Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-08
THE LOCAL, SUPERVISION BILL.

THE LOCAL SUPERVISION BILL.
one of the most far-reach,t,g educa-
tional measures yet considered in Vermont
of schools, a project which State Superln-
tendent NJ. S. Stone advocated before he
went to the Philippine islands to Introduce
American methods in the schools there
The measure has passed the House with
gratifying un.tnimity and there ought 70
be no question about it's passage by tho
Senate.
It will be worth while to discuss some
of the considerations that are factors in
CORRECTION with this interesting question.
Prior 20 the Industrial era Of the Uni
cd States. children grew up and lived
IN the community in which they were
born, and or account OF the home man
ufacturc of material and utensils, chill
dren were in close relationship to the
home, so that their education was re-
support of schools was by tax q, the par
ents according to the number of chidre
sent Later, and before the days of rail-
roads and when children remai,,ad In the
same locality in which they were born.
their education was considered for the
town. Since the introduction of ralroa Is
and improvements in travelling facilities.
however, population has been less localized
and people have been less inclined 10
remain fixed in the town of their birth.
This change has brought about the idea
Of education for tho State. As ideas OK
paud and the relations Of life become moe
intimate, the idea eventually will obtain
nation arn for the world.
The supervision bill which is consistent
with the growth of the educational ide1.
provides that two or More towns having
an aggregate Of not less than 50 and not
more than 20 schools may unite and form
a supervision unit through their respec-
tive school boards. The school boards are
empowered to elect various officers in o.
der to form joint committee and also
elect n superintendent whose salary shall
not be less than $l.25G When the school
boards Of the town forming 4 super
vision unit have employed superin-
tendent for one whole year and paid 4
salary not less than that stipulated, then
tho State will reimburse the supervision
unit TO the amount of $1,000. to be dis
tributod among the various towns form
ing the unit according to their grand list.
The naming of this amount on the
pari Of the State indicates the larger ideas
concerning education, namely, that edu-
cational advantages should be equal and
equal and that the children should be ed
ucated for the State ard not for the tow.1
in which by accident they were born or
in which they happen TO live. The boys
and girls of the State who come VI
through the common schools in the rural
towns, then pass on through the high
schools of the villages, do not usually SC
back 10 the towns of their birth for the
purpose of remaining as permanent CIT
liens, and it is considered unjust that one
town should pay co or 70 cents on dol
lar for their education while auothe,
town which may be the recipient of the
benefits of their educa ticr, pay only q
| cents for this common benefit.
The new law contemplates giving to ru.
raj schools professional oversight simla,
supervision in any unit is to be distributes
among the various towns according tc
the various schools maintained. It is safe
to say tina; no educational measure vii
tone and strengthen tho rural schools
moro than the measure Just passed by Tho
House 1t Is to be noted in this connec,
tio', that among the cities in the United
States the amount expended for supervi
sion Of schools ranges from eight to elev
en- per cert, OF the amount expended foi
! the management and operation of tn,
| schools. Outside OF nine cities and town,
| the amount expended for supervision OF
the schools is less than one per cent. o.
the amount expended for management arr,
operation This tells the whole story. ]
| cities with trained teachers and excellen
equipments need supervision, much NOR,
do the rural schools need 1t, and a pro
vision therefore would be a long step il
the direction of educational progress il
| Vermont.
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Of happy chance. and breast the blsw'
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