The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-04

been compelled to adopt this policy, and to
this end bureaus of immigration have been
maintained, and agents have been sent to all
parts of Europe for recruits What is true in
Vermont is true in every part OF the land;
farms are waiting for purchasers, and the state
that makes the most intelligent and we'll
sustained effort is the one that brings emigra-
tion to her doors This was the thought that
inspired the legislation under which the com
missioner was appointed, and that impelled
him in his effort to direct the tide of foreign
emigration to our state.
After much thought | am unable to avoid
the conclusion that the only plan of relief for
the overburdened farmer in spaisely-pOpulated
towns that offers any hope OF success, lies in
the direction of this experiment.
In the Swedes who have been induced to
settle here, the commissioner is cOnhdent
beginning has been made which will eventually
result in a great and lasting benefit to the
state; and after "A careful personal examination
of the colonies at Wilmington and Weston,
am of the opinion that the experimental action
so begun should be continued during the bien-
NAL period upon which are now entering.
Through the favorable reports of those now
among u.s. supplemented by other iudicious
effort, he hopes and expects TO reach others
of the same class who have means sutfi-
cient to enable them to make advance pay
ments upon farms they may purchase. and
who will enter vigorously upon their cultiva-
ton
The question presented is one of real mpor-
tance. Upon you alone rests the responsibility
of deciding whether in this critical period of
the states history, you will abandon an exper-
iment that offers any hope of increasing our
population. and thus take backward step; or
whether, like our enterprisng sister states,
both east and west, you will reach out after
desirable emigration from whatever source 1T
may be derived. In closing | can only recon-
mend that you make patient careful and
candid study of the problem as presented by
the commissioner and take such action as you
think will be for the highest interest of the
state.
EDUCATION.
Perhaps the most important measure adopted
at the last session of the general assembly is
the present school law. 1t was the outgrowth
of a conviction long entertained by thoughtful
persons that the schools of the state never
could rise to proper degree OF excellence un-
til the teachers should. as class. reach a
higher standard, b tn in scholarship and in
knowledge of teaching. and that this standard
could only be reached by those who look upon
teaching profession, and are willing to
apply themselves to patient study OF its prin-
ciples and methods. The elements of the law
through which such results were sought were
those relating to the examination of teachers.
county supervision and well-conducted teach
ers' institutes That these agencies have done
effective work is evident to all who are in
position to Judge. The reports of the super
visors represent that. even among the teachers
long employed there has been great increase
of interest in their work; that they have been
inspired with new courage and zeal; that they
are taking great pride IN achieving success. and
that nearly all are supplying themselves with
the various periodicals and treatises on school
work, and in every way possible. are striving
to keep abreast with the best educational
thought.
The result of the new methods of examine
ton with their higher standard, was to deter a
certain number of those who had intended to
teach from entering the lists. Some of these
were young. and anticipating that the eNanna-
ton was more difficult than it proved to be,
had not the courage to take it. Others who
were older. but whose education was of
superficial character. also declned; so that
during the past few months of the operation of
the law, there was scarcity OF teachers III
some of the districts where low wages had
been paid and, as a consequence, teachers
wages advanced that in the poorer towns
and districts much complaint made
garding the operation of the law. 1t appears,
however, that during the year following many
of the younger and brighter teachers who had
at first shrunk from the examination applied
themselves to their studies. and taking on new
courage found that they able to procure
certificates; and thus encouraged, they have
ent red the ranks of teachers and are pursu-
ing their work with success. The result seems
to be that there is now no particular scarcity of
teachers, though it is undoubtedly true that,
with their increased competency, wages are
somewhat higher, particularly in those dis
IIlClS NIltTt llt cHtdltSl ltdtHtIS WERE lbIlll-
erly employed.
The complaints regarding the operation of
| the present law come, as before stated. mostly
| from the back towns and districts, and relate
almost wholly to the matter of expense. In
| his investigation of these complaints. the su-
perintendent has made careful study of their
difficulties, and the facts he has brought to light
i'll relation to the inequalities in taxation for
school purposes are positively startling. From
tables he has prepared it appears that while
thar in tha Stn in NNl iah tha ~
erage rate of taxation for school purposes
amounts to only seventeen cents ON the dollar
of the grand list, there are others where it
amounts to seventy-tve cents, and one in which
such average rate is one hundred and thirty
cents.
The same disparity in the rate of school
taxes that exists among the different towns eX-
lists also in as great degree among the differ
ent districts in individual towns. In the vii
lagos where the grand list is large, the taxes
are light while in the hill districts where the
grand list is small, they are almost uniformly
burdensome. | notice that in town like Ben
nngton one district escapes with a tax of six
cents on the dollar of the grand list. while
another is subject to the burden of a tax ten
times as great in its rate. The same also ap-
pears to be true in Brattleboro, where one dis
trict requires tax of only ten cents on dollar
of its grand list, while another requires one
hundred while in Bakersfield. the disparity
reaches its greatest extreme and the contrast
in the condition of the people in different dis
tricts in this respect is exhibited by the fact
that in one district the rate of school taxation
is only seven per cent, while in anotherit is tive
hundred and fifteen per cent. These, of course
are extreme instances and yet you will prob
ably be surprised when you examine the tables
prepared by the superintendent and note the
great inequalities that exist in taxation foi
school purposes in every town where the dis
tiict system has been retained.
The commissioners who presented the draf
of the present law to the legislature recon-
mended II uniform annual town tax of eighteeI
per cent, to be divided among the ditieren
districts according To the provisions now exist
ing but in the enactment of the law, such town
tax was fixed at twelve cents, and has PROVED
to be inadequate to afford that aid to the poore
districts to which they seem TO be entitled, anC