Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-06-03
SCHOOL MEETING.

~%%~' c@s~f mn fotAAODAS MN 4 4 ~ ".
The adjourned meeting OF School Dis
trict No. ? was held at the high school room
on Tuesday evening" some 20 or 20 voters be-
ing present The meeting was called TO or.
der at half-past seven, by l.. X. Fuller, chair
man. The first and principal business before
the meeting that of raising money for the
present school year, was taken up, and a tar
OF 334 per cent was voted and made payable
June TO- On the district grand list Of sec
7S5, this tax will raise about $1,000; add the
public school money, about Sl4OO, and the
district will have, allowing for ATTACHMENTS,
something over So 600 for current use. This
will pay current expenses, including some
necessary repairs, and will probably leave a
small sum to apply on the indebtedness
The tax question being disposed of, G. b.
Kirwan called up his resolution, which was
tabled at the annual meeting, relative to get
ting the Roman Catholic children back into
the public schools. Mr.. Kirwan urged II as a
matter OF right that these children should be
got back il possible, so that all the children
OF the town might be educated under one sys-
TEN without class distinctions Col Hooker
favored the resolution because il is the Catho-
lie children, themselves blameless for past
mistakes, who must suffer by being kept out
Of the public schools. DIR. Holton reminded
the meeting that the present school board had
gwen HAbhN VI tuClI QeBlTe Llht all Tue
children Of the district should be in the pub
lie schools. Rev. J. B. Green was willing to
bury every feeling Of false pride, and use ev-
cry possible means to get the Roman Catho.
lc children into the schools; but he thought
there was something to be said on the other
side OF the question. The Roman Catholics
have established a school of their own; it is
part Of their church policy 10 have their
children educated in church schools; in doing
this they are wise, from & church point Of
view, and If the district tries TO disturb their
policy in this way, they may naturally feel
that We are being extra-oficious and meddlinR
with what is none Of our business-just the
same as Protestant people. who choose 70 send
their children TO private schools, would feel
under similar circumstances. DIR. Tucker
made strong point in saying, that, il it was
the intention, under this resolution. to allow
the Catholic children to absent themselves
from school on church festival days, at the
dictation Of the church, ii was an evident at
tempt TO make a class distinction and discrim
mate in favor of the Catholic children. When
Intercepted by DIR. Hollon as 10 what action
he would have the committee take, further
than 10 let 1t be known, as it already is known,
that the doors were open TO all children of
school age, Mr.. Kirwsn was unable 10 indi-
cate any policy or give any information. Col.
o10h q
seven years ago occurred, be met Bishop De
Goesbriand and Father Lane on a railroad
train, when the bishop expressed regret that
the matter had been forced to an issue, and
Mr.. Lane said II he had known what the feel
ing OF the Protestant people of Brattleboro
was, he should have taken different course,
Mr.. Bingham said he had often been approach
ed by Irish fathers who realized that their
children were not receiving proper school ad-
vantages, and, on being assured by him that
tue doors were open to their children, they
would say, my children shall go to the pub
lie schools next Monday, SIR" but Monday
would come, and no Catholic children-the
only possible inference being that meantime
the mothers had been lAbored with by priest
ly influence And here, he believed, was the
key to the whole difficulty. After discussion
of about an hour. during which several gen.
temen spoke besides those here named, the
resolution was declared carried by RIGA Uoce
vote.
The resolution is in these words:
Resolved, That the COMMITTEES be instructed 10 do
al in their power induce all the children Of school
age, in this district, TO attend the public schools
more particularly the Roman Catholic children Who
were expelled four fsevenl years ago.
just what is expected to be accomplished
by this resolution, or what il means, other
than that the district desires all children 10 be
in the public schools, it is difficult TO see. 1t
carries with it strong suspicion of dema-
gogy on the part Of its original authors but,
II 1t has the effect to bring any considerable
number of the Roman Catholic children into
the public schools with the beginning of an
other school year, We shall rejoice. We fail
TO see, however, how it can be taken as any,
thing more than an endorsement of the action
OF the present committee in reminding the
people of the district that the school doors
are open to all children of school age who
choose to come in and obey the rules. II an
attempt is made to make il appear like a
pledge 10 establish one rule for Catholic chill
dren and another for Professionals il will be
by far too great q stretch on the action Of a
meeting of 20 voters, out of a total of more
than 500.