The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-02-26
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.


column, which was instituted by the
Montpelier Waterman and Daily Jour
nal in the issues of February IA and
10. This is no more than we had an
ticipated. With the kindly aid of the
teachers and school officers of the State
we can make this column helpful to
every one connected in any way with
the public schools and power for
good in furthering the educational in
terests of the people as q whole. We
have already made arrangements with
certain educators for articles on spe-
cial topics and we wish especially
that any and every one that reads the
| Waterman or Journal should use this
column freely to gain information,
make suggestions or corrections, and
to say helpful word about any topic
that has to do with the hope Of the
future, the schools of our beloved
State. Teachers, help us that we may
help you. Write something on the
subject that seems to you in greatest
need of being discussed If you have
never written anything for publica-
ton this is good time to begin
| Don't write unless you have some
thing to say If you are live teach
er you will have plenty to say. Your
work will be corrected if necessary.
Someone is needing the aid that you
can give
A number of questions are awaiting
an answer. Some are replied to in
this issue. For convenience in future
reference all questions will be num-
bered. We suggest scrap book as a
good way to preserve the items that
you are most interested in and may
wish to refer to- We shall endeavor
to give correct replies to all questions
but if errors are found in any matter
given, we shall be glad to correct
them, if some one will kindly inform
us Alright. Some points of school law
are first to be considered.
~. What holidays are teachers en-
titled to in this State?
No teacher can be required to teach
on any legal holiday coming within
the term for which he or she is en-
gagged, and no deduction can be made
from wages on this account. (Sec.
708, V. s. There are eight legal
holidays, (No. 81, 1898, as follows
Jan. 1, Feb. %, May 30, July 4, Aug.
16, the first Monday in September,
Dec. %, and any day appointed by the
Governor or President as a day of
thanksgiving. If the fall term is to
begin on the first Monday in Septem-
Der, as is the custom in many towns,
teachers may begin on the next day
and include Labor Day in making up
the total for the term. If directors
do not wish to allow their teachers
this holiday they may announce that
schools will begin on the day follow
ing Labor Day, or name the day of
the month ON which that Tuesday
will fall. In this case, the holiday is
outside the term and cannot be includ-
ed in reckoning the number of days
taught There are some objections to
the present holiday system that will
be discussed at some later time.
a. To whom should teacher re-
port cases of non attendance in towns
where no truant officer has been ap-
pointed?
Your question opens up a subject
which is much too large to be discussed
in any one issue. We shall refer to it
often, as it is an indisputable fact
that the law of compulsory ATTENDANCE
is not generally understood and in
many towns no attempt is made to en-
force it. The law concerning attend
ance may be found in Vermont stat
utes sections, no to 722 inclusive, and
some slight changes were made in
1896 and 1898. 1t is the duty of select
men in every town to appoint annual
ly two truant officers. But as no pen.
atty is attached to failure to do so; the
duty is often left undone. In such
cases, oonstables, sheriffs deputy
sheriffs and policemen shall act as
truant officers - Gases of irregular
attendance may be reported to any one
of these. Teachers and others who
violate the law are liable to fine of
mot more than $50, and not less than
S., which shall be paid into the treas
ury of the town" (Sec. 716.)
1t is little peculiar that the law
should make it the duty of the select
men to appoint truant officers and the
duty of the directors to appoint su-
perintendents. 1t would seem that
the directors, having in their hands
the care of the schools of the town,
and, in fact, everything else pertain
ing to the schools, should have the
power to appoint all officer whose duty
it is to see that the laws concerning
attendance are properly enforced. 1t
is question worthy the attention of
our la0iclatorc yuhathar haitian racuItc