Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-07-18
A BUSINESS SCHOOL
One May Be Established in Con-
nection with High School.
Important Action Taken and a Variety
Of Subjects Discussed at the Annual
School Meeting Tuesday Evening.

SChool Meetlnq Iuesday Evening.
In some respects the annual meeting
of school district No. 2 in the High
school building Tuesday evening was
the most important meeting the dis
trict has held in recent years There
was the usual infusion of oratory, and
it was characterized in the main by
sound, hard sense. There was also
a movement looking to the establish.
ment of a course of study which would
be of the highest value to a student
compelled to enter upon a business
life without the advantages of a com
plete High school course.
The meeting was called to order by
Clerk s.. W. Kimball who read the
warrant. DR.. II. ID. Holton was elect
ed moderator. Article 2. to hear the
report of the treasurer and prudential
committee was then taken up. The
reading of the reports was dispensed
with, they having been printed and dis
tributed. DR.. Hamilton asked the
committee If, in electing ito employ a
supervisor they understood that the
salary of the principal was to be raised
above what it was before he undertook
to fill both positions. He called at
tention to the amount of the princi-
pals salary $4,000, as published in
the report.
{. II. Thompson, chairman of the
committee, stated that the principal
was engaged and his salary fixed be-
fore the last annual meeting. when
1t was decided to employ a supervisor.
He supplemented his reply with the
statement that Principal Whitaker
had received offers from other schools
at an increased salary and that his sal
airy here was raised in accordance with
the judgment of The school board.
l.. F. Adams called attention to an
item on page II of the report. which
reads 'F. c. Leitsinger. orchestra e
years. S25174."
Mr.. Thompson said the bill for the
first year was not presented in time to
appear, in last years report He said
he and the other members of the board
were OF the opinion that 1925 a year
was too much to pay for music for
the graduation exercises. but that they
had been supplying what the public
appeared to demand. So far as the
services OF the orchestra were con-
cerned no fault was found with the
price charged. Mr. Adams thought
that II the graduating class wanted
reception they ought to pay for the
music. c. F. Thompson said there
were some in the class who couldn't
afford to pay. L. Il. Holden then
said that the graduating class this
year had some $40 left in the treasury
after the exercises were over, which
they spent on a picnic or something
of that kind. One or two other items
We're discussed, after which the re-
port was accepted and adopted on
motion of Mr. Adams.
Officers were then elected as fol-
lows: Clerk. S w. Kimball: member
of the prudential committee for three
years, James L. Martin: treasurer.
George c. Averill; auditor. c. A. Har-
ris; collector, r. F. Gordon. with sal
airy fixed al $500.
It was voted TO have at least SO
weeks of school the coming year. and
more If deemed best by the committee.
The number OF schools to be Amain-
tanned was left to the discretion of
the committee The matter of re-
ceiving tuition scholars was left to the
discretion of the committee. 1t was
voted to empower the committee to
employ supervisor Under article
Z, to raise money to .defray the ex-
penses of the coming year. Ii was vot-
ed to comply with the recommends
ton Of the committee to raise a tax
of Go per cent on the grand list. pay
able forthwith. This will enable the
district to pay a bond of $4,000 due this
year and bond of the same amount
continued from last year.
G. w. Pierce opened the way for
stream of eloquence when, under
article s. "to transact any other bust
ness" he introduced the following
resolution:
Resolved that the school committee
be requested to give special attention to
the establishment of business course
of study and instruction and. If deemed
advisable. to establish the same. and in
that event an extra tax of three per cent
is hereby assessed and appropriated for
that purpose
He said Mr.. Whitaker and the COM
mittee had Investigated the matter to
some extent. and called on Mr.. Thomp-
son for report of their findings. Mr.
Thompson said first class instructor
in business course would cost $1,000
and the equipment necessary would
cost as much. A room for the course
could be fitted up in the upper story
VI thc iliSh SCnOOl uUltuluS. Inc 0rSt
years expense would be much larger
than that of subsequent years. L.
f. Adams thought the business course
should be entirely independent of the
High school work and be open to
outside pupils and in that way be made
self sustaining. ]. l.. Martin said the
danger of business school would be
that some might be induced to take
the business course without first hav-
ing acquired a good education which
is far more valuable to business man.
The pupil ought to be encouraged to
graduate first then take the business
course. Fl. f. Taylor agreed with
Mr., Martin.
G. r. Crosby thought the pupil ought
TO be allowed the business course at
the end of the second year If desired.
DIR. Hamilton said it should be optional
with the pupils and their parents when
they should take the course. Rev.
p. Q. S. Osgood was of the same mind.
ID. E. Tasker supported the idea of a
classical education in an eloquent
speech. c. c. Fits made a strong
plea for the elementary education
first, that afforded by a complete
course in the High school being little
enough. The best and highest paid
stenographers, he said. are college
graduates. L, d. Taylor said: 1--WE
are facing condition and not a theo-
ry." He believed the business training
should begin early. c. F. Thompson