The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-21


ing their best to make up for the
bad conditions we allow to eXis
around them. Too many of gu
Vermont children, sturdy, native
born, naturally intelligent, ener
getic, are spending large par
of their working hours in battered
comfoltlcss, i'll equipped, unsani-
tary school rooms.
Who is responsible for this state
of affairs? Why, we all are
| Make no mistake about that. Ev-
cry Vermonter is responsible; you
are, | am. We need not blame
any abstract entity like "thc
| town, or "thc state" We our
selves are the town and the state.
And in no other state of the Union
| has there been preserved more Of
the old American feeling of indi-
| vidual independence and respon-
sibility. Town meeting is open to
any of US. and every one of US is
responsible for action taken there.
l.Our Vermont towns are proud of
their local independence. Let us
not neglect this important part of
our work.
Now what can be done about it?
Taxes are high already, most of
us clinge at the thought of pay
ing more, and most of us are
more or less dubious about the
value received for these taxes once
they are voted. To bring GU rural
schools up to fair standard, must
we add heavily to our taxes?
Not a bit Of it. A large part
of the DEFICIENCIES of our schools
arc such that we can personally
co right out and repair them with
our own hands and by the use Of
our own wits. A small sum that
would never be missed from the
taxes, if supplemented by our own
Vermont ingenuity, energy and
competence, would be enough TO
rcgenerate our rural schools. The
very simple plan of Tenovatinr
one school house each year, II
more rapid progress cannot be
made, will soon do the job, and
without a heavy burden of taxa
ton. The fact that in 1920, 100
towns in the state reported
amounts spent for repairs less
than 500 each ard 2 Gless than
$40 each. shows why many build
ings are in poor condition. Money
is needed, but much can be done
with comparatively little. But what
if for any reason enough money Il
available? Then we must rely
entirely upon thought and work
and skill, and pride, and con
science, and public spirit.
ANY group of Vermont farmers
can carpenter enough to help ar
range decent out buildings that
will not cndanger the morals or
health of the children; almost any
farm has u wood-lot on it, from
which enough lumber can be cut
to make such few repairs as are
needed, and almost any Vermont
farmer would be willing to give a
few trees to help along the school.
| ANY group of Vermont women
cln paint woodwork, and kalaom-
inc walls; any group of Vermont
homes could spare, one door
! mat, one a chair, one a clock, one
a wash-basin, one a WaStc-baSkeI
and so on. Better to have Such
object, lacking from a seldom
| used gparc-room, than to make
the children go withoutfi day after
! day.
| ANY Vermont parent can see TO
if that his children attend school
| regularly; any community can see
| to it that the teacher has good
place to board, and that she gets
a decent salary. Any Vermont
town is required by law to provide
enough textbooks in good condi-
ton for all pupils DO you know
whether this is done in your town
| WHY don't you find out before
YOU 90 to bed tonight? Any teach
or will tell you. Every Vermont
town is required by law to pro
vide Americans flags for the out
side of its schoolhouses and flag
| should also be provided for the IN
side. Are they flying in your town!
No, the trouble is not good ru-
raw schools in Vermont would coS'
rs more money than we can spare
We have simply neglected them.
| The point is. that we cannot have
good rural schools without giving,
ourselves, individually, more
thought and care than we have
been willing to give. And yet IS
there any element in our llfe-ln-
common which deserves thought
and care more than our schools.
or where the thought and ,are
would be of more instant useful
ness? We all want good roads a.
much as we want good schools; but
for most of us, where roads are
| concerned, we must take it out in
WANTING. or else ray heavily in
cash. Whereas in the matter of
good schools, it counts largely
towards improvement merely to
provide good boarding place for
the teacher, and to show her some
pleasant friendly attention, merely
to hem some towels, contribute
some soap, to give a days work
once in a while; to supply few
dollars worth of paint and the
energy to put it on: to take some
personal responsibility about see