Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-10-10

are 100 UOWnS WIeTt tDt nlRneSb Tdlt tACttuH
1874 per cent; that there are 119 towns where
it exceeds so per cent; that there are rs
towns where IL exceeds 10 per cent; that
there are 80 towns where 1t exceeds 100
per cent, and several where it exceeds 200
per cent. These figures disclose q 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 discriminates, sending two-thirds OF
the children to schools of 80 and SO weeks,
and the other third to shorter and poorer
schools, compelling one man to pay one rate
of taxes, and another man another rate to
support the same system, system that
prevents crime, promotes industry, and
powerful agency in protecting the state. L
say these figures disclose great wrong
reaching into nearly every town in the
state-that ought not to be 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 good
school is an impossibility without good
teacher, and that 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 a small one.
There are 141 schools in the state of not
more than & scholars, and AL OF not more
than u scholars. 1t is evident that there is
large number of these districts that ought
to he united with other districts. Super
visor Goodhue reports that there are 80 such
in Orange county. If these had been united
with other districts, it would have saved
that county at least $1,000. In New Hamp-
shire, where the condition is similar to that
in Vermont, 1871 schools were discontinued
in 1SS6-S7, by uniting with other schools.
The schools in the town of Mddletown
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
is great. THE superintendent has personal
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
therefore recommended that section 2GS be
amended, so that all alterations of school
districts shall be made by the seectmen,
and that the selectmen shall alter them on
the recommendations of the supervisors.
The supervisors will act in this respect
firmly and discreetly."
The superintendent next comes to the sub
iect of free textbooks. He says: There
has been considerable discussion and dis
agreement as to whether towns and school
districts under section 2S6, and the last
sentence of section 172, which reads
But this shall not be held to prevent the
use Of such books as may be supplied with
out expense to the pupils, could furnish the
pupils with free textbooks. The law is not
as plain as it ought to be in this respect, and
therefore should be amended; or rather,
the superintendent is of opinion that the
law relating to free textbooks should be
repealed and the state should assume the
entire expense of such books. Equal taxa
ton, economy, the highest success of the
schools, and experience of other commu-
mites. all in demanding only
free school-houses but free textbooks for
the children of the state" Hon. John w.
Dickinson, secretary Of the Massachusetts
board of education, gives four advantages
of the free textbook system, which are
quoted by the superintendent, who adds:
The reason for insisting that the state,
instead of the towns or school districts,
should furnish the text-bo ks, is, that
it would tend to more perfect equalization
of taxes. 1t would I've made convenient for
the towns to furnish the textbooks and
would be preferable. if state school tax is
imposed by the legislature, as recon-
mended in another part of this report"
Regarding the thirteen teachers inst-
tutes which We're held during the last
school year, the superintendent says: :" The
Institutes, it was claimed, were the largest
ever held in the state. The number of
teachers attending was nearly double that
of those reported in 1885 The papers and
discussions were of high order. Methods
of teaching, principles Of education, school
discipline and class work were made promi-
nent. Teachers must have Obtained
broader and more accurate knowledge of
the real object of the public school, and OF
right methods TO make il most successful"
Speaking of the new school law. the SUI
perintendent says, in the first place, that
one year is too short "A time in which to oh
serve its effects. The difference in schools
ordina rily is the difference in teachers and
the schools advance, step by step, as the
teachers advance. The test is % are the
teachers improving?" In answer to this
question the superintendent quotes the
county supervisors, whose reports are given
elsewhere. Taking into account the pros
porous condition of the normal schools,
the unusually large number of teachers at
tending the institutes and summer schools,
and who are reading educational journals,
the thorough examination of applicants for
admission INTO the teachers profession,
together with the fact that more than fifty
teachers associations have been formed
during the year in the several towns, with
small libraries composed of books on the
art and science of teaching that many edu-
cational meetings have been held by the SUI
pervisors that nearly every teacher in the
state is a friend of the new law taking these
facts into account, the superintendent, after
having visited nearly every section of the
state, and addressed the people in public
meetings in more than forty different towns,
is persuaded that substantial progress has
been made in the schools, and that the new
law is well adapted to increase their eff
cheney" Superintendent Patterson aud
Commissioners Harris are quoted as emphat-
ically in favor of county supervision. Some
complaint regarding the increase in wages
is reported. In 1889 the average wages of
male teachers per week were S921; of fe-
male teachers, 1888. In 1890, male teach
ers received $500, and female teachers,
S6.10 In New Hampshire the wages of
male teachers in 1889 were S10S4; of female
teachers, S6.35. The superintendent has not
examined the records to learn whether the
increase has been relatively greater in the
poor districts than in the rich, but has been
informed that it has been, and therefore
advises state tax to assist them.
The following recommendations regard
ing the work of the supervisors are made I:
That the supervisor may, in his discretion,
indOrse second grade certificate; that the
selectmen shall alter the boundaries of