Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-07-30
MEETING OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS.


by County Examiner, F. W. Hazen,
to be held at Barton, July 26, quite a
large number responded and the meet
ing was organized by the selection Of
d. NJ. Camp Of Newport, chairman;
F. w. Baldwin, Barton, Secretary.
State superintendent Stone was
present and outlined the work as he
hoped it might be done.
Mr.. Camp spoke on the subject,
Teachers Wages" and supposed
the matter resolved itself into the
question whether wages in this state
and county are too high Or too low.
By consulting census statistics he
found that the average monthly wag-
es in the United States, including
board, was $36.65 per month; in Yer
mont it is $25. 80; in Maine and New
Hampshire about the same as Yer
mont; Massachusetts, $48.17; Ohio,
$50. so. It turned out later by ques-
tions asked, that the Vermont teach
ers are receiving as much as the
teachers in the rural districts of
Massachusetts. Teachers and minis
tiers have not '.struck'' for higher
wages, from which fact the speak
er argued that they were more
intelligent and better sort Of people
than the striker. Would fix the basis
of price on the efficiency and value
of the teacher. Thought the town
system gave the rural district better
school than it had formerly received.
Believed the price was too low instead
of too high. Liberal prices paid en-
couraged better preparation for the
vocation. Would grade prices on
qualifications and efficiency. Thought
an average price should be about $40
a month. Considerations and circum-
stances must be taken into account in
fixing wages. Average wages in Yer
mont seem to increase under the town
system.
MrLunt of Derby asked if the Yer
mont teacher Of the rural district is
not as we'll paid as that teacher else
where. It seemed to be admitted
that she was about as well paid, all
things considered, as elsewhere.
Mr.. Pearson Of Coventry thought
the size of the school and the age of
the scholars should be considered in
fixing wages. Judge Thompson be-
heved that good primary teacher
was of more Importance than the
higher grade teacher and should be
paid higher wages. 4a 7U
superintendent Stone spoke briefly
on t'School Supervision'7 and the ne
cessity of having first elias superin-
tendent. He believed in the propriety
of uniting several towns under the
supervision of paid and we'll equip
ed uperintendent-a person who can
advise, instruct and help the teacher
in her work. In the conservative
condition of the state he did not see
how the sentiment was to be SO
changed as to make the people adopt
this way of doing, and suggested that
women superintendents- be selected
who might be fully as we'll adapted
to the work and who could do it at a
price which towns might be able to
pay.
Mr.. Lunt spoke on the subject
EsFree Text Books and seemed in
clined to oppose the plan. He
thought the state was already doing
great deal toward the instruction Of
the poorer classes, perhaps more
than they appreciated. He stated
that the law already gave power to
supply poor children with books in
case of necessity. Did not think
towns should expend money upon
those who unwillingly received it's
benefits. He thought all should pur-
chase books who are able to buy them.
Mr.. Baldwin related his experience
in relation to the matter in the viii
lage of Barton. Found several truant
scholars without clothes or books. The
truant law would, if carried ont, send
them to school in nakedness Or rags,
and thought we needed to use the law
for clothing the poor, as well as to en-
act the free text book law.
Mr.. Stone favored free books on
account of the largely diminished
cost to the state, first, in the purchase
price, second, in the fact that less
books would supply greater number
of scholars, and third, that the schol
ars would be supplied at all times
with the books adapted to ages and
conditions. He belived that the books
looked after by the school authority
would be better taken care of than by
the present system. The state at
present is furnishing a part Of the
booksI and might as well furnish all.
Mr. Stone favored the idea of hav-