The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-10-09
MANCHESTER, VT. MONDAY, OCTOBER G. 1890


maintained, and agents have been sent 10 all
parts Of Earope for recruits. What Is true in
Vermont il true IN every part 81 the land;
farms are waiting for purchasers. aud the state
thar makes the most intelligent and we'll.
sustained effort rs the one that brings eniRra-
ton 10 her doors. This wis the thought that
inspired the Legislation under which the come
missioner was appointed. and that impellc,l
him in his effort Ia direct tLr tide Of fnsign
emigration 70 our state. X
After much though am unable 10 avoid
the oouclus that tia only plan of relief for
tho oyerburleBed farmer IN spafsely -populaied
towns that offers an, hope u success. lbs hi
the direction u this experiment. a. (
In the Swedes Who have been induced 10
settle here, the commissioner Is confident d
beginning has been made which viii eventually
result in a great and lasting benefit TO the
state; and after u 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 ben-
NAL period upon which we are now entering.
Through the favorable reports OF those now
among us, supplemented by other iudieions
effort, he hopes and expects TO reach others
Of the same class who have means sufh-
eient 10 enable them to make advance pay
ments upon farms they may purchase. and
who will enter vigorously upon their eultiya-
ton.
The question presented is one Of real impor-
lance. 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 enterprising sister states,
both east and west,. you will reach out after
desirable emigration from whatever source il
may be derived. In closing can only recon-
mend that you make a patient, careful and
candid study of the problem as presented by
the commissioner, and take such action ms 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 Ii was the outgrowth
Of 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 a class reach a
higher standard b III IN scholarship and in a
knowledge of teaching, and that this standard
could only be reached by those who look upon
teaching as a profession. and are willing 10
apply themselves TO patient study of its prn-
cples 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 10 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 vaiions 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 10 deter
certain number of those who had intended to
teach from entering the lists Zone of these
were young, and, anticipating that the examine
ton was more difficult than il proved 10 be,
had not the courage to take it. 0thssks ~ ho ~
were older. bur whose education was Of
superficial character also declined: SO that
during the past few months Of the operation of /
the law, there was scarcity of teachers in
some Of the districts where low wages had
been paid. and, AS "A consequence, teachers
wages so advanced that in the poorer towns
md districts much complaint was made re-
yarding the operation of the law. II appears,
however that during the year following many
II the younger and brighter teachers who had
It first shrunk from the examination applied
themselves 10 their studies, and taking ON new
courage found that they were able to procure
tTtnCaltSs ana tnuS encouraged. tlltN nave. I
mt red the ranks of teachers and are pliisIl-
ny their work with success. The result seems
o be that there il now no particular scarcity of
eachers, though it Is undoubtedly true that,
With their increased competency, wages are
omewhat higher, particularly in those dis
rcts where the cheapest teachers were form
rly employed
The complaints regarding the operation of
he present law come as before stated. mostly
hal 4n tu,,t aud Ituf,.n ..,I nt.tn
lmost wholly TO the matter of expense. In
lis investigation of these complaints. the su-
erintendent has made careful study of their
and the facts he has brought 10 light
D relation to the inequalities in taxation for
cbool purposes are positively startling. From
ables he has prepared il appears that while
here are towns in the state in which the ay-
rage rate Of taxation for school purposes
mounts 10 only seventeen cents on the dollar
{ the grand list there are others where it
mounts TO seyenty-iyc cents, and one in which
uch average rate is one hundred and thirty
ents.
The same disparity in the rate of school
axes that exists among the different towns ex-
It's also in as great degree among the differ
nj districts in individual towns. In the vii
,ges where the GRAND list il large the taxes
re light; while in the hill districts where the
rand list is small. they are almost uniformly
urdensome. | notice that III a town like Ben
ington one district escapes with tax Of six
ents on the dollar Of the grand list, while
mother is subject 10 the burden Of a tax ten
mes as great in It's rate. The same also APP
ears to be true in Bratleboro, where one dis
net requires a tax Of only ten cents on dollar
its grand list. while another requires one
nndred; while in bakersfield, the disparity
.acbes It's greatest extreme, and the contrast
the condition Of the people in different dis
tets in this respect is exhibited by the fact
lat in one district the rate Of school taxation
only seven per cent, sbils.in snotbcrit is two
undred and fifteen per cent? These. Of course.
re extreme instances. and yet you will prob
bly, be surprised when you examine the tables
repaired by the superintendent and note the
-eai inequalities that exist In ls,Aation for
hooI purposes in every town where the dis
yet system has been retained ~
The commissioners who presented the draft
the present Law to the legislature recon-
ended uniform annual town fax 81 eighteen
y cent, 10 be divided among the different
strci according to the provisions now exist
3, but in the enactment u the Law. snch town
K WAS fixed al twelve cents. aud has proved
h. inadequate 10 afford that aid 10 the poorer
stricis to which they seem 10 h. entitled. and
has no tendency whatever 70 relieve those
erbnrdened towns in which the average rate
school taxation ranges from forty 10 one
inbred thirty cents on the dollar Of their