Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-07-16
DUMMERsTON,
Conveying scholars to school.

Section 6S5 of the Vermont Statutes
saws: 1.-THE board of directors may use
portion of the school money, not exceeding
% per cent thereof, for the purpose of
conveying scholars to and from school,
The word may in this clause of the sec
ton does not govern in the matter OF con
veying scholars to school, but governs in
regard to the amount of school money TO
be used for that purpose. When 1t be
came necessary to close small schools
under the town system of management and
sent the pupils to larger schools, some
provision would naturally be made for con
veying them, 1t was not question
9th the directors whether they would, or
convey such pupils to and from
5 Put how much school money might
DR.. or shat purpose.
has ran of disseminating small schools
pleadif tets and carrying the pupils to
his ser 'Ss, did not originate in Yer
The la town system of schools had
annual ID in Massachusetts and other
groundsew England Sc 7eral years be-
p. sulme law in Vermont.
meats ,islators and educators instru-
served securing the new school law
10 cenbtless informed that the plan of
To scholars at public expense to
hstonitv where a good school may be
ed when the small school which
Tended had been closed, originated
yeaTord Mass, and they must have
M about the practical making Of the
law as it existed in the towns OF that state.
The towns furnished covered wagons
and placed them in charge OF experienced
drivers. who were responsible for the safety
and good behavior of the pupils on the
way to and from school. These wagons
were sent from house to house throughout
the district. the driver announcing his APP
proach by the blowing of horn. The pu-
pills were returned after school by the car
rage calling at the schoolhouse and leav-
ing them one by one at their homes.
The closing of a school in a district is a
serious loss and inconvenience to the COM
munity: and the transportation OF pupils
deprived of a school near home at town eX-
pense in the manner described, does not
fully compensate for the loss Occasioned OF
give the pupils more advantages than other
scholars in town enjoy. No law could be
framed that would give all the scholars OF
town equal advantages, but only such
advantages as may be practicable
Under any system it will cost one child
more physical labor to attend school than
another, which is no fault OF the law-maE
ing power, put an undN OludOle CoHullIoI4
Hence it is doubtful whether the law re-
garding transportation of scholars can be
improved.
A school of six pupils costs this town
about SIS annually for each scholar The
transportation of these same pupils to q
larger school, from their own homes, oil
some central place near by, would cost only
S15 each, or SIS at most, for the year,
saving in expenses for schools of Sl25 an
nually.
The larger school to which ten or ever
fifteen more pupils might be sent, costs thu
town about $3.50 year, and the additiona
scholars would not increase the annual eX
pense, as a school of % pupils costs NJ
more for teacher to manage it than ont
of -.
1t is claimed that the law regarding
transportation gives the directors too mucl
power. Should they arrange to carry pu
pills only half way between home anC
school, that would be legal arrangement
and nothing can compel them TO chang,
the plan, as they are law unto them
selves. However that may be, the schoo
directors are amenable if they do not ar
range to give all the scholars of the tow
equal advantages so far as practicable.
D. L. MANSFIELD.