The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-12-16

/ cost and 3 per cent OF the aggregate
salaries Of elementary school teach
ers.
When hear complaints in regard
to the iron-clad system that puts
everything into the hands Of a salaried
state machine and robs the people and
the communities Of their right Of local
control in school matters. ! usually
find that they emanate from sections
where some jealous and hard working
superintendent is running his legs of
or wearing out his Tin Lizzie doing
for the local school authorities what
they are supposed to do themselves,
but have shunted onto a willing state
official Isn't this so
For example, the hiring Of teach
ers is the duty Of the school directors
and the superintendent is required by
law merely TO approve Of the selection,
but in many towns this system is
entirely reversed The superintend-
ent finds them, makes the deal, adj
vises the committee, who breathe a
sigh Of relief, and it is the superin-
tenGent who gets the blame for the
failures-the superintendent and the
iron-clad system.
Where is the legal obligation that
deyolves upon superintendents the
Iuty Of ordering text books and school
supplies and distributing them 20 each
and every school over a wide area,
while the local directors go about their
own private business? Yes, the much
abused superintendent would be
missed il he were abolished, even II
only for the non-professional and
wholly gratuitious things he does that
somebody has to do for the rural
towns.
mot less helpful, in its way, to the
rural schools especially, is the provi-
sion Of the act Of 1915 for state pay
for elementary teachers engaged in
rural school work Under it teachers
in these schools paid by the towns at
the rate Of at least IS a week receive
50, So or s4 week additional from
the state, depending on the kind Of
certificate they hold, which in turn de-
pends upon their preparation, training
and length of their teaching expert
ence.
II am Of the opinion, and ] believe
il is the opinion Of the board, that the
state pay for rural teachers should be
somewhat increased, in keeping with
the movement Of the times, and be-
cause il is deserved No effort should
be sp;- red TO secure and keep a high
quality Of teachers in the rural schools
and enough Of them to man the schools
so that none are closed for lack Of a
teacher
"State aid for transportation Of
pupils who live at remote distances
from the schools they attend was not
original with the act Of 1915, but
found an important place in it. The
Of school facilities natur-
ally carried with il the effort TO give
pupils equal opportunities to reach
their schools Until modified in 1919,
towns were required to convey all
pupils more than a mile and half
from school and secured rebates from
the state totaling well up toward
100000 annually.
''The mandatory wording OF this
provision led TO many abuses, and at
the last session a power Of discretion
was vested in the directors, with right
Of appeal to the commissioner An
improved condition has resulted.
of pupils, especially
during a Vermont winter, presents
difficult problems in practical opera
ton. But its assistance and general
benefit viii not be questioned.
There is some misapprehension
over the expenditure for transporta-
ton. In certain quarters il is assumed
that ii represents sums paid out for
pupils TO central schools
whcrce schools hitherto existing have
been given up. Such is not the case
except 70 a very limited degree. The
bulk Of the outlay for transportation
IS FOR conveying pupils the mile and
4 half or more that they live from
he schools they regularly attend. The
ocal school directors determine when
schools shall be discontinued, consol- T
dated or re-opcned. and the state
.choo. authori,ies have no direct part
r II
II wiil surprise most people to.'
earn that there are today m0rc junior
ind junior-senior high schools IN Yer
mont than ed so-calied classical high {
choois The number u junior and
uniorseni5r high schools at present
: Il end = classical high schools ]
four. three. and two-year
chools. 20, a total = So Many of
he four-year classical high schools ,