Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-02


The tressurer's report was accepted and
adopted. DIR. Holton, for the committee,
then gave a somewhat detailed report of the
condition of the several schools in the dis
trict. He stated that in every school there
had been an increase in attendance from last
year, the number Of pupils in the High school
having increased from 145 to l5l, in the
Grammar school from 159 to 16S, in the In
termediate from 139 to $50, and in the Pri-
maries from 245 TO 282 the whole number
of pupils in the district having increased from
GSS to 75l of whom Ago are in the High
school building. He reported the various
school buildings to be, with slight exceptions,
in good repair, and alluded TO the good work
being done by the teachers in the several
grades. In allusion to the courses of study
adopted, DIR. Holton remarked that, as GER
tain parents had objected to having their chill
dren instructed ia drawing, inasmuch as they
did not expect or desire them to become ar
tists he wished TO have it understood that on
ly industrial drawing is taught in our schools
a branch of drawing, the knowledge Of which
is a help TO almost any individual, whatever
his or her calling, and the demand for which
is on the increase.
Rev. Mr.. Collins, as a member OF the com.
mittee, briefly called attention TO the import
ance of cooperation and assistance on the
part of parents in making the work of the
schools most effective, his remarks bearing
particularly upon the need of supplementary
reading and more just appreciation of the
importance of history q study.
MIR. Stoddard, of the committee, called at
tention to the need of providing better means
for warming and ventilating the Primary
school houses Though we confne in them
our youngest and tenderest children, they are
the most poorly provided and cared for of our
school buildings in respect to health and COM
fort
Principal Bingham being called out by Dr.
Holton, spoke of the injurious results of alb
senteeism. 1t appears, although he did not
make the statement, that, Notwithstanding
the increase in the number of pupils attend
ing the schools, as compared with last year.
the number of days attendance is less by
some G000, and as a consequence the taxpay-
ers of the district are proportionately out of
pocket, since they draw less of the public
money, the loss amounting to nearly $3.50.
This unusual absenteeism, as remarked by
DIR. Holton, was largely occasioned by the
prevalence of scarlet fever, and of course
was unavoidable but Mr.. Bingham seemed
to be of the opinion that much of the ordinA-
ry absenteesm from which schools suffer
might and would be avoided if parents fully
realized its evil effects.
On motion of Mr.. S. II. Sherman, a vote
of thanks was rendered to the committee for
the satisfactory manner in which they had
performed their duties during the past year,
and particularly to DR.. Holton for his gener-
GUS gift in aid of the library fund. The cleo
tion of officers came next in order of bust
ness, and the result was the unanimous re.
election of the old board, except that H. E.
Taylor was chosen collector in place of s. II.
Sherman, Mr.. Taylors name being the only
one presented. The questions in regard TO
the number of schools, length OF terms, and
admittance of tuition scholars were left dis
cretionary with the prudential committee.
On the question of taxation DIR. Holton
thought tax of As cents on the dollar of the
grand list would be needed as against that of
40 cents last year, since the district then had
some additional resources which 1t has not
now. E. @. Crosby thought tax of 40 cents
would be sufficient and offered a motion fix
ing it at that sum. Col. Hooker thought that
the committee probably knew best, and
moved to amend by making the tax 40 cents
Mr.. Crosby would accept the amendment pro-
vided the prudential committee would expend
tho extra amount in supplying the Primary
school buildings with furnaces, as had been
suggested in some remarks by George Fuller /;
otherwirs not. On being put to vote the
amendment was adopted and the motion car
ried, the tax being made payable July lst.
On motion of G. b. Kerwin 1t was voted
that 800 be appropriated for the purchase
of books, ETC., for supplementary reading in
the schools, by way of relieving parents of
the burden of supplying the same. motion
offered by Mr.. Sherman, to the effect that
one per cent. per month be added to the tax
after Sept. LIST, was rejected. The meeting
then adjourned.