The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-09-04
The Graded schools

HO "NaAuCu SCHOVAE'
The Graded schools will open for the
fall term September It'll. That the year
ending last June was one of the most
prosperous in the history of the school,
has never been questioned by fair-minded
people. The commencement exercises,
lasting an entire week were, in connec-
ton with the prize speaking and the re-
markable exhibitions of manual work by
the little children, sufficient to show that
our school has no superior in New Eng
land. This is the testimony of our
teachers, more than half of whom are
among the most cultured, skillful and
accomplished in the State. The notice
able thing in connection with our pres
ent school is the enthusiasm of the
teachers. If such spirit prevails else
where it is only in places few and far be-
tween. This interest and enthusiasm in
their work, their pride in the school,
their loyalty to the Superintendent, as
well as his interest for the teachers, all
result in double return for the money
expended for educational purposes.
With these facts in view it is not sur
prising that the prospects for the COM
ing year are very bright. The High
School will have without much doubt,
the largest registration in its history.
The graduating class will consist of about
ten members, and in scholarship and
general ability will, to say the least, be
the equal of the best class that ever left
the school.
Probably four members of the class of
'92 will enter college. There never was
a time in the schools history when it
was preparing SO many students for
higher education. OF all those in the
High school the percentage now fitting
for college is more than ten times higher
than the average of the High schools of
Vermont, according to the State Super
intendent's last report. The school
gives good drill in mathematics, the
sciences and literature; affords instruc-
ton in Latin, Greek, German and
French, sufficient to enter the best col
leges; makes the commercial branches,
bookkeeping and typewriting, part of
its practical work and gives more special
attention to the preparation of teachers
than any other school in Southern Yer
mont. The High school is in splendid
shape to do excellent work for non-resi-
dents, whether preparing for college,
for business or for teaching. ...
Mrs. o. NJ. Buchanan, teacher of
skill and experience in academic work,
will have charge of the High school as
preceptress. She win be assisted by
Miss Helen o. Rogers, who last year
won such deseryedly high reputation
in her department. Miss Agnes Collins
will have the advanced Grammar divis-
ion, No; u, now on the third floor. Her
department is one Of the most important
in the school, and in it she is the pub
les, ideal. Miss Kate Leonard, a very
successful educator, and one of the most
influential teachers in the school, will
have No. II, the middle Grammar divis-
ion and her sister, Miss Agnes Leonard,
the lowest Grammar. The highest in
termediate division, No. Q, will be in
charge of Miss Lyke,of Palmyra, N. Y,
the second intermediate, No. 8, has been
assigned TO Miss Blanche. Sibley; and
No. Z to Miss Stillson. Miss Fife Luth-
er will have No. 8, Miss Wslbridge No.
8, Miss White No. 4, Miss Bottum No. 8,
Miss Norton No. ?, and Miss Whitney
No. l.
For two years past all the primary
rooms have been too full, each teacher
having from 80 to 70 pupils. Notwith-
standing this, wonderfully good work has
been done. Such progress was made by
the little folks last year, and the promo
tions at the end of the year were SO
many, that in arranging the classes for
next year only IS pupils were assigned
to each teacher in rooms No. /, 2, 3 and
4. This was done at the close of the
year in June. The starting of the
French school will take five or six pu-
pills from each primary room. This will