The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-11-07
Entertainments Of Chartered School
Districts.

To the Editor.-I have been an Interested
observer o. the course Of events in this state
In the matter NJ nuhliC schools. The school
legislation of 1872 was very satisfa story to
all fri nds Vt popular education whose in
terest in the subject extends beyond their
own immediae 10 ialiy. The adoption Of
the town system was great stride in all
vauce-too long DELAYED, but a blessing.
though somewhat brlated. The system
equaliz1s school privileges and expenses
II larantees equal lights in that first re-.
quirement OF a rep tblicau form OF 90, ern.
men "A good NlucatiJn Ia the rubin 4us OF
knOwl dge. The ~ vn system, In It's purity
secures 10 every boy aud girl tia right and
privilege OF such dn educa ion aud places IL
within his reach.
But the system has bsen drfiled by GER
tain Legislation. L. does not ex vt ia it's
purify in all the towns of tn state ItS
fundamen al principle has been annuled
by the granting Of certain spec lal privileges
70 wealthy and Influential sections of towns
taking them out OF the whole towns system
OF schools all constituting them a y hOol
oligarchy-a community with special privi.
leges-and throwing upon the remainder OF
the tow, the sec'iD If the town p1Drsr in
the means Of supp Irting good schools, all
the cost OF Sus aiming proper common
school facilities. II the oupls OF thi, part
OF the town, 40 discrimina ell ag ,inS', desire
a better educah III tnan is Ohtainable In the
:.
or some lonely wa, 8 de- they can Obtain
the privile o at the high or graded school by
buying the right to enter is chartered pre-
cinctS, or by going 10 some more remote
academy or SAINT larry a1d paying for both
b Jard aud tuition. The few favored nv
circumstances MY do this; the many will
end their schooling AZ ths point where it
Can bs Continued to The beat adv 4utags.
IL Is m Aztec OF deep regret that there is
stlll manifest In the !. gisature purpose to
extend this monopoly of the higher school
advantages, aul Ia throw upon small, aud
the poorer, part of the town the entire ,r.
den OF supporting scho Dis outside the gilied
line drawn by The special charter such
must be the effect OF the bill recently in
tro'iuced in he house rs M. Hines Of Brat
tleboro, ITO enabl. incorporated school dis.
tricts to cla ,ge their boundaries" II it
were the purpose of the measure to extend
the boundaries OF the incorporated sch O
districts to the town lines, IL would b- in
this highest degree conmendable. hut its
effect will he To gather in all the desirable
outlying territory and leave the remainder
to shift Tor itse The localities in a town
which most need the fostering care of the
entire town will ne outvored under this
speCious plan ITO enable incorporated
= 'hoUl districts to change their bouudar les. -
Upon those lOCall les, wit their lender re-
sources in the way of taxable property and
small allotment OF the p lblic money, will
be- imposed such heavy burdens tor the SUP
port OF the schools a., under the district
system, we're brown upon the shoulders Of
the district taxpayers. Uuder that system
the tax rate for sch OILS was from rs cents
to 1875 cents on the dollar to sustain sch pols
shorter in number Of weeks and Inferior in
| quality TO those supported in III re- highly
favored districts nv tax of ten c nts on
the dollar. The effect of house bill 254 will
he to revive This oppressive state of tn ngs.
If the legislature will not abolish the char.
tered school distri SIS, it. certainly should
not sanction this insidous scheme " To
chang. their hound aries" To quote your
owa phrase, Mr.. K litor, Down with ia.
vortism"; up with equal righ s!
| EQUITAs.