Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-07-03
THE HIGH SCHOOL QUESTION
A BOSTON HERALD BRoADsIDB,

with an Explanatory statement In An
swcr from the BratiIcboro school
Committee.
The article printed below appeared on
the editorial page of the Boston Herald on
Monday of this week. 1t was entitled:
"a BratiIeborO Promise"
From the Boston Herald Of last Monday June %.
Dr. Henry d. Hoton is the chairman Of
the Brattleboro (Nt) school committee.
and he has sent to the Herald the following
document under date Of June p.
IN re- follows he statement Of the Brattleboro
school commtte' as printed IN The PhtniN last
week
In a personal note accompanying the
above. Dr. lToltOn says that the statement
has been made for the Village papers
only, as it was purely a local matter.
But the Herald feels that the matter
has grown beyond thelimits of Brattleboro;
that 1t is due the people Of the town, and
the Herald itself, to state certain facts in
relation to this statement of the committee
and the events that led to it, DR.. HOltOn
and his associates. Rev. Mr. Phalen and
LAWYER StOddarl, are reputed and esteemed
as honorable men in Brattleboro, and the
Herald desires to bring no charges against
them, only to state a few facts.
1t is not necessary to review the school
trouble. The committee : statement. how
ever, it will be observed. bears out the
position we have always held, that orr
information came from a source that could
not he questioned. and that the facts, as
given. regarding lack of school discipline
were undeniable Miss Manning, who is
one of the teachers. certainly knew as much
about the school as any other person, and
nobody accuses her of falsehOOd. SO much
in justification of our published report.
How Miss Mannings name came to be
revealed is not so pleasant to contemplate.
DR.. Holton and Mr.. Stoddard made several
visits to the Herald Office in their efforts
to learn the source OF our information.
The last time they came they were accom-
panied by distinguished journalist. well
known in Vermont and in Boston, who. it
is safe to say, will hardly approve Of their
recent action.
They were met in this office by the
courteous statement that newspaper ethics
required the protection of persons giving
information, and that, though personal
regard for them prompted compliance
with their wish. the rights of individuals
should be respected. As a last resort. DR..
lIolton and Mr. Stoddard pleaded that. as
a personal favor. for their private and per-
Sonal information. the name should be told
them. They said that justice required that
they should know a. many teachers were
accused before the Brattleboro public. and.
if innocent. they deserved eXoneration
DR.. llOlton and Mr.. Stoddard promised.
with the greatest appearance Of candor.
huT ln friNr 4 Ia.
held strictly confidential: that not only
should no person beside themselve, bee told.
but that. as the result of the telling. no
harm should come to any teacher: that no
disciplinary measures should be taken in
consequence of the private information
gained. On this plea, and relying on the
promises made. the name of Miss Manning
was disclosed.
Last week there were intimations from
Brattleboro that the committee were soon
to make statement. and a letter of en-
quiry was sent from this Office to DR..
HOltOn. Under date of June - (only six
days before giving the above circular to the
local papers,. DIR. Holton replied to this
office as follows
Ne do not Htend That this MATTER shan
com" mp in any m''tiRg as lrc hope Ia
make u statement he are he last TucSddy
Of Juiy mat ,rU he Sotiytoctory Ia tie
pcopie Of the di~trjct-o statement that
ShdH not hare in il the name ~ oHy
perSoH.
One more fact deserves to be stated. and
that is that Mr. McLachlin, the principal
of the school, has resigned, although it is
well known that he strongly desired to CON
tinue with the school. and that there is a
considerable sentiment in the town in his
favor
Without comment, the Herald leaves
these facts for the calm consideration of
DIR. Holton and the people of Brattleboro