The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-03-04
LitchfieId County News
WOODBURY..
A FREE HIGH SCHOOL VOTED.

tanG town meetings. neld IN some years
took place last Saturday afternoon.
Every available seat in the hall was oc-
cupied, while standing room was also at
q premium. The meeting was warned
for o'clock, but it was long after that
time before the meeting was called to
order. The citizens gathered in little
circles and were advocating their ideas
with all the earnestness characteristic of
good citizens.
Fist Selectman William G. Scott called
the meeting to order and David L.
Somers was quickly named as chairman,
happy selection as it appeared. Mr.
Somers was considerable, while at the
same time he has the faculty of stating
the business in hand and putting the mo-
tions in clear and decisive manner.
AS soon as the ball was set rolling,
Judge Huntington was on his feet and
offered the resolution favCring the estab-
lishment of a free high school in the
Town hall building. After the question
was before the house, there came a pain
full pause, but finally Rev Mr. Freeman,
the pastor of the South church and a
polished speaker, arose and concisely
stated the case in favor of Judge Hun
tiDgton's motion. he pointed out the
present bad system under which the
town was laboring, that two schools of
the higher grade were maintained for 45
scholars at an expense of $1,000. He
showed clearly the waste of this method,
while providing higher education for
only the children Of people of wealth.
IL was estimated with the proposed high
school two teachers could be secured for
! $1,000, the principal receiving 5000
The speaker divided the question as fol
lows: FIRST, the need OF one central
school in town where the higher grades
could be taught; secondly, it must be a
good school; thirdly, that the tow q
might have a school where all the young
people might be educated. Under the
present arrangements, the parents were
obliged to pay dollar week per heac
for sending their children to these
schools Of higher grade, or send then
out Of town at an expense of $500 OIL
$780, In speaking of the expense which
would entail in putting up the hall fol
the school, these figures were given
Seats and desks, $120; closets, $40
stoves, $40; lncidentals, $40 more. Nj
Free man spoke in spirited way Of The
effort to sde-track the plan for a higl
school by the scheme of advocating {
building for graded school, and al
though the speaker mentioned no names
there was much amusement manifested
in the audience as Mr. Freeman drove
home his arguments. 1t was generally
understood where the shot lodged, ant
the second speaker showed it by hi
peppery Introductory remarks.
The next man to take the floor wa
Rev Mr. Wyckoff, the pastor of the NortI
church, always one of the leading dis
putants on town meeting occasions. 81
stated that he had been connected witt
the schools for % years, and thought h
was able to discuss the question in a cain
and courteous manner, which had no
been done by the previous speaker. Fl
utterly and Indignantly" disclaime
any intention Of side tracking the meas
ure, but believed he had the right to Civ
expression to his views. He said he wa
not prophet or the con OF prophet
but he believed it was clear to all that
was a serious problem which confronte
the people. He wanted to see the school
of the six central districts consolidate
in a central building to cost about $4,000
II the high school was decided upon, th
outside districts would have no specit
benefit, but would have to pay q part {
the tax. Mr. Wyckoff then Ptated agai
that they were there as friends an
neighbors and ought to discuss the que
ton in a calm and dispassionate way
= without casting insinuations and aspe.
sions as had already been done. In IT
gard to the Town hall building, Mr. Wy
ckof pointed out that there wss no pla
ground. In regard to the closets, wit
so children in the building, these closet
would soon become a pest and menac
TO the health Of the children. In regar
to the condition of the district Fchoo
the speaker didn't agree with .Brotht
freeman as to their condition. TIL
brought Mr. Freeman to his feet VIII
denied that he had reflected on the di
trict schools. He simply referred to til
system as bad. Later on quite livel
alteration arose between the two clergl
men, and Mr. Freeman demanded saarpl
that the chairman should cali Parse
Wyckoff to order. However, the storl
was soon oyer and Mr. Wyckoff went .
with his argument, He emphasized th
point that the proposed cesspool woul
be menace to health and that it wa