St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-02

ing of any account about it except the
frame, and it would be equivalent to
building a new house. Chairman John
son made few remarks, in which he
limited that voters should consider what
was best to do, and then act candidly
and with wisdom he was disposed to
let the majority decide, and abide by
their decision. Horace Carpenter
thought it wouldn't cost as much to fix
up the old engine house as it would to
build a new one, and he thought it
might profitably be done.
Judge Ross made an explanation of
some facts in the case, so that voters
might know what was wanted. Six
years ago, he said, our schools were
then has been upward of 80. There
are now more scholars in a room than
the teachers can manage with justice
to themselves and the children. 1t is
necessary now TO put two teachers in
one room, and the best results cannot
be reached under these circumstances
the schools ought to be divided, and
to do this we need more schOOlroOms.
If the children increase in the next six
years as they have in the past, what is
the outlOok7 Within year or two
we shall need four schOOlroOms more.
A wooden building might be put up at
perhaps One-third less cost than brick,
but it would need constant repairing,
especially on the exterior, and will not
prove economical in the end. We
might make the engine house over,
but the rooms would be too small we
want big rooms, to get the best ventila-
ton. We might build in other parts
of the village, but that would break up
the graded system-which is just what
we don't want to do. The proposed
location, on the common, is good one,
for only twO-fifths of the scholars come
from east of Main street, while three
tifths come from west of it.. He said
he was interested simply in making
the schools better and better every time
anything was done with them, and he
didn't believe tax of fifty cents on a
dollar of the list should be considered
burden enough to stand in the way of
desirable school.
A. j. Willard was extremely anxious
to have the engine house utilized, and
dwelt at considerable length on the
necessity of doing this just now. H.
S. Wright followed in the same strain,
claiming that it was not necessary to
have elegant buildings in order to Sc
cure good schools He took occasion
to slur at the academy and other high
schools, and said good many things
that were not strictly to the point. He
was pretty earnestly opposed to a new
schoOlhouse, and thought it cheaper to
put the engine house in shape. Prof.
Bracket took the wind out of the last
speakers sails, refuting the slur on the
higher schools, and maintaining that
pleasant and healthful surroundings
had good deal to do with such an
education for children as every parent
desired. He wanted the schOolroOms
large, so that the children might have
room to breathe freely and get good air.
Ample provisions should be made for
physical as well as mental education,
and the question of ventilation is a
very important one. p. d. Blodgett
said nobody considered it an unfortu-
nate thing that we needed more room.
The public school fund has been in
creased by $3.50 this year, and we are
all glad that an increase has been found
necessary. The great question is,
what is best to do about this matter ?
1t wouldn't be good policy to waste
$4,000 in fixing up the old engine
house, and then discover in a year or
two that we had not the relief desired
Let the money be put where it will
count not only for the present, but for
many years to come. Rev. II. II. Full
Ter didn't believe in casting over old
buildings. He advocated building of
brick, from bottom to top, inside par
titiOns as well, to insure comfort and
safety. He brought up the question
of light also, holding that the plans
should be modified with view to Civ
ing the best possible light from one
side, so that it might fall over the left
shoulder of the pupil.
The motion for building a new
schOOlhOuse was then reduced to the
form of IA written resolution, as follows
Resolved, That the district build a
new schOOlhOuse on the grounds near
where the old engine house now stands,
substantially after the plans presented,
but with such notifications, if found
necessary, as will allow of an enlarge
ment by additional schoolrOoms.
The question then being put,
count was taken and resulted in a vote
of Il in favor to 9 against. When the
vote was first given, by reclamation,
| there were quite "A number who voted
nO-sO much so that the chairman de-
clared himself in doubt; but when a
count was made there was no chance
for doubt as to how the vote stood.
Either several voters changed their
minds when the count was taken, or
some who voted no by reclamation
were afraid to show their colors in a
count.