The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-02-23

The income from sources outside of local
taxation is estimated at 81 ,574.9S, leaving some
$500 to be raised on the grand list of the
city.
The commissioners devote considerable space
to the consideration of means for providing
more school room of which they report there
is urgent need. Of this there seems to be no
doubt. Two plans are suggested. To the
first, the building of a new school house, the
objection is made that a structure of adequate
size and its equipment would cost from S25, 600
to S35 900, and would entail the necessity for a
remodeling of the school system, employing
an additional principal janitor, etc, and other
wise mourning considerable additional out
lay annually. In their report this branch
of the subject the commissioners say: '"Theo-
retically at least and perhaps practically, this
would be the better plan for the grammar
school, but we doubt the wisdom of advising
the building of a $4,000 school-house while
the road improvement and bridge building a t.
any cost mania is on Although we are by no
means willing to concede that the proper ac-
commodation OF our school children is not at
least OF equal Importance with the better con-
venience of our merchants, mechanics, etc, in
crossing Winooski river and better condition
of streets and highways"
The second plan proposed is to make use of
the large hall in the third story, now practi-
cally unused, for the needed additional school
rooms. by erecting partitions at enc end, two
class rooms could be provided leaving an
assembly room large enough for the entire
grammar school, secure seat and desk to
each pupil, and keeping the entire school
together in one room from whence classes
could go to the several class rooms. The COM
missioners enumerate the main items of the
cost of converting this hall into school rooms
and providing the other necessary things,
and estimate that the work can be done for
$4,000. No difficulty is found in matters of
heating and yentilating, and the use of the
,ta, l,,t tn Ln
than under existing conditions. The committee
appointed by the board of school commission
ers, to examine into the matter of providing
increased accommodations express the opinion
that this second plan proposed would prove
convenient, economical and satisfactory, and
meet the reasonable requirements of the school
for considerable time and therefore recon-
mends its adoption. In all of which the voters
will without doubt concur.
Superintendent Lucia speaks with common
dable emphasis and freedom on a phase of
school attendance of which the WATCHMAN
has heretofore spoken, and which it commends
to the earnest attention of parents and
pupils. The superintendent says:
The entertainment epidemic seems to be
brought out when there is dearth of disease,
and answers every purpose as source of IT.
regular attendance. Zephra was the worst
because of the long time occupied in its prepa-
ration and of the large number of school child
rem engaged. Many of these children were
obliged to be up many nights, week after
week, until very late at night. They became
tired, worn out, irritable, their thoughts were
rather on Zephra than ON their school work.
They were unfit mentally and physically for
study, and unable properly to do the work in
school required and expected of them. A few
were taken out of school entirely during some
of the time, many others for their own good
ought to have been, and after the thing was
over several were broken down and ill and I'M
able to be in school for some time The en-
tertainment was a wonderful success as such.
Some money was made and it was to help the
hospital, while on the other hand the children
were being prerared for future patients for the
same charity. The hospital is perhaps the
most praiseworthy charity in the community,
but its support even does not demand of us the
sacrifice of the health of our children.
More recently Bib has been with us. Its
results would probably have been as disastrous
as were those of Zephra, but it was a smaller
affair, built on minor scale and did not inter
fere much with the schools. | am a firm
believer in the words of a Maine superinten-
dent who says, THE first business of child
during his school years is school All other
interests should be so managed that the school
work may be properly done" 1t is expecting
too much of children to do their school work
properly and at the same time to pose on the
public stage"
The superintendent might also have added
with the approval of thinking parents, the
dancing school for children to the list of dis
fractions that should be discouraged during
term time. With its incidental excitements
and entertainments, this institution is exposed
to many of the criticisms bestowed upon
Zephra, Bib and other similar diversions from
the business of the school If the school COM
missioners should deliberately waste one
quarter of the money appropriated for public
instruction their heads would justly drop in
the basket under the condemnation of the tax
payers but it is undoubtedly true that one
quarter of the money paid for teachers salaries,