The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-06
THE EAST HAVEN SCHOOLS
COMMENCEMENT OF THE sUMMER
 VACATION,

1 like New Haven, comes to the front rank in having the public schools open- ed forty weeks; that is, from the first week in September until the last week in the following month Of June, Most towns in the state do not exceed thirty eight school weeks, and some have the schools opened only thirty-siX weeks, Foxon, the north school district has a comparatively new school building more pretentiaus than the barn-like structure that. stood by the wayside, and was contemporaneous with the Declaration of Independence by the thirteen original colonies. | Miss Mary, M. Irwin, a native of Bal 1 timore, Md. has been teacher of this school fifteen consecutive years-a re- markable record that few obtain. Last Monday, the 2Sth ultimo the school was visited by members of the board of the education, consisting of Grove J. Futile, president Charles W. Gran miss, recently town represent ative; ex-Sheriff and Town Constable Frank M. Sperry and ex-Superintend- ent of the New Haven Almshouse and Secretary Charles w. Bradley. If there | iidu bCCLi d lGW lIlOlS oGIlOldIS tiilu dll additional number of officials the little one-room building, which is pictur- esquely located with Saltonstall moun- tain near by and also Farm river wind ing lazily along to the deep blue sea, would have hardly contained them all. One thing, with many others, Is cred itable to the management. The flag a new one Is needed-flies from a nice liberty pole on the park instead of hanging down from some window. as if it should not be over all and above | everything.
 The exercises on the day mentioned were exceedingly novel and interesting. | Webster's academic dictionary, Schuy- ler's logic and other valuable books and prizes were distributed. For writ ing the best essay--subject, "Town of East Haven'-Mabel M. Thompson, a young lady of fourteen summers, and the eldest daughter of ex-Selectman Eugene s. Thompson, stood at the head of her class in the list of awards. Her prize number was sixty
 Emma Goodrich, bright young lady and advanced in school work, also a farmers daughter. was q close second. Leroy Russell Page, son of George D. Page, and grandson of the late Barlow Russell, was third in the list. All of the maps connected with the essays were excellent
 | Other prize winners were Lyman Hall Goodrich. Jennie Hurlburt. Minnie D. Prout, Estella R. Palmer, Arthur Hurl- burt, Merton A. Goodrich, Bessie Me Carthy and John J. Mccarthy One of the subjects for which prizes were giv- en was "The Governors of Connecti- cut"
 The present superb condition of the school in all particulars reflects credit on the Hon. Chas. W. Grannis the dis trct committee and Miss Irwin, the teacher.
 On the following Tuesday, the last day of the summer, term, the three de- partments of the Union district school were officially examined by Grove J. Futile and c. W. Bradley, president and secretary of the board of school visitors. The janitor of this school, Cal win c. Kirkham, and the chairman of the district schol committee, William Il. Robinson, always keep this new and magnificent building and the yards in excellent condition. Messrs. Page and Hawkins, the other members of the committee, always second their efforts,
 Martha E. Coe, Olive Foote. Andrew Carl M. Peirson, Harold D. Clark, Wal ter w. H. Curtis, Marguerite Granniss and Nettie McLay were prize winners scholars in Miss Lords department with the exception of one or two.
 The following Is Secretary Bradley's interesting and instructive address to the scholars of the highest grade on
 The Last Day of School"
 My young friends:-A continual ] change Is written on everything with . which we are familiar It is believed that this is rule having no exception , The forest, the valleys and the hillsides are now clothed with luxuriant foliage , but In a few months the autumnal frosts will appear, then it will all be. gin to fade, reminding us that we shall not always continue as we now are
 These changes are fraught with in- teresting instruction, and to learn their full meaning is a work of patient inves- tigation
 The thoughtful and diligent student will not only endeavor to solve all of the problems connected with the laws ot nature, but those also that will soon confront the professional and business } man or woman in the many active walks of a future life.
 As language is the product the in strument and the embodiment of 5 thought, so will your success in life in
 years to come be a result to a great
 degree of your school days If the
 hours that you spend within these
 walls are well improved it will be well
 and to your future advantage On the other hand if you have allowed the
 time to pass by and become lost forev- er without having true conception of
 the importance of an educated mind
 you will surely be handicapped in the
 race that is set out for everyone tc
 run.
 Many scholars and students take al.
 most everything for granted that is : they assume that what appears to be , correct must be so. In their opinior an investigation is not necessary anG
 no studious efforts are required in or der to dtvest truth from error.
 Others are too largely needless anc indifferent and slight the work tha they may have in hand at every oppor. tunity. The ancients were governed al |, , together by appearances. They could not believe that the earth was round ol l, that it moved; they could, however l.