Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-07-16
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT.
The work Of the Past Year Discussed
and Recommendations Made by the
Prudential Committee.

lshed this week at The PhpnlN JOD once
and will be ready for distribution to-mor-
row. 1t is volume of nearly 40 pages
The prudential committee state that the
work of Hobart X. Whitaker, the new
principal of the High school, has been eX-
cellent, and much progress has been made.
Mr.. Whitaker has been engaged for an
other year at salary of 81 500. Miss
Maud Kingsley assistant teacher in the
High school for the past two years, re-
signed at the end of the winter term. She
was very popular teacher and much be-
loved by all her pupils. Miss Mary Cor
don of Portland, Conn, a graduate of Mt.
Holyoke college, was elected to succeed
Miss Kingsley for the spring term.
The lower grades of school have been
under the supervision of Miss NJ. Belle
Smith Her work cannot be too highly
commended, and we refer to her report as
showing the progress and present condi-
ton of those grades. Subject to your APP
prevail we have engaged her services for
another year.
Miss Webster resigned her position as
teacher of the Chase street primary school
at the end of the spring term. To the ex-
preston of our regrets for the loss which
the school and district sustain by her res
ignation we would add our hearty endorse
ment and approval of the work she has
done for the school the past two years.
Miss Wyman, too, rendered her resigna-
tion at the close of the spring term. She
has had charge of the singing in all our
schools for the past II years. Together
with a thorough knowledge of her work
and being an excellent instructor of vocal
music Miss Wyman has the faculty of in
spring her pupils with an enthusiasm and
love for music, the value of which we can
not overestimate. Those parents who
have visited the schools and observed how
readily the pupils read music at sight will
join us in granting Miss Wyman great
credit for the progress made in that de-
partment of our schools and in an express
sion of regret for the loss the district sus-
tains by her resignation.
Miss Florence Lamson, who will be
placed in charge of the Chase street school
the coming year, has been employed in the
Esteyvlle school for the past two years
and has proved a competent and faithful
| teacher.
Miss Mary Croker will take Miss Lam
sons place in the Esteyville schoolroom.
She has been pupil and substitute teach
er in different rooms for the past year.
The last half of the spring term she served
as an assistant to Miss Brasor in the Canal
street building, and has shown herself
worthy of position as a regular teacher
| We have elected Miss Emma Gregg to sue
coed Miss Wyman as music teacher, sub
| iect TO your approval at the annual meet
ing.
1t will be necessary to fit up the vacant
room in the Canal street building for an
other eighth grade. This necessitates
quite an expense, fitting up the room as
well as the employment of another teacher,
| This will take all the rooms we have in
our present school buildings.
While the expenses for the supplies ex-
ceeded somewhat the estimates of your
committee, we have by rigid economy been
able to pay all current expenses for the past
year, and in addition have paid the interest
on our entire bonded debt, and $500 of
the principal of the High school building
debt The treasurer's report shows a
small balance on the right side with all
current bills paid to July l. The furnish
ing of supplies and text books free for the
pupils adds very much to the expense of
our schools. We are, however, of the
| opinion that an increased attendance is one
of the results. The enrolment this year
as compared with 1896 shows an in
crease of more than 10 per cent, or about
so pupils.
Our schools are in good condition; but
there is still opportunity for further prog
ress and improvement. We solicit the CO.
operation of friends and patrons in the
great work Of educating our children. With
our present corps of efficient teachers the
very best results may be expected. We
want the parents to consider the import
ance of their children having the full bene-
fit of our schools, which they can only o.
tain by taking the full four years course in
our High school. Don't encourage them
to leave school because of some slight dis
like they may have for teacher. Such
an act cannot harm the teacher, but the
pupil will quite likely suffer an irreparable
loss.
The committee recommend the introduce
ton of a strictly business or commercial
course into the High school, in accordance
with the report of Miss Smith, the super
visor. Miss Smith also favors manual
training, but the committee think the pres
ent conditions do not justify the expense
necessary for this department. The
committee believe the curriculum of
this business course should be such
as would thoroughly fit any young
man for the work of practical business
life, and the young women should have an
opportunity TO fit themselves in stenogra-
ply and typewriting AS Miss Smith in
her report has so well said, "the public
school is the peoples college," and every
boy and girl who graduates from the High
school should be thoroughly fitted for a
practical life.
The committee discuss at length the
contention which has arisen between the
village school district and the town school
district over the division of the public
school money.
The report of the supervisor, Miss NJ.
Belle Smith, is an admirable piece of work,
covering the record of the year, and dis
cussing the demands and the problems of
the future. 1t ought to be read by every
parent in the village. Miss Houghton,
teacher of drawing, and Miss Wyman,
teacher of music, also make reports.
The report of George c. Averill, treas
urer, shows that the receipts were So, $685.
80, of which S24, 309.S9 represents the
1896 tax in full as collected by R. f. Cor
don. The balance in the treasury is
S531.04. The district debt includes S25,-
800 balance of bonds issued for building
the High school building which are now
outstanding, and $4,000 of the Canal
street school house bonds, issue of 1892.
The total number of pupils in the schools
is 76l, of which 124 are members of the
High school. The report contains inter-
esting statistics concerning the schools,
tuition rates for non-residents, the com
mencement programs, etc.