The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-03-23
And the Substitute Educa-
tional Bill Was Ordered
to Third Reading
PROPOSED LAW KEEPS
THE TOWN INTERESTS
Full Power Is Not Given to
the State Board Of
Education

L1NA NANfNSfbAS@A
Pleading in an impassioned manner
which displayed forcefully the intense IN
terest which he felt in the measure and
its anticipated results, Mr.. Hewitt OF
Plainheld, chairman Of the educational
committee explained in detail in the
House this morning, H. 462, one OF the
substitutes for Fl. l70, and stirred the
body as it has not been affected this ses-
sion, and without a dissenting voice or
dered the bill TO a third reading. He
first moved an amendment which re-
pealed certain acts and parts of acts con.
llieting with the provisions of the bill
and providing that the bill 60 into effect
July /, 1915, and the amendment was
agreed to.
Mr.. Hewitt said in opening his explana-
tion that the bill differed from H. 10,
inasuuch az il does not pertain to the
colleges and normal schools, or the in
lcorporated school districts, except to give
them the benefits of the act, and fuil
power is not given to the stats board Of
education. The bill preserves the town
interests.
The bin provides for a board Of five
men to be named by the governor, and
while II abolishes the union superintend.
ents in name, it does not in practical
working 1t provides for the appoint
ment of supervisors TO be under the di-
rection of the state board and look after
the superintendents. The superntend-
ents are to be required 10 make reports
and by this method more efficiency is ex-
pected. and laziness which now exists TO
some extent it was said, will be elimlnat-
ed AS there is to be so much state aid,
the state should have some power, and
bv giving the board authority TO appoint
superintendents il Is felt that town pol
itics will be cut out.
Mr.. Hewitt also spoke OF the cost OF
the schools as provided under the pro-
visions OF the act, by an assessment an
nualy Of 10 cents on the dollar Of the
grand list. The bill shaves the expense
100000 from the amount needed under
the provisions Of II. 10.
In closing. Mr.. Hewitt hoped that the
House would be as kind TO the committee
as the committee had been faithful 70
the legislature by giving so much time,
and especially directed his remarks to-
ward the needs of the rural schools.
Summary Of the Bill.
The bill provides for uniform courses
Of study in elementary schools; for a
school census in August so that deliu |
quents may be looked after; the school
age has been raised from five to six
wears: the school year is made "a weeks, |
but there is no emergency provision that
safeguards towns from the loss OF the
benefits Of this act where IL becomes /
necessary to close the schools; contract /
provisions are made for teachers; the
town commission Of education is used in /
stead Of superintendent Of schools, 30
avoid confusion: the board Of education |
Is recreated with a membership Of five, |
and trained educators are not disbarred; /
while union supervision is abolished in /
towns. il is not abolished in practical
working. groups Of schools being used az
units and the election Of such superin
tepdents Is given TO the board Of edu- /
cation instead Of TO local school direc- |
tors 20 avoid local political conditions, |
weekly reports Of such superinteudentr
being demanded to guard against "lazy I
superyisionn: transportation conditions
arc improved and safeguarded
Mr. Hewitt spoke forcefully on the
needs Of the rural schools and the man
ner in which these needs are met by this 1
hill II the town 50 votes. where there I
are n pupils IN a district rural school
may he established This i 20 meet con /
ditions where school directors refuse 20 /
esta blish such q school and local senti- 4
mont demands Il. and un petition ef r.
certain number Of persons a special town I
meeting may be called. minimum sal I
arv Of ss per week il provided for rural 4
schools and the term 'sural schools -
clearly defined. Under certain conditions 4
will contribute either - Or 50 or s. per
week toward the salary 81 teachers IN
rnrai schools Hc said Vermont must
better the quality Of teachers iu rufal
sahools. or dccadeHec must continue -
our rural regions. He considered that ~
many instances The teaching of little
ones was pathetie under existing condi- 1
tions He explained that the amount
called for ~ n lT0 the ariEHal esiuca 4
tiouol bill had heen reduced a. the
amount Of s3no 0oo This hH called Tor
sanne kgnnBo or ss0 0oo 70 the amount
provided hv a direct tax II two cents
~ tht dollar 81 the grand lIst ofer the
amount appropriated by the last legis-
lature. this amount being desired - the
egns fiaatiou ~ educational advantage
aua aru8rfunities IN the state.
senate Passed p. a n. RsorEhni1ation
Bm
The senate passaa fhc rf1rrhu .1at .un .
r.s.ssqn Maine hiH. s e.. this unru-
ing 81 . tate ~ ls e. a. Ihe BIG pro.
sisas rfIisf far thF hnston Alatne -
- flrsstrf financial eisiz. bot ~eusiur
: nsnuds oppressed s1mf tears thai =
-.1H rsIiess Aeruartrrs nf maaf oi
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