Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-07-17
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The Record in the Public
Schools the Past Year.
Hobart II. Whitaker, Formerly Prln-
cipal OF Amherst High school, En-
gagged 60 Succeed MIR. Beverage.

Hobart H. whitaker, Formerly PrIn-
cipal OF Amherst High school, En-
gagged TO Succeed MIR. Beverage.
The annual report for school district No.
2 will be issued today. The committee
review the work of the past year at length.
They say in part
We commenced the school year with
an Indebtedness for current expenses of
S1076.95 and the obligation to furnish all
text books and supplies at the expense of
the district. In order to keep within the
appropriation made at your last annual
meeting and meet some unforeseen eX-
penses we have not furnished all the books
required in the High school or provided
all the appliances needed in the lower
grades. The pupils in the High school
have procured for themselves books in
some branches of study, and the maps,
globes and dictionaries needed in the low
er grades, which have not been purchased
should be supplied during the coming
year. The law providing for free text
books and supplies was not at first gener-
ally considered as applicable to High
schools and no estimate for this expense
was made last year, but a careful examina-
ton of its provisions leaves no reasonable
doubt that it requires the furnishing of
books in all branches of study taught in
graded schools.
During the past year we have put new
floor in the Esteyville primary building, a
new furnace in the Western avenue pri-
mary, renewed the curtains and painted
the rooms in the High school building, ex-
cept in the main room. Few repairs have
been made upon the High school building
since its construction, but before the COM
mencement of the fall term the cement
floor in the basement must be recovered
and the furnaces put in good repair. %
The High school is in good condition,
and the same assistant teachers have been
engaged for another year. We have in
these assistants an able teaching force, and
the failure of any of these teachers to re-
turn would be a material loss to the school.
We have engaged Mr.. Hobart X. Whita-
ker of Leverett, Mass, as principal of the
| High school. Mr.. Whitaker graduated
| from Amherst college in 1890, and imme-
diately became the principal of Amherst
High school, which he managed success
| fully for four years. Having decided to
make teaching his profession he resigned
his position to pursue course of study
which would more thoroughly equip him
| for his work. In 1894 he went TO the
Chicago University, where he remained
one year, and during the past year he has
! been at Harvard.
During the past year valuable books of
| reference have been placed in the High
school library and have been generally used.
| Thanks are extended TO the class of '96 for
| raising $50 by an entertainment and eX-
pending the money for books The lower
| oraAaa of cphnnl haav, a.
supervision of Miss NJ. Belle Smith, who
was employed to succeed Miss Horton.
The excellent work done by Miss Horton
has been continued in such a satisfactory
manner that we have engaged Miss Smith
for another year, subject only to your APP
proval. The work of supervision has been
largely increased by reason of the law re-
quiring free text books.
The resignation Of Miss Gotta Gale is
noted. She has taught in the sixth grade
for six years. Her work has been faithful
and successful and she has maintained dis
cipline without apparent effort. Mention
is made of the new departure in placing
the third year pupils in a grade by them
SELVES and the engagement of a new
teacher for them.
A tax of IS cents on the dollar is rec
commended for this year. The II per cent
school tax has been abolished. The pro-
portion of the amount raised by this tax,
which was paid annually to our treasur
in the division of the public money, has
been little more than y per cent of the
grand list of the district, so that the amount
recommended will be less than the sum
raised last year.
Miss NJ. Belle Smith, the superinten-
dent, makes very complete statement of
the work in all the schools the past year
What she says will be read carefully by all
interested in the schools. Miss Houghton,
the teacher of drawing and Miss Wyman,
the teacher of music, also make reports.
The report of the treasurer, George S.
Dowley, gives the details of all expenses.
There was received from buttons $3.50,
from supplies sold and damages to books
S27.I2, from state school money, S5072 80,
from Martin Austin for rent of land 81,
and from the tax collector 500, 1861
There is on hand balance of $65. 20.
The teachers of the High school received
$1,000, those of the grammar school $2700,
intermediate school $500, primary
schools $246S.75 and the supervisor S720
The care and cleaning of buildings cost
Sl329.92, books and supplies S2561.5l, re.
pairs S1l6.64, miscellaneous expense
Sl0SS.2S. Bond No. 26 was paid, amount
$500, and the interest payments were
$2l72.50.