Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-15
IIllt 81.

The House concurred in the joint
resolution of congratulations to Gov
lernor-elect Morton.
II III scholarship in normal schools.
ii 10 state school tax.
e Special order:-H 1875, enabling
towns to return to district system.
Amended so as to require two-thirds
vote and the record Of names Of all
persons voting on the question, and
liking March !, 1898.
Mr.. Fuller of Barton favored the
bill. He argued for "a principle that
sustains and upholds us as a free peo-
pie" and said that we have never had
| the town system entirely; didn't be-
lieve the cause of education would
retrograde under the district system.
Mr.. Young of Newport favored the
bill but repudiated the charge that
anybody was trying to force the town
system against the will of the MAORI
tv: desired only fair. honest action on
this matter; had become convinced
that something was necessary TO be
done to give the advocates Of district
system an option in the premises; the
town system would get fairer chance
within the next two years than il has
in the past.
Mr.. Mann of Wilmington opposed
the bin and said its passage would put
the state in ridiculous position in
view of arrangements already made |
for the town system. He moved the /
dismissal of the bill.
Mr.. Lord of Montpelier favored the |
bill. The essential principle in this I
bill should be recognized; the propo-
silion of the bill is a fair one-to let
the people Of the town settle the ques-
ton for themselves.
Mr.. Read of Rockingham opposed
the bill. Why not apply the same
arguments to the liquor question and
give towns local option? Ii towns go
back to district system they can never
come out of il except by consent OF
the legislature, Vermont has stood
still In educational facilities, and
there is something wrong; il attitude
ON this question is not a progressive
one and keeps people out of the state;
other states are wiser than we are.
Let us not take any steps backward
nor weigh dollars and cents against
higher education. Try the town sys-
tenn in good faith. Perplexing litiga-
ton would follow the passage of this
bill.
Mr.. Rustedt of Richford endorsed
the views of the gentleman from
He saw trouble that
would result from such measure rs
this; it would make confusion worse
Statistics show our ,,
state to have stood still or to have (,
gone backward educationally for
twenty years; generation ago Yer
mont stood at the head-now she is
in the rear. States that have surged
ahead are those that have adopted the
town system. Some towns have tried
to mike this town system law obnox-
ious; where the opposite course is tried
the schools are "A success.
Mr.. Thompson of Woodstock fa-
vored the bill five are in difficult
ty, let us get out; il You want TO kill
the graded schools, keep the town
system.
Mr.. Rich of Swanton thought the
statement unwarranted that the edu-
cational advantages, or lack of them,
had tended to the non-advancement /.
of the state. Many of the towns :
wanted the district system and should
have the liberty of returning to it il
they desired. He favored the bill.
Mr.. Ladd favored the principle of
the bill because he favored ''home
rule" The bill is defective and could
be remodeled. lie moved that the !,
bill be committed TO special COM
mittee of seven members to revise. !
Held out of order as motion to dis
miss took precedence
Mr.. Fuller made few remarks of
explanation that he had made no re- !
Election ON the abilities or motives of !
those who were in favor of the graded I.
school districts.
Mr. Comstock said that the people !
Of his town wanted to 30 back to the !.
'deestrick" system. lie favored the u
bill as its introducer :
MIR. Smith of Mofristown said his
would not favor such a
Dill. In Morrisville. there was non
Incorporated graded school under the I
own system. All the children re- v
'eived equal advantages. Ii would be "
decidedly step backward TO return Il
o the district system. a,
Mr.. Ballard of Georgia said it was a.
more a step backward to keep the
present system. The town system
ook public property unlawfully. The
representatives of the incorporated -"
-raded school towns-at home-had AZ
10 voice in the school matters in the p,
own, but here they codld outvote !
he rest. The comparison between ="
Massachusetts, and Vermont was out ol
# the question-conditions in the two "a
tates were not alike. In Massachn-
etts, the communities were more CEN r.
rallied. Vermont is an agricultural II
L.