St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-23
SCHOOL DIRECTORS.
They Meet and Discuss Some Features
ofthe New Law, with View to Uni
formity of Action.

The upper room" of the Y. M. c.
A. building was the scene Of an cdu-
cational gathering on Friday last,
when the newly-eected school direc-
tors OF Caledonia county-or at
least part Of them-met with
State Superintendent Stone to
talk over. in an informal way, some
features of the new school law and
decide if possible on a uniform course
of action to be taken in its admins
tration for the two years to come.
For some reason or other there was
not so large an attendance of direc-
tors as was to be desired. Burke
was represented by but one, DAN
vile by one, Hardwlck by two,
Kirby by one, Lyndon by two,
Peacham by three, Ryegate by one,
Sheffield by two, st. Johnsbury by
one, Sutton by one, Walden by three
and Waterford by two.
The meeting organized by the
choice Of c. j. Bell of Walden as
chairman and c. A. Hutchinson Of
Peacham as secretary, and launched
at once into question asking and an
swering, on matter which seemed
to be very puzzling to most of those
overwhelmingly, just what the new
law meant to provide, and how best
to carry out its provisions.
State Superintendent Stone was
introduced early in the evening,
and after briefly stating the OBJ
ject thereof and hoping that some
benefit might result therefrom
he said his advice to directors in
other counties had been, 60 slow
move no faster in the performance o
duty than the real necessities of th(
occasion require, and do only those
things which were felt to be within
the true intent OF the law.
The question of the number 0
weeks school to be held wa
brought up, and so far as an,
definite sentiment was expressed
it was in favor of making just sucl
difference between the length Of tn
school year in the village and tha
in other parts Of the town as clrcum
/ stances warranted; there must be
: according to law, at least 26 week
work in all the schools. The stat
superintendent urged the necessity c
! securing good teachers even for tn
= smaller schools, and hoped the d
rectors would make special poin
of this.
As to the number of schools to b
held in the town, Mr. Sanborn {
y Lyndon struck the keynote when h
d said that he and his associate direC
!, tors had decided to establish n
d school with less than ten or twelv
r pupils. The prevailing sentimen
h seemed to be against trying to cor
l duct school with less pupils tha
c that, as the law certainly gives til
5 directors authority enough to a,
h range for the transportation {
scholars to neighboring schoC
houses.
The financial features presente
, more difficulties than anything els
" connected with the newlaw,a quit
Il a discussion was had in regard t
n the disposal Of the surplus, the div
d sion of the public money, and I'll
:. lease Of life given the district for tt
s settling of it pecuniary affairs. SUI
e erintendent Stone, County Examine
# Taylor, Messrs. Bronson, Stantoi
ingalls,, Sanborn and others partic
pated. and while no definitely leg;
plan of action was agreed upol
is many helpful suggestions were mad
, AS to the division of the publ
y s money, it was held by most of tho:
u present that, as this would be dt
is on Friday of this week, and as tt
s. new law does not go into effect Il
,e April 1st, the money would be ham
. ed over as usual to the distri
treasurers. The state superinten
ent advised the holding Of order
er wherever possible, till all doubt c
It this subject could be cleared ava
# by some expression OF opinion on tt
part Of the supreme court. 1t is pc
sible, he said, that the cou
lie may be called upon to make Gle;
n one or two points of the {
n which there is at present so great
- difference of opinion on the part
:, y, the people.
III The directors appointed a comm
tee to secure the printing of III
A. form contract to be used all over
al county in engaging teachers.