The Newtown bee., 1902-03-21
The NeWtOWn Bee,
LITCHFlELD COUNTY.
NEW MILFORD.
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.


which has ever been held subject to a
call from the selectmen, to consider
the report of committee for the ex-
tension or enlargement of the Center
school building, also to consider the
request of the Charlottesville district
for a graded school. The two items
were embodied in the same report. W.
F. Kinney was appointed chairman
of the meeting. The report of the
committee was read and the chairman
stated that if the voters present voted
to accept the report, the selectmen of
the town would be authorized to 60
ahead and make arrangements for the
building and the other necessary ex-
penses of seating, heating, lighting,
etc, and pay for the same the amount
deemed sufficient by the committees
report. The decision of the chairman
threw the meeting into misunder-
standing and opened the way for a
difference of opinion and more or less
scrapping before things actually were
Strengthened out and made clear for
business. The report of the commit
tee was accepted and speeches pro and
con were made by the Hon n. Staub.
Stephen @. Beach, George Newton,
Charles n. Hall and others, preparatory
to vote whether the town should
appropriate the money for the pro-
posed plan or not. a vote was finally
taken and those opposed were about
four to one against it, which was a
disappointment and complete "snow
under" for those who favored the re-
port. Now, in the opinion Of the
| writer it was voted down for the
reason, not that those who voted
against the project were opposed to
education, but couplingon plans for two
different schools at one and the same
time was not deemed wise thing tC
do. Others did not approve of the
plan as reported by the committee as
to the outlay for the extension of the
Center school building, thinking it
would really be a waste of money il
not being of a more permanent nature
Then again there is quite a large
element existing more in favor Of the
district schoolhouse or district system
even if the latter should cost more
Many claim that their children have
too far to 60 from their homes to the
Center school. Also that parents have
to dress their children better anC
costing great deal more than it die
formerly under the district system
and many of them with a large mum
Der of children are not able to do SO
Besides the distance is so great, con
sidering all kinds of weather, especial,
during the winter months, that it il
too much for the little ones to trave
the distance. Besides they do no
think their children receive the atten
ton in the large or Center school tina
school. Again it is the belief ant
opinion Of many parents that what il
now called graduation from the SO
called high schools that the graduate
are not as we'll fitted with good prac
tical business ideas or the histor,
and geographical knowledge of thei
native land as the scholars that at
tended the good old district schoo
years ago. They believe that the lat
ter system with good, practica
common-sense teachers in a schoC
where it is not crowded like the Cente
school, is far in excess of the crowde
one for learning, and also better TO
| the morals and health of their childre
than in the large, crowded school,
Z This argument is advanced by goodl
number and is worthy of much motto
. and consdera ton. 1t is not that pee
pie are in any way opposed to educa
ton. The reason why the project wa
voted down at the recent town meet
l ing was for the reasons which tn
: writer has specified: That the preSen
. system does not show any bettermen
q of the good old days of the distriC
o school with it's able teachers. II Pr
Bono PublicO.