Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-09-20
TH +: +: &c FALLS NEWS:
9fUNM4 eYIIF ~
GROWTH oF ouR SCHOOLS.
changes whioh"H b. ryder Has Seen
Since He Became Principal 20 Years

ago.
II. ID. Ryder, chairman of the school
board, and county examiner, is in
'clined to become somewhat reminis-
cent, caused by the opening of the
local schools, and the increase in pu-
pills. When he first became connect
ed with our schools, Just 20 years ago,
coming here to take the position of prin-
aeipal, there were but two school build
ings, No. L (the old High SCHOOL, and
No. 2, behind the Methodist church.
That year, for the first time, two
schools were held in the latter, the
previous year the need of the village
calling for only one, the building hav-
ing been erected only the previous
year, and supposedly furnishing viii
lage school facilities for the coming
20 years at least. That year there
were only seven schools in the village
and eight teachers. Mr.. Ryder and
Miss Mary Barry, now Mrs. A. H.
Webb, were the only High school teach
ers and they had but 45 scholars
Now there are six teachers there. in
,eluding Superintendent Lord, and they
have this week enrolled 1870 scholars
That year they taught a little Latin,
no French or German. The scholars
in all the schools of the village num-
bered $50, while this year they number
about $50, The number Of schools
was seven, with eight teachers, while
now there are 81 different schools,
with 20 teachers, and this does not in
elude the private kindergarten now
held in No. 1 building in charge of
Miss Dascomb. At that time there
was total enrolment of $50 scholars
in the town of Rockingham, while
now there are about 1850.
The village of North Walpole, across
the river, then had only one school in
the old stone school house, now occu-
pied as a dwelling, a little north of the
toll bridge, while now the enrolment
over there is larger than it was in
Bellows Falls in 1881, when Mr.. Ryder
came into his valuable interest in our
schools. There are now nine different
schools over there, and ten or twelve
pupils come across to our schools.
The first day, or the second which
Mr.. Ryder taught in our schools, was
the historical dark day" of that year,
when the darkness continued to such
an extent that the schools had to all
be dismissed because the scholars
could not see to study.
No. 3 building was built in 'S4 two
rooms added to the old High school
building in '87; No. 4 building erected
IN 81 and the present creditable High
school building in go. In all of these
improvements, and many others. Mr..
Ryder has had a leading part, taking
a deep interest in all educational mat
tiers. To him is due much credit for
the present excellent standing of our
schools, and their high rank among the
schools in New England.
Last years report of the state SUI
perfntendent shows an average at
tendance in the schools of Rocking
ham of 912, while that of the town of
Brattleboro is but 804. Bellows Falls
and North Walpole combined had an
enrolment of about 1850 last year.
The same report shows the total days
attendance of scholars in Rockingham
schools to be $4,000 greater than Brat
tleboro, and 1872 more children be-
tween the ages of 5 and 81 than in
Brattleboro. 't.
OF the 100 scholars enrolled this
week in the High school 18 are Sc
nfors, q juniors, 40 sophomores, "A
freshmen and A post graduates.
The corps of High school teachers is
made up of the following: Marshall
W. Downing, principal, and instructor
Of Latin and Greek; Miss Jessie A.
Judd, first assistant; Miss Jennie Ship
man, Instructor in French and Ger
man; Clarence B. Flint, sub-master
and instructor in the sciences; Miss
King, instructor In English and histo-
ry; and Everett w. Lord, instructor
IN stenography and typewriting.