The Newtown bee., 1902-07-25
THE NEWTOWN ACADEMY
A WEIGHTY LOCAL PROBLEM.

A WEIGHTY LOCAL PROBLEM.
 MT Editor: The only excuse the present writer has for writing on the subject of education as it concerns this community, is the fact that he is president of the Board of Trustees o1 the Newtown Academy. position not sought by him, but coming to Him by virtue of his position as rector o1 Trinity church.
 Without presuming to know the condition of the schools of the town or to urge changes which those who know the community by long residence would not think wise, your cores pondent is in a position to state the reasons which have led up to the proposition to have the town establish a high school.
 At a meeting of the trustees of the Newtown Academy, held July 9, we werebroughtto face with the matter of securing teacher for the coming year. Several applications had been received, but they were from persons supposing a definite salary was attached to the position. Realizing the diffic ulty of securing such teacher as would satis- fly the community, without definite guarantee Of support, and that the only way to get such guarantee was to have the promise of scholars and money, it was decided to invite all interested in education to meet with the trustees to consider the situation, trusting in this way to learn the wishes of the community in this mat ter. Such meeting was held in the Library building on the evening of Saturday of that week. The meeting was not large, but was representative, and the sentiment was strongly in favor of sustaining the trustees in keeping the Academy open as offer ing the only opportunity for education save the. district schools. At this meeting it was suggested that there were many boys and girls in the town who would be glad to take advantage of the education given at the Acad- emy whose parents could not afford to pay the necessary tuition. In this it was suggested that as the town was required to pay the tuition of scholars in the town going to the public high schools in other towns, that it might be legal for the town to pay for their tuition at the Academy, and thus save them the ex- pense of travel, and at the same time keep the money thus expended in the town. A committee was therefore ap- pointed to look into the legality of such appropriation, if the town should so vote.
 This naturally brought up the ques- tion of the towns establishing high school of it's own, provided the trustees of the Academy would not be a com petitor for scholars and would give the the use of room in the Academy on certain conditions. A committee was then appointed to correspond with the Secretary of the State Board of Educa- tion to find out what steps must be taken to establish high school.
 An additional committee was then appointed to canvass the town and ob. tain the sentiment of the community on all three propositions. 1st, As tC what support in scholars and money could be had for the Academy, as it has been conducted. 2d, As to public support of the Academy through tui. tion paid for all scholars who could pass satisfactory examination for the higher grades. And 3d, as to the es tablishing of high school by the town. On this last proposition nc great emphasis was laid, as there wa. no expectation that it would mee1 with general favor.
 The meeting then adjourned for ; week to hear from the committee ant to gather larger number of citizen to consult in regard to the matter il question, an invitation given to all in terested in education in the town.
 The adjourned meeting, helt Saturday evening, July 19, a the Library, was attended b. somewhat larger number. The re port of the committee on the legalit, of the towns making an appropriation
 for teachers at the Academy showe'
 that such appropriation was of doubt
 full legality. The committee to co1
 respond with the Secretary of tn
 State Board in regard to steps neces
 sary to be taken to establish Hig
 school had written, but had receive
 no reply. The committee to canva
 the town reported most unexpecte
 sentiment in favor of establishing
 the solution of the problem whic
 commended itself to the meeting,
 committee was appointed to get up
 petition for special town meeting
 see whether the town would establis
 such a school and to obtain signatur'
 from all voters who were in favor
 such school, going over the who
 town and explaining the situation
 it had been developed. This is u
 present situation. From this it
 evident that the Trustees of u
 Academy have no object in view e
 cept to meet the wishes of the col
 munity in regard to facilities for mo
 advanced education and are waitil to know whether the undoubted nee of the town will be met by a pub school or not. If no public high schC is established the Trustees hope tn
 the discussion of the subject will le
 to a generous support of the Acaden : A school of this kind. however. nee