Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-02

misslonsrs and upon the men selected for
these positions In the various towns through
tho State on March z will in a
large measure depend the success
Of the new school law and the new
highway law. While it is always desirable
that good men be selected for town officers
it is particularly necessary that every town
in the State choose men who are especially
qualified to I'll these respective offices and
thus ensure the success of the laws which
wero placed on the statute book only after
the most persistent agitation and strenuous
efforts on the part OF their promoters.
We desire in this connection, however, to
speak especially of the new school law.
This law provides for the election In each
town OF board of school directors to con-
sist OF three or six members, and it will be
practically necessary for each town to de-
eide at the coming March meeting which
number it will have for a series of years.
The term OF office is three years except for
the board elected this year, and each sue
ceeding year q new director is to be elected
il three are chosen this year and two each
succeeding year il six are elected. Mem
bers of tue first board will therefore
be elected for one, two and three years re-
spectiveiy, The law also provides that the
directors "shall have care Of the school
property of the town and the management
of its schools, determine their number and
their locations employ teachers and fix
their compensations examine and allow
claims arising in school matters, draw or
ders on the town treasury for the payment
Of school bulls, and shall in general, have
the powers, and perform the duties hereto
fore devolving upon prudential committees
and clerks of school districtsh
1t is the duty of the directors to maintain
each year, at the expeuse of the town for
twenty six weeks, Il sufficient number Of
schools for the instruction of all the chill
dren who may legally attend the school.
1t is also expressly stated that the schools
must be held in such places and at such times
as will best eubserve the interests of edu-
cation and give all the scholars Of tho town
as nearly equal school privileges as possible.
The directors must appoint superintend
emit of schools and a clerk of the board, who
shall keep the records and perform the du-
ties now discharged in part by district
clerks
The principal objection to the new law is
met by a provision for the transportation
OF children In remote districts to and from
the schools, and it is the duty of the direct
ors to see that persons are secured for this
work who will give tie children proper
care regards behavior as well as comfort
/ Experience and study Of the duties of
| the board 60 to show that board of three
| will DO more likely to answer the three re
| quirements of efficiency, expedition and
economy than one any larger. 1t will he
! less disposed to harbor those serious divi6-
ions of opinion that would be fatal to
prompt action, and less likely to be unfaith-
full because responsibility would be less
divided.
There are various questions which cannot
be answered OH the spur of the moment
in town meeting and resi- lents should give
this matter careful attention. Experience
must be expected and relied upon to correct
many mistakes made in tho early admins
tration Of the new law, but many blunderi
may be obviated by thorough preliminary
discussion. There still remains time before
town meeting for consideration of the chic
features and demands of the incoming town
system in connection with the selection OF
efficient directors and justice to the educa
tional interests of the State as well as t,
the system itself demands the most careful
attention to the selection of school directors