The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1897-07-09
NUMBER 27.
has been passing a few days with friends
in town.
Our Public Schools.
VEsTIGATION.

In THE BEE of the 5th Of last Febru-
airy, Secretary j. ]. Northrop demanded
of me an investigation of any school
business that had passed through his
hands. Therefore [ feel bound, for his
sake as well as for my own sake, and the
sake of others, to give him opportunity
to explain few things which concern
the general public, and for which the
Board of School visitors may be Justly
called to account. do this, not that
am anxious to make out 8 case against
any one, but because believe it best for
for all concerned to have these matters
cleared up. 1 have often been asked
questions about certain school affairs
concerning which I could give no salts
factory answer, and have been charged
with not doing my duty to the town and
the State; therefore purpose to set my
self right with the public, if l csn.
June 10, '94. Notice the date. An
appropriation was made by the town
authorities to meet like appropriation
according to law from the State, of $40
for each district entitled to that sum
from the State, for school libraries, etc.
Secretary j. J. Northrop was ap-
pointed to draw the money from the
town and from the State and to pur-
chase the books and other supplies,
list of which was to be furnished him by
each member of the Board for the
schools visited by each, the whole Board
acting as library committee according
to law. Mr. Northrop drew Sl30 from
the State and $3.50 from the town.
The books and other supplies came
early in September. I received what
ordered for my four schools, and placed
them where they belonged, and Septem-
Der %, '94, Mr. Northrop sent me state
ment of my account, and l supposed that
a full report of the whole business
would be made to the board of the town
as well as to the board of the state.
April s, '96, notice the date, l visited
Toddy Hill, and was little surprised to
learn that no supplies had been placed
in that school.
April Is l visited Zoar and Gray's
Plain and found that neither of those
schools had ever received any benefit
from the appropriation made June 10,
'94. Each was entitled to $40 worth Cf
goods of some kind, $50 being due those
three schools. May G l visited Flat
Swamp and learned that two maps had
been placed there and that Secretary
Northrop had a short time before given
the teacher 81 and some cents to spend
as she might see fit. Soon after this
made inquiry of the State Board and
learned that no report of this business
had been received there, though blanks
had been sent, and the item was called
for in the annual report from the town
secretary for 1894. Sometime in October,
'9G, this report due from Secretary Nor
throp was demanded by Secretary Hine,
under peculiar circumstances, and was
made under date of October 81, 1896,
about two years overdue. No report
has ever been made to the town board
that know of.
Now | do not wish to misrepresent
Brother Northrop or any other person
in this matter, and 1 have no doubt that
it can be as "easily explained" as the
cost of superintendent for the year '94-
90, concerning which we are still left to
draw our own differences. And so will
rest the matter in his hands for the pres
ent, hoping that the public conscience
may find relief and satisfaction.-[O. o.
Wright.