The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-04-21
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.


The questions asked related to the town
of Readsboro, but the arguments are
applicable to large number of towns.
He says: 1t would seem logical that no
school moneys either raised by taxa
ton or other sources could be used until
received. 1t would seem logical that at
the same time that schools were estab-
lished provision was made for expenses
and of necessity to apply to the future.
All funds for any enterprise, as all will
admit must be and are, provided for
prospective use. 1t would be absurd to
suppose such funds could be applied in
a retroactive sense when there was no
thing to be acted on. Just when schools
were established in Vermont, or when
the public funds from school lots, United
States deposit money, and private be-
quests, each became part, 1 have no
means at hand to tell.
Direct taxation comes in to supply the
balance needed, and again repeat logic
ally, to apply to the future. Of course
any bequest to any town must be used
as directed, but does not mix necessa-
rily with public moneys, state or town
aid. By state aid refer to the law of
1890, amended at special session of
August 1891. By town aid 1 refer to the
law of 1888, Act No. 8. 1t may be well to
refer to few laws, covering years before
1862 and since. My first duty as one of
a board of selectmen was in 1856. Then
one-fourth the public money was divided
equally to the districts. The other
three-fourths was divided on the aver
age daily attendance of the Scholars,
with certain exceptions. A change was
made in 1865 or from to 1-3 so divided
Still later from 1-3 to ] as it now is.
Again, average daily attendance was
changed to the aggregate attendance.
All these changes in the laws together
with the laws of 1888 and 80 were for the
purpose of assisting the poor districts
that have been continually growing poor
by reason of capital concentrating in the
already stronger districts. The presump-
ton in law and on business principles, is
that each district would, and did, tax
themselves enough each year, so that
with the public money, they would
pay all debts at the end of the year.
leaving another installment of public
money for the next school year, which
would leave each district just in the
same condition as when the first division
of the public money was had. Certain
things had to be done by each district to
be entitled to a portion of the money and
failure to conform to the Law one year
would bar them from getting any money
for the next. Years ago a change was
made so that it has been optional with
towns to continue the district system
or adopt the town system. The efforts
of the Legislature fro N time to time to
bring schools up to higher degree of
efficiency in the weak districts especially
and all the districts needing less help
have as it seems so far failed of satisfac-
ton, that in order to improve our sys-
tenn of education they at the last session
abolished the old district system entire
ly and established the town system. This
it is expected will make each scholar
equal to another in advantages so far as
possible, and from one common fund
each scholar is to receive twenty-six
weeks schooling For those in outlying
places, far from the school house, the
board of school directors are authorized
to use large sum of money in transport
tation of scholars to and from the |
schools. At the last annual March meet
ing we began work under the new law.
Other acts were specially directed to be
done in March. The law for the divi- |
sion of the public school money is an |
old one, but by the provisions of the |
law of 1892, is so modified as to be con-
sistent with the new law (see Section II |
and IS, Act No. 20 of 1922, and to be
consistent with the new and the old |
laws as well, the public money must be
divided so it can be used for the schools |
in 1893. Otherwise for the first time the |
schools of 1893 can have no public money,
wiped out entirely and sent broadcast |
into the dead districts as an elephant to
districts that have done business on bust
ness principles, and as an undeserved |
present to those that have not By this
mean the "public school money only,
the special state school money created |
by the Act of 1890 and the town aid
money (see Section 238 Act No. 8, 1880,
are neither any part of the "public
school money" within the meaning of
the laws-and must be paid as by said
statutes provided.
What are the districts to do with their
surplus money? / should say; that is
the business of each district No one
has any right to it but those districts,
but as every dollar has been raised to
support schools, why not use it for that
purpose in addition to the twenty-six
weeks towns are obliged to provide forP
Towns that give the public money to
dead districts must raise by heavier tax
alton enough more to make up the loss.
All have shared alike to date and with |
all the public money in one district and |
all the people in the same district, will |
continue to share alike and will some |