate,
30. Bethel-aVerage rate, 800: lowest rate,
10: highest rate, 200. The superintendent
comments on this table as follows; Z" An
examination of these figures and those in
table VIII, shows that there are II towns
in the state where the lowest rate of dis
trict taxes exceeds 1874 per cent; that there
are 1856 towns where the highest rate exceeds
33t per cent: that there are 119 towns where
it exceeds 80 per cent; that there are rs
towns where it exceeds 20 per cent; that
there are 80 towns where it exceeds 100
per cent, and several where it exceeds 200
per cent. These figures disclose a wrong
done to the small districts, when viewed in
the light of our theories as to taxation and
the object of the public SchoOl-a wrong that
cruelty dlScrlmlnateS, sending tWO-thirdS Of
the children to schools of 80 and 30 weeks
and the other third to shorter and poorer
schools, compelling one man TO nay one rate
of taxes and another man another rate to
support the same system, system that
prevents crime, promotes industry, and a
powerful agency in protecting the state |
say these figures disclose great wrong
reaching into nearly every town in the
state-that ought not to he tolerated another
day" Hon. j. w. Patterson, superintend-
ent of public instruction in New Hampshire,
is quoted as commenting the working of
the town system in that state.
The third general subject, " combination
of small schools, is discussed as follows
" 1t is plain to most people that a good
school is an impOsSbility without good
teacher, and that a good teacher commands
good pay for his services. 1t is also settled
that, as a rule, scholars learn more in a
school OF fair size than in small one.
There are III schools in the state of not
more than scholars, and AL of not more
than - scholars. 1t is evident that there is
large number of these districts that ought
to be united with other districts Super
visor Goodhue reports that there are 50 such
in Orange county. If these had been united
, with other districts, ii would have saved
. that county at least $1,000. In New Hamp-
, in Vermont, 494 schools were discontinued
) in 1SS6-S7, by uniting with other schools.
. The schools in the town of Middletown
| Springs, VT, have all been united in two
> districts. Several districts were annexed
to the village district. The superintendent
, visited this school in the winter of 1889, and
found it in prosperous condition" In
; New Hampshire compensation is allowed
for transporting pupils where the distance
Z, is great. 1.-THE superintendent has persona
T knowledge of several cases where good
: graded schools might be established from
; small districts in this state; where, in years
past the school money, to say the least
: has not given good results. 1t is
9 therefore recommended that section 26S be
n amended, so that all alterations of schoo
$ districts shall he made by the selectmen
0 and that the selectmen shall alter them Oh
the recommendations of the supervisors
I The supervisors will act in this respect
+ firmly and discreetly,"
= The superintendent next comes to the sub
I ject of free textbooks, He says: There
: has been considerable discussion and dis
= agreement as to whether towns and school
z districts under section 2S6, and the las
- i l.