Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-07-18
ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING.
INTERESTING SESSION TUESDAY EVE
MING.

Reports Accepted and Old officers Elected
Without Opposition of 65 Cents Pay
able Forthwith voted-Interesting Discus
sion Relative to the Establishment Of Bus
mess Course in the High School Resolution
Passed Authorizing the Committee to Bor.
row Money to Establish Such Course if In.
vestigation Shows 1t to be Desirable.
The annual meeting of school dis
trict No. , twas held in the schoolhouse
Tuesday evening, about 40voters being
present. The meeting was filled with
discussion and proved to be inter
esting to all who attended. 1t was
called to order by S. W. Kimball,
clerk of the district, and DR.. II. d.
Holton was chosen moderator The
first question was on the adoption of
the reports of the treasurer and pru-
Dental committee .and before these
were accepted several questions con-
corning them were asked. DIR. +. Ham
ilton wanted to know if the principals
salary had been raised after it was
known that a supervisor was to be hired
and G. III. Thompson said that the pin
cipal had been hired before the regu-
lar meeting. l.. F. Adams interro-
gated the special committee in regard
to the contract with the Boston Blower
company and Mr.. Martin said that the
entire bill had not yet been paid this
concern, a part of the money being
withheld until satisfactory alterations
were made in the heating apparatus
DR.. Hamilton inquired if the heating
apparatus We're satisfactory at present
and Mr.. Thompson replied that since
the repairs which had been made in
December it was practically in good
order. Further discussion was raised
over the question of the expense for
orchestra during the past two years, it
being the sense of the meeting that too
much was being spent in this line.
Mr.. Adams finally moved that the re-
por be accepted and adopted and the
motion was carried
The next question in order was the
election of officers. j. l.. Martin was
elected a member of the prudential
committee to succeed himself for three
years, S. W. kimball was chosen clerk,
George G.. Averill, treasurer, and G.
A. Harris auditor. r. T.. Gordon was
elected collector with a salary of $500
the question of how many
schools the district will have this year
md how long they will continue L. f.
adams moved that the committee be
allowed to use its discretion provided
hat at least 30 weeks of school be held.
The motion was carried. George c.
Ayerill moved that the question of re-
,eiving tuition pupils be left to the
= roc ~ Il / tnI /
Martin moved that the committee be
to employ a supervisor and /
'lr. Adams seconded his motion which |
vas carried. Mr. Martin also moved |
hat a tax of GJ cents be raised as rec
in the committees report |
md it was made payable forthwith.
After the regular business had been I
transacted George w. Pierce raised .
he subject of adding business course /
o the school and nearly an hour was 7
pent in discussing the different phases |
# this question. Mr.. Pierce inquired /
f the committee as to how much mon
" would be needed for the establish +
nent and support of suchsa course /
'lr. Thompson said that the matter had /.
lot been investigated since few years .
go but at that time the committee
ound that it could secure the services
# an instructor for about 81, 600 and /
quip the course for about the same
mount. DR. Hamilton wondered if +
money could not be saved by having
tx hours of school day instead of
i've and the saving used for the bust
ess course. Mr. Pierce then offered a
esolution that the school committee
e instructed to investigate a business
curse and if deemed advisable to es-
ablish such course. an additional tax
f 3 per cent. being declared in the
vent of such a course being eStab-
shed. DIR. Hamilton seconded the
esolution.
Mr.. Adams said that the course must
e first class to amount to anything
nd he feared that tax of per cent.
'ould not be sufficient. Mr. Martin
the resolution to read ) per
emit. instead of 3. II. f. Taylor ex-
ressed his strong approval of such a
curse of study, saying that he be-
eyed it more important than the elias
zeal course. Mr.. Adams believed
lat it should be made independent of
he regular courses in the High school
nd Mr., Martin feared that the pupils
ould take the course before they had
.ceived sufficient preliminary study.
e believed that it ought to follow
from the High school. c.
. Crosby and Dr. Hamilton thought !
lie course ought to begin in the second
ear if not sooner and Rev. +. G. S. Os- /
bod said that from point of practice ;
lie, end of the second year seemed to
i'm the better time to begin. G.. +. t
thompson agreed with Mr.. Martin 7
d. f. Tasker spoke strongly against
aking the course elective before the
gular four years course was finished,
ying that business was not the only
ing in the world and should not be I
ade the main ambition of every pupil. !
c. Fits thought the question was v
lie of the most important which had
me before the school district recent
and was strongly opposed to allow
g the course to begin too soon. He 4
id that the great trouble with the a
esent generation was the desire to h
t their children to earning money too a
on, as if that were the only aim in :,
e. Colonel Taylor heartily agreed :
tn Mr.. Fits and said that High
hool education was little enough to Z
any boy or girl to be competent II
l.. d. Taylor did not ! l,
rec with his father. He allowed =
at in the first year of the High g
hool he was Just as well fitted to en- 1t
r business as he was at the end of
e course and thought that the last N
rec years did not amount to much in Il
business way. The discussion was tc
rther continued by Mr. Martin, Mr.. fc
ECKER, Mr.. Osgood, Mr.. Crosby and Il
= Emerson all Speal,inp in rauard to | "