Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-05-31

pills, and one or the most interesting
Of their experiments is a complicated
judiciary system in which cases are
tried and decided just as in our every
day courts, with the right of appeal
to higher body, likewise formed by
the students themselves. Pretty girls
ment, and at the present time they
hold some of the most important Of
fees.
The estate constitution" which is the
organic law of this miniature republic,
Is peculiar and interesting document.
Some of its provisions are as follows:
Chapter I, Article vi, Section 2-It is the
right OF all citizens to go to school, attend and
return peaceably and unmolested and to pursue
school work without any manner OF interruption
by any citizen.
Article VII, Section lit shall be the duty OF
every citizen to vote on every public question
when there is opportunity, to use his or her
judgment for the good of all when voting, to put
forth his or her best endeavors in legal way to
secure for every citizen fair and just treatment
under all circumstances, to observe the laws and
assist others to observe the same, and by every
reasonable means promote the well being Of every
citizen and the general good OF the school and Of
the community in which it is located
Article ", Section 1.-The city shall be body
polite, with legislative, executive and judicial
powers within the bounds and in harmony with
the laws Of the state in which it is located, SUBJ
iect to the approval of the principal, who is re-
sponsible to the state for the condition Of the
school.
Chapter W. Article III, Section 1.-The courts
shall have jurisdiction all Of violation
Of the laws and ordinances made in accordance
with this instrument.
Section 5.-Any person found guilty by the city
court may appeal his to the court Of appeals.
Article ! Constitution, Section 1.-The name
OF this commonwealth shall be- The New PaltI
Normal School State.
Section 2.-The territory comprising the state
shall be the school building, including all the
halls and rooms therein, the grounds belonging
to the school and the village Of New Paltz, n.
Y, including boarding houses wherein citizens
OF the state may be, but nothing herein shall be
construed to usurp the power of higher au-
thorties TO interfere with the rights OF parents
guardians.
The chief executives under these re-
markable provisions are pretty young
girl of II, elected secretary of state,
but now acting governor of the COM
monwealth, and youth of 81 or 90 and
a bright little maid of 10, both mayors.
Behind these officials are legislature
and boards of aldermen, department
chiefs. police and several hundred citi-
zens, full working machinery of q state
and the cities within it,
These documents and these officers
make up one of the great educational
experiments of the time. 1t was vii.
son L. Gill, the president of the Patri.
otto League of New York, that de.
vised the plan. Many a schoolmaster
throughout the country took up par.
TALLY experimentally the school city OF
Mr.. Gill. 1t was reserved to the State
Normal school at New Paltz, n. Y, and
to its principal, Mr. Myron II. Scudder
to develop the plan practically-to
found under his roof not one, but three
school cities and later a school state.
Without sighting any of their stud
les or ceasing for moment to be schol
ars these children, large and small
from tots Of s and 0 to young men and
women of 20, are all citizens. They
carry on the detail of a state fully
equipped and two municipalities. Theil
legislature makes laws, their aldermen
pass city ordinances.
Mayors and governors keep watch
over the whole fabric. They rank in
the scholars minds next to the faculty
for they have been formally elected
The police forces keep guard over these
communities in miniature, courts sit
and pass judgment, condemn and sen
tence.
Not an atom of this Is play. 1t is as
much serious study as any in the cur
riculum. Few branches have as many
different sides to them as these schoo
cities and this school state. in fact. BY
actual practice boys and girls alike ar,
learning rapidly the framework of gov
eminent, the making of laws, how cleo
tions are carried on, what citizenship
means, what republic is, what thu
science of civics stands for. Their lit
tie governments are in precise imita
ton of those actually in existence.
Principal Scudder does nothing will
the election of officers or the making