The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-01-04
VERMONT SCHOOL LAWS GOOD
summary and Recommendations FROM
state school Commissioners.

school matters hos ccntcfea w lhe op-
Grafton Of the school laws enacted by
the LEGISLATURE Of 1915. The admins
tya,ion Of these laws has not exposed
any serious defects Many ot the
difficulties experienced during the
FIRST year when school officials and
Others did not fully understand the
meaning Of the acts were not mani
tested AZ the beginning Of the second
srbool wear. In the future, the mean
ing of Inc law will be greatly clarified
by that part Of the work cf the Com
missioner to Revise Public Statutes
which relates 10 the school laws
which, after careful reading, the
Board gladly commcnds.
The feature Of tho law which has
received greatest consideration is that
which deals with transportation. Each
child who lives o mile and a half or
more from school is now entitled TO
transportation IL this is feasible;
otherwise the town is required toI
board him near a school. Some par
ents misunderstanding the purpose OF
this law demanded and received eXor-
bitant prices for conveying their own
children to school. The abuses OF the
law have quite naturally received
greatest attention. 1t should not be
forgotten, however, that by far the
larger number Of parents are acting
in accordance with the spirit OF the
law and arc making positive sacrifices
in order that their children may attend
school with reasonable comfort. IN
every case the provisions OF the law
are adequate TO prevent abuses
School officials are now generally
aware Of this fact and the law is bet
ter administered. The total cost oi
transnortation and board for the
wear ending June 30, 1916, was Sloh-
6g5O0. Of this amount the State pald
ssS1 1886. The difference in cost be-
tween carrying every child who is en-
titled to transportation under the pres
ent law and the cost of partial trans
nortation such as existed under tht
nreyious law is less than $4,000. 1h'
average daily cost per child for trans
portation in 1876 was eighteei
cents. Reports from various superin
tendents and school directors indicate
that the cost of transportation for tn
present school year will be somewha
less than it was during 1876. IN
present law is as just and effective a
any that could now be devised. IN
State Board of Education, therefore
recommends that it be retained unit
adequate experience and careful stud
of its working shall indicate the pal
ticulars requiring amendment.
The act which authorized the Stat
= Board of Education to pay the sums
50, So, or 81 per week to towns en-
ploying teachers Of requisite trainin
in their rural schools has had mos
beneficial effects upon the school
These rebates cost the State S9S,3l2
40. In a few towns the rebate w;
used to lessen taxes and teachers ar
schools were not benefited. That tn
was not of common occurrence
shown by the fact that the increase
teachers salaries between the scho
wears l9l4.l5 and 1886 was mo
than II per cent while the rate OF /
crease for the several preceedir
wears was about per cent. In ado
ton to the amount that the Sta
pave. the towns themselves increas
the teachers salaries by $4,000. |
increased salaries are attractll
teachers with improved training. /
number of permits has decreased ire
100 in 1914 to 8 in the present f
term. The Board has been also al
to raise the requirements for certihC
ton so that no one may now beg
teaching in Vermont without at lie;
one year of professional training a
even those unframed teachers W
have had successful experience In u
State prior to July /, 1916, are
qurcd TO secure professional tralni
If the towns employing them are
receive State aid The Board reco
mends that this provision Of the
remain unchanged.
In conformity with law the 81
Board Of Education divided the st
into convenient districts and appoin
the requisite number of superinte
ents. During the years that super
sion was optional rs per cent OF
towns having So per cent OF
schools and sc per cent Of the sch
children Of the State adopted super
sion. In 1915, the last year t
supervision was optional, ii cost 8
oi4.79. OF this amount the State
SOS ,S90.6s. The total cost in 1916
si29 9,s65.54, and the States share
siio993.l6. 1t appears, therefore
y