St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-08-21
Gbe CALIFORNIAN.
"a. John-bary, Thursday, Aug. FL, 1890
SUPERVISOR TAYLoR,s REPORT.

"A l.
The following facts relative to the
schools of Caledonia county are
taken from Supervisor Taylor's an
nual report in the Hardwick Gazette:
There are in this county 17S school
districts. The districts during the
past year have maintained 1872
schools, seven less than the previous
year This decrease is the result OF
the union of several small districts
with larger ones. There are 1896
children between five and eighteen
years of age, 1858 boys, 2643 girls.
OF this number 1905 have attended
public schools, 319 have attended
Academies and private schools and
365 are reported by the Parochial
schools, making a total of 1889 who
have attended some school at some
time during the year. Children OF
school age to the number of COZ have
had no benefit of any kind, a large
per cent of whom are included in the
compulsory period, eight to fourteen
years. The attendance of those re-
ported in school is, in many cases,
very unsatisfactory, ranging from Il
few days to a few weeks of the school
year The fault is largely that of the
parents When parents realize the
importance of constant attendance
the problem will be nearer solution.
There should be sentiment suffl
GENTLY strong among the intelligent
people of the district to guarantee
the fullest benefits of the public
school to every child in the district.
There are Is schools that have less
than six scholars and "A that have
not exceeded - scholars. In several
cases two or more of these little dis
tricts ought to be united.
Twenty-three different male teach
ers were employed at an average OF
$S95 per week and 800 female
teachers at an average of $5.SS per
week, including board. The report
shows an increase in wages of IS per
cent over the previous year, as a re-
suit of more stringent examinations
He protests against changing teach
ers every term as derOgatOry to the
interests of pupil, parents and teach
er. In 53 schools the same teacher
has been retained three terms, i'll 60
two terms and in 70 the teacher was
changed each term. There are now
2O3 licensed teachers. The schools
have received $14, O75 public money,
S31 $685. from direct taxes and
S72O.92 from other sources, making
a total of $40, 315.77. OF this sum
$50, $50 81 has been paid for wages
and board of teachers, So, SO1 CT for
fuel, 50, 659.S4 for repairs, $S79-15
for new buildings, So, Col 80 for in
cidentals and $567.7O for new furni-
turc, making the total expenditure
for school purposes $44, 963-O3,
decrease of $136.75 from the total
expenditure of the years 'S7-SS and
of So, 931 OF from that of 'S6S7.
The average rate per cent of district
taxes is 1898. In schools of "a
weeks the average is 1904 per cent,
while in schools of 80 or more weeks
is only 23.72 per cent. The lowest
rate reported was 6 per cent, the
highest 125 per cent, on the grand
list. In every town there is great
inequality III the rate of taxation.
How long will local prejudice make
this state of affairs possible? Eighty
nine schools with 1903 pupils have
had "a weeks of school; 50 schools
with 2O71 pupils have had 80 or
more weeks. The average number
of weeks for all the schools of the
county is 26.95, an increase over
previous years About so teachers
were graduates of high schools or
academies and l 3 were graduates of
normal schools.
Seven different teachers associa-
ton, to one of which all teachers are
to belong while teaching,
have been organized. Each assOcIa-
ton has a library of standard works
on educational subjects, thus placing
within the reach of all, books that
many could not hope to obtain other
wise These assOcia tons hold meet
ings every fourth Saturday during
term time, one of which is attended
by the supervisor each Saturday.
The beneficial results growing out of
these meetings and the library priv
leges have been great. The assOcia-
ton meetings are public and parties
are invited to attend
Four examinations have been held
anu ZOG Gel duI
the year. He urges people to show
an interest in the school by visiting
it personally. The exchange of text
books will have to be made before
the opening of the fall term. Agents
have already been appointed in all
the towns to transact the business
of exchange and introduction. If
Vermont aspires to rise from the I'M
position, concerning educa-
tional matters that she has content
ed herself with in the past, she must
recede from her "penny-wise' policy
SO generally practiced, and treat her
schools with that liberalitv to which
their Importance entities them.
but beware Of false econ
Omy
Let the prudential committee in
spect their school houses and see
that they are repaired, clean, and
with necessary furniture,
that the grounds are cleared of rub
Dish and made attractive, and that
the Out-buildings are put up in decent
shape. Let the people bestir them
selves and lend hand to help on the |
work of school reform.
PREJTDICF IN CHINA