St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-03-29

'
Army. DIR. Baxter fitted for college at
the st. Johnshury Academy i'll lS5l-5.
School Meeting.
The annual village school meeting
waS held Tuesday evening, the 26th
inst, at the brick school house on Sum
mcr street, and the following officers
elected for the year ensuing:
Moderator Barron Moulton.
CIerk-P. ID. Blodgett.
Collector solomon Humphrey.
Treasurer Barron Moulton.
Prudential Committee David Boyn-
ton, \. G.. Chadwick, Henry c. Idle.
From the treasurcr's report it appear
pearcd that the current expenses of the
nine schools, including the salary of
ten teachers, WAS about S5,lOO. The
expense of the new school house at
Fairbank's village, above the damage
paid 10y the Railroad company on the
old house. was S:}.1i6. The district
has run in debt the past wear $1,000.
which added to the funded debt. makes
the present debt of the district SlO.-OO.
The reports of both the Prudential
and Building committees were heard.
The question of increasing the length
of the school veal was brought up 10y
\. j. Willard, Esq, and advocated i'll
favor 10y Messrs. Willard, II. c. Idle and
c. l.. Clay. The motion was opposed
10y DIR. Brooks and e. F. Ramsay. FL
nallv, after considerable discussion and
several amendments, il motion prevail
ed to increase the school year from
thirty three to thirty eight weeks, (the
terms and vacations to lie arranged 10y
the Prudential committee,) and reduce
the number of hours per day of all the
primaries. This compromise was ac-
ceptcd 10y DIR. Brooks, Capt. Blodgctt,
and others. who believe that the small
er children have heretofore had as much
time in the school room as is desirable,
even with thirty three weeks term
time A conclusion which is becoming
more general every day.
During the REMARKS of Mr.. Clay it
came out that the district had paid out
for teachers in the high school room,
the past wear. Il 300, besides inciden-
tails. which would make the aggregate
at least : 200, and that the average
attendance of scholars had been but
twenty seven, or about Sti3 per scholar.
1t further appeared that the average at
tendance the present term is but TWEEN
ty-one, with IL prospect of soon beng
reduced to sixteen facts which would
seem to he proper themes for medita-
ton 10y the district ut large as well as
the Prudential committee. When it
costs thousand dollars year more to
educate the children of the district III
the high school than it would to send
them to the academy, paying regular
tuition, the high school may be set
down us an expensive luxury.
From the report of the Prudential
committee it appeared that the number
of scholars in the public schools WAS
considerable less than last year, owing
to the establishing of il school by the
Catholic priest, who now has ii school
of some seventy-tive scholars, and Is
pressing i'll all he can. This reduces
the size of the Maple street school con-
siderably.
Sudden Death at West Burke Depot.
Mr.. Charles Walker, while i'll the de
pot ut West Burke last Saturday, was
taken bleeding at the nose, and before
any assistance could he rendered fell to
the floor and died instantly. Mr.. w.
was about % Years of age, and has been
employed this winter ut the Cornwall
saw mill three miles above East Bun Ike,
and was on his way to Albany his for
mer residence. He leaves wife and
two children in rather destitute circum-
stances. The Passumpsic railroad gen
erously furnished the afflicted family
free masses to arcpmnnnI- his ratnaips A