Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-11-06


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-
ton to her doors. This was the thought that
inspired the legislation nnder which the com
missioner was appointed, and that impelled
him in his effort to direct the tide of foreign
emigration to state.
After much thought | am unable to avoid
the conclusion that the only plan of relief for
the overburdened farmer in sparsely-populated
towns, that offers any hope of success, lies in
the direction Of this experiment.
In the Swedes who have been induced 10
settle here, the commissioner is confident a
beginning has been made which will eventually
result in a great and lasting benefit to the
state; and after 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 iudicious
effort, he hopes and expects to reach others
OF the same class who have means suffi-
Gent to enable them 10 make advance pay
Inents upon farms they may purchase. and
who will enter vigorously upon their cultiya-
ton.
The question presented is one of real impor-
lance. Upon you alone rests the responsibility
iof deciding whether. in this critical period OF
the state S history. you will abandon exper-
iment that offers any hope of increasing our
population, and thus take a 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 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 Ii was the outgrowth
of a conviction long entertained by thoughtful
persons that the schools Of the state never
could rise to a proper degree Of excellence un-
til the teachers should, as class. reach
higher standard, b tn in scholarship and in a
knowledge OF teaching. and that this standard
could only be reached by those who look upon
teaching a profession. and are willing 10
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
eTs Institutes. That these agencies have done
effective work is evident 10 all who are in
position 10 Judge. The reports Of the super
yisors represent that. even among the teachers
long employed, there has been great increase
OF interest in their work; that they have been
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
10 keep abreast with the best educational
thought
The result Of the new methods Of examine
ton with their higher standard, was to deter
certain number of those who had intended to
teach from entering the lists Some Of these
young, and anticipating that the examine
ton more difficult than IL proved 10 be.
had not the COURAGE 70 take il: Others who
older. but whose education was OF
superficial character, also declined; 50 that
during the past few months OF the operation OF
the law. there scarcity of teachers in
some of the districts where low wages had
been paid. and, AS a consequence, teachers
wages 50 advanced that m the poorer towns
and districts much complaint was made re-
gardng the operation Of the law. II 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 were able 20 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
triets where the cheapest teachers were form
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
perintendent has made careful study Of their
difficulties and the facts he has brought 10 light
in relation to the inequalities in taxation for
school purposes are positively startling. From
tables he has prepared il appears that while
there are towns in the state in which the av-
erage rate Of taxation for school purposes
amounts to only seventeen cents the dollar
Of the grand list. there others where IL
amounts to seventy-hye 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 a town like Ben
nington one district escapes with a tax OF SIX
cents on the dollar OF the grand last. while
another is subject to the burden of a tax ten
times as great in its rate. The same also APP
pears to be true in Brattleboro, where one dis
trict requires tax Of only ten cents on a dollar
of it's 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 centfwhile in anotheri 1t is two
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 for
school purposes in every town where the dis
trict system has been retained.
The commissioners who presented the draft
of the present law to the Legislature recon-
mended uniform annual town tax Of eighteen
per cent to be divided among the different
districts according to the provisions now exist
ing. butin 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 poorer
districts to which they seem to be entitled. and
il has no tendency whatever 10 relieve those
overburdened towns in which the average rate
of school taxation ranges from forty to one