The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-06-03
THE RURAL SCHOOLS.

EnnerIntenQenL
The following address was delivered
before the Windam County POMONA
Grange at meeting held at Brattleboro
last month;
In 1890 there were enrolled in the
public schools of this State 6o,6O8
scholars between the ages of five and Is
wears: 1905 attended academies, and
1920 parochial schools. Of the pupils IN
fine public schools, 1894 or nearly one
quarter of all, were in the 46 graded
schools. The average length OF the
Graded schools was 80 weeks and four
DAYS. The average length of all the
schools in the State was only y weeks
and one day. OF the 2276 school districts,
1175 with 1856 scholars-about one,
third of all-maintain schools OF only "A
weeks. In short, it is substantially true
that in 40 districts 1854 pupils were IN
schools of SO weeks; in $50 districts
2O6O2 pupils were in schools OF 30 or
more weeks: in 275 districts 2707 were in
schools of 20 and 2S weeks; and i'll ITO
districts %. $50 pupils were in schools OF
only "a weeks.
The average taxes of schools OF "a
was 80 per cent and that of schools OF ~
or more weeks was $50 per cent. 1t is
well known that these schools of "A
weeks are the small rural schools.
The five per cent State school tax law
passed by the last Legislature, will
change considerably these figures, either
to increase the length of the small
schools or to lessen the taxation Tor
their support.
SCHOOL DIsTRICT-TowN SYSTEM.
history of the past often throws
light upon the present condition, by IL
we are certainly better prepared TO
observe tendencies, and to estimate the
value and duration of existing systems.
believe it is historically true that the
school district has never been trusted by
our State as competent to educate lts
children.
The first constitution of Vermont, in
TIT, provided that school teacners
should be paid by the town. In lIol a
statute was passed authorizing towns TO
lew a tax on lands for the purpose OF
building "schoolhouses and bridges" In
1897 a school law of nine sections was
nassed. which provided that the inhabl-
tants of town
"Shall keep and support school or
schools for the instruction of youth !;
that they could divide the town into
school districts; that the inhabitants OF
Snch towns shall appoint one or more
iudicious persons in each district, VINO,
IN conjunction with the Selectmen OF
encb town. shall be and continue the
trustees of the schools in such town, till
others are or shall be appointed; and
such trustees, or major part OF them
and their successors in office, shall nave
power to appoint and remove scnool
masters" etc, land such trustees
shall keep regular and fair account OF
their doings, and render the same to the
nnnnintaH
often as they are required" etc
Tolman's Compilation, Vol. l, p. 495
SHADES Compilation, $50.
This statute remained in force unit
November, 1927. 1t would seem to give
the towns nearly the entire control o.
the schools.
In 1927 the law was changed, giving
more power to the school district; bu
at the same time it was provided tina
the towns should "choose committee
consisting of three, five or seven persons
to be STYLED the experimenting com
mittee, who shall have the general charge
and superintendence of all the public
schools in said town." Members of tn,
committee were required to visit tn
schools, and no one could teach withou
a certificate granted by this committee
After few years the section relating
to this committee was repealed, ana II
1S45 provision was made for tow
superintendence.
To-day the superintendent of edu
cation prepares the questions for exami
nation of teachers; the county examine
conducts the examinations and grant
the certificates: and the town superin
tendent has power to classify and grad
the pupils, and adopt necessary measure
for the regulation and Improvement
the schools. Neither school district no
parents have power to select text books
If a district fails to maintain school
the -selectmen can declare the office
vacant, establish school and assess
tax on the Grand list of the district t
defray the expenses.
Compulsory school laws have beel
enacted and any one violating them ma
be summoned before town officer an
fined $50.
In Boswell's Life of DR.. johnson
there is an amusing anecIote OF tw
English lords, feeble with old age, meet
ing one day, when one, retaining some {
his former wit, said to the other: "Ho
and l have been dead for three years
but we don't like to admit it,"
AS one reviews the history OF schoC
legislation in this State, and sees no,
the district has been stripped of nearl
every power, at first sight he is incline
to regard it as in the condition OF thes
old fellows, just ready to give up til
ghost; and, indeed, closer iGspectio
reveals the fact that the district exisl
only as an obstruction across the patti
way of progress.
Let us examine this question frol
another point of view, aud determiI
whether the existing conditions will nc
inevitably result in the town system, an
whether that system is not best for a
parties in the State.
The district has never been regarde
as financially able to give the children
GOOD common school education. In 1Sl
an act was passed compelling the selec
men ''to assess tax of one cent on Il
dollar on the list of the polls and ratab
estate of the inhabitants of the towI
for the purpose of schooling I'll
money was divided among the distric
according to the number of children b
tween the ages of four and IS, on CO.
dition that the district had support(
aschool for two months. This town t.
has been increased from time to time,-
in 1924 to two cents; in 1927 to thr
cents; 1912 to nine cents; and in 1888
IL cents.
The method of division was change
In 1889 one-fourth, and in 1880 one-hf
of this money was divided equally amol
the districts, without regard to the nul
l. ltuf nd