Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-03-27
REGARDING OUR SCHOOLS.
A PEDAG0GuE STATES SOME OPINIONS
AND A FEW STATISTICS.
Enough Teachers But Good Ones Scarce
Larger School Tax and Wiser Expenditure
Needed Some Windham County Statistics

Larger School Tax and Wiser Expenditure
Needed Some windham County Statistics
Concentration and Skilled supervisionurged.
To the Editor of the Reformer,
Sir:-A few weeks ago in an edito-
rial you made reference to the matter
of teachers wages in Vermont. The
question of inducement offered In the
teachers profession raises few other
questions:
l. Is there scarcity Of teachers in
Vermont?
2. Are we hiring the best or even
good teachers at our present wages!
3. Do we need larger school tax
to provide better wages? g.,
4. Is our present tax well expended
in view of the need Of best instruction
for each pupil?
s. Where, If in any place, can we
use our money to better advantage!
G. Should the state examinations
for teachers insure for us good teachers
7. What legislation is needed to in
crease the efficiency of our schools!
Now, as it would take volumes to
cover thorough discussion of the
above, let me be arbitrary enough to
state my opinions as facts and add a
few statistics: ,
/. Although there may be local
scarcity of teachers at times, it is be-
lieved there are enough teachers in the
state to fill all the schools.
2. Although it is probable that the
best and most of the good teachers are
employed, we must qualify our answer
to the first question enough to state
that there is an evident scarcity IN
Vermont of good teachers well trained
for their work.
3. Yes, we need larger tax for
schools, especially larger state school
tax. But the remedy is not here alone
because
4. In most towns the money now ex-
pended is not used to the best advan-
tage. In fact, teachers are often hired
for certain schools with an under
standing by the director that the
teacher is not capable but he knows OF
no other. In many cases it would be
better for the pupils to remain at home
during the term as far as practical
preparation for life is concerned.
5. To expend our money better:
a. Shut up the small schools where
interest lags for want of competition,
and where the per capita expense is
large, even for cheap teacher.
In 1901 there were reported in Wind
ham county % schools with eight or
less pupils, CT schools with eight to 10
pupils, 80 schools with Is to 25 pupils,
and only GO schools with over % pupils
In 1902 in the same county: 80 schools
with eight or less, 70 schools with
eight to Is, 45 schools with 10 to %
But only Sc schools with over p, that
is, 145 against Sc Comment is un-
necessary.
b. Concentrate schools, even at con-
siderable expense, and pay the balance,
il any, for better teachers. This Is
advantageous, because there are fewer
teachers to hire, or there is less call
for putting in poor teachers to fill up
the list; because with the pupils in
one or two centralized schools grading
is possible and grading means fewer
grades for a teacher and better work
with each grade. 1t may be added here
that actual experience has proven that
where systematic consolidation is used
the expenses Of transportation use only
portion Of the cost OF maintaining
the extra schools, so there is balance
with which to bid for better teachers.
Again, the money used for general
school furnishings will accomplish
much more when used for a smaller
number of schools. Even where the
number of scholars in a rural school
seems large enough to require school,
we must remember that from seven to
nine grades are too many for one teach
er.
81 CHI 10
hired by each town alone or in groups)
who should give his entire time to the
work of experimenting the schools.
Vermont is trailing far in the rear OF
other states in this respect. In Massa-
chusetts and New York supervision OF
this sort is compulsory and in New
Hampshire the state pays one-half the
salary of the superintendent. Yer
mont laws give permission but no en-
enlargement. In this matter the towns
would do we'll to act on their own mi
! tiative and hire man who knows the
school business. This man should save
waste of money on supplies, poor text
| books and poorer teachers. Young
teachers of natural ability would be
trained to become strong teachers, and
the poor ones displaced.
! AS to the sixth question the exam
nation proves little of the teachers
ability to teach, as there are "educat-
ed fools", and as to government "some
are born to it, some acquire it, Others
have it thrust upon them" by force OF
circumstances, but many can never &C
quire it for Glove or money" Herein
! is a superintendent worth his weight
in gold when he saves some child from
the pernicious teacher.
Z. AS to legislation Xlet's talk o.
that another day" In 1892 the town
system was enacted for the purpose
of concentrating and improving the
schools in smaller towns. Here in
Windham county in 1902 are las schools
of less than % pupils and only three of
the smaller towns attempting anything
| like systematic consolidation. In 1900
an administration bill" was intro
duced to assist small towns in procur-
ing supervisors. The representatives
from the small towns killed it. In 1902
the bill was passed which permits pu-
pills, who have reached the required
grade, to attend high school at the
expense of the town. The state is to
pay to the town certain sums under GER
tain conditions. This is another at
tempt to relieve the tension in the ru-
raj towns and it is up to the rural
towns to take advantage of what is Of
fered them. Yet the awful fact re-
mains that teachers are hired on per-
mits who couldn't enter the eighth
grade in our graded schools and the
average wages in Windham county for
women teachers was in 1901, Sc. 6S, and