Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-12-02
The supplementary school Law.

The new school law, enacting the town
system of schools, was printed in full in
The Phoenix of Nov. 1S. On the last
night of the session supplementary law
regulating various school matters, was en-
acted, after a protracted contest, and re-
peated conferences between the two houses.
The law is in "a sections. The first three
sections make the legal age of pupils to
II years. No child under five years of age
is to be received into the public schools,
but school directors may establish kin
dergarten for children less than five years
old. The school year begins April and
ends the last day of March following.
Teachers are given four days in which to
attend teachers institutes or conventions.
The next II sections relate TO the provs-
ion of school registers, the manner in
which they are to be kept, and in which
the returns are to be made. Sections 10,
20 and 21 give school districts the power
to buy sites and erect or sell school build
ings; during 1898 the selectmen must ap-
praise the school-hOuses and other proper
ty in the school districts of their towns.
In case of fractional districts between
towns the seectmen are to make an equita-
BILE apportionment. The remaining sec
tions of the law, which are of the most
general interest, especially those allowing
towns to unite and employ a superintend-
ent, after the Massachusetts plan, are as
follows:
Sec - The school officers provided for by
law shall be voted for upon a separate ballot,
which shall be deposited in a ballot box other
than that in which other ballots are deposited,
and women shall have the same right that men
have to vote on all matters pertaining TO schools
and school officers in towns, cities and graded
school districts.
district chartered by special act of the legisla-
ture. the voters in said graded school district
shall not be entitled to vote in town meetings in
any matters pertaining to the schools of the town
district, or for the election of school officers in
such town.
Sec. 24 Towns may, by vote, authorize the di-
rectors to provide for the education of advanced
pupils Of school age in any graded or iucorpor-
ated schoolo or academy within the limits of the
town.
Under section p and % town superintendents
must visit the schools at least once each term,
when they must see If the school buildings and
! grounds are in proper condition, and il the
schools are properly supplied with maps, refer
| ence books, apparatus and text books
See. %. Any two or more towns. the aggregate
| number of schools in all OF which is not more
= than sixty nor less than thirty, may, by vote of
| the school directors of the several towns, unite
| for the purpose of employing a superintendent
of schools, under the provision of this act.
| Sec. %. When such union has been effected
as provided in this act the directors, whose duty
| it is Il elect a superintendent Of schools, shall
| form JOINT committee, and for the purposes Of
this act, said joint committee shall be held TO be
| the agents of the several towns forming the un-
| ion. Said committee shall meet annually, in the
| month of March, on the second Tuesday after
| the tannual town meeting, at some convenient
| place agreed upon, at ten O'Clock in the forenoon,
| and shall organize by choosing from their num-
| Der a chairman and secretary. Said committee,
| when organized, shall choose bY ballot superin-
tendent of schools; determine the relative amount
of service to be prrformed by him in each Of the
towns, fix upon his salary and apportion the
amount thereof to be paid by each town. But
said salary shall not exceed in dollars greater
number than one third the total number of weeks
of school of all the schools Of the towns forming
the union.
Sec. 30. Graded schools acting under special
charter may avail themselves of the privilege OF
section - of this act II its directors or commit
tee so elect, and said schools shall be considered
town for that purpose, and each department OF
said graded schools shall be counted a school fol
the provisions of said section.
Sec, 81 When superintendent shall hav,
been chosen as provided in section 25 OF this act
and the several towns shall have paid che appOr-
tionment as therein provided the school directors
or committee of the. several towns shall present
a bill to the auditor Of accounts for a sum equa
to twenty per cent of the town apportionment oi
the salary of such superintendent and the audit
or of accounts shall draw his order on the STATE
treasurer in favor of such town for said sum
See AZ IN towns where the town system ha
already been accepted the present school direct
Ors shall serve until the expiration Of their re
speCtve term or terms
See 81 All acts and parts Of acts inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed.
Sec. -. This act shall take effect April ], 1888
except as herenbefore provided.
The new law leaves the method of divid
ing the five per cent state school tax t
stand the same as now.