St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-10-18

ranked high as regards regularity or
school attendance. For more than 10
years 90 out of every 100 children
who have been registered in school
have attended each day. When We
consider the condition of many of our
roads during part OF the year, the
storms, and the difficulties involved
in getting children to school, we have
cause to congratulate ourselves. This
does not mean that we should relax
our efforts to keep children in school
but it does show that there is
throughout the state a most whole
some attitude on the part of parents
and others toward the Importance Oh
the school. This Judgment on the
part of our citizens represents a very
tangible asset and no consideration OF
our educational policy should fail t.
mention it.
Give Rural Children Equal Chance.
This state, in common with others.
is endeavoring to give to the child in
the country educational opportunities
equal to those found in the cities. To
this end the rural school is receiving
marked attention. Many of our
country schools may boast of splen-
did grounds, of proper heating ia
cilities and of good wholesome, sani-
tary conditions. These improvements
have not come by compulsion but they
are largely the results of the interest
that citizens and school officials have
felt in the welfare of these schools.
We may never hope to give children
in the country the same school privi-
leges that the city child enjoys. The
country boy and girl will probably
never walk to their school on we'll
kept sidewalks. The home cannot in
many cases have these boys and girls
present for dinner. The rural school,
however, may have certain decided
advantages over the city school.
Parents who by circumstances are
forced to live in cities seldom fail to
express regret that their children are
deprived of the advantages coming
from the freedom of the country.
There are many who even champion
the old rural school against the more
pretentious city schools of the pres
ent. It is essential that whatever
advantages the rural school possesses
should be utilized and that it's disad-
vantages so far as they relate to com
Portable and pleasant surroundings
and adequate equipment should be
eliminated to give our country boys
and girls an education equal to that
obtained in the best city schools. The
people of this state have manifested
their willingness to do what they can
to aid the rural schools of the state
and to "equalize educational .oppor-
tunities and advantages
Transportation of Pupils.
During the past five years the
amount paid for transportation of
school children has increased from
$92,OO to $142,0OO. The past year
the state assumed the responsibility
for virtually one-half of the cost or
transportation. More and more the
work done within the rural school
aims to utilize the home experiences
and to equip the child to take Ad
vantage of the opportunities offered
by the country. Vermont possesses
a considerable number of successful
consolidated schools. There is how.
ever, a strong desire on the part Oh
many parents that their children re-
ceive their education near the home.
It is desirable for both the home
and the child that the child be kept
under parental care as long as pos
sible. It is only in extreme cases
that children during the elementary
school period are now required to
leave the home in order to receive
proper school facilities. At presenl
one of our most serious problems is
connected with the early years or
high school. Scattered throughout
the state are many communities that
could supply Is or 20 high schooI
boys and girls if high school privi-
leges were at hand. Parents are un
willing that these children should go
from the home to board in the ad-
jacent villages and cities where high