Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-23

to them. Such a condition would create
constant i'll feeling between the village
population and the rural voters. Under
these conditions as a matter of self-de-
tense the country people would unite
with those villagers who might for any
reason be glad to get cheap schools-and
there are such in every village-tO vote
as little money as possible for education
al purposes. Thus the country people
would be forced to go on record as
against good schools.
ON THE STOOL OF REPENTANCE.
The claim that to do away with the
chartered schools would benefit the
schools in the country is the falacious
argument of the political demagogue.
1t was intended to capture the rural
member by making him believe he is to
get something for nothing, in an educa-
tional way. We are glad to be told chat
in this respect the measure has failed,
and that the intelligence of the legisla-
tors has set the author on the stool of re-
pentance. If Mr.. Stone, discovering that
the rural member reads his seductive
recommendation with his tongue in his
cheek, now runs to say that the measure
is bad and that he made mistake" as
we are told he does, it is nevertheless for
the Legislature of Republican Vermont
sternly to remember that soldier
should never be forgiven for sleeping at
his post.
PEASANTS AND ARISTOCRATs.
We cannot recall single argument to
sustain Mr.. Stones recommendations or
DR.. Weston's bill. Mr.. Stone il is true
declaims about scholastic oligarchies,"
about ''fragmentizing towns" tragically
tells us that incorporation is powerless
as defense" reminds us in the language
of the Democratic stump speaker that
1--WE are an agricultural people and
should remain sc" and sweeps on to-
wards his climax in 1.-The rupture of a
common cause" which here in rugged
Vermont, if we understand him Alright,
is tending to create peas8 ntry and an
aristocracy." This of course is dreadful
but we fail to see how the official de-
struction of village high schools will
ward the evil off. Even while the cy-
clone is passing, we of the village stop to
resent Mr.. Stones assumption that we
are aristocrats because we place higher
estimate upon good school than he
does, and the sturdy Vermont farmers
will ask wherefore they are called peas
ants because their only educational priv
ileges were those of ''the little red school
ho use" by the roadside.
TOWN SYSTEM.
What we have said in this connection
against this nefarious measure must not
be taken as indicating opposition to the
so-called town system. The law for the
town management of rural schools we,
think, if wisely administered, will con-
tribute to educational advancement and
success. The consolidation of manage
ment, however, was not intended to
mean the arbitrary consolidation of
widely separated schools. 1t means, or
should mean, the organization of the
number of schools that will con-
reniently aud protitably meet the educa-
tional needs of the people.
In conclusion, let us say, we have
treated this attack upon our schools as
serious bus ness, and it deserves to be
so treated and regarded. This journal,
be it understood, is not opposed to reas-
enable and proper educational change
when it means progress. But, whenever
in the name of educational improvement
and reform, a policy of experimental de-
is urged, either through Grass
ignorance or to compass vaulting politi-
cal ambition, we hope always to be found
on guard.