Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-07-24
THE SCHOOL MEETING.
c. H. Thompson Elected Commit
teeman for Three Years.
Why Business Course Was Not Es.
ahlished-General Criticism of
Modern School Methods.


Of the Incorporated school district Tues
day evening with the expectation of see
ing things ripped up the back had
their expectations shattered. Ii was
well. however, to have a large atten-
dance, upwards OF 125 being present,
which is three times the usual number.
In the absence of Clerk 5. w. kimball,
who was detained by illness, DR.. II. u.
Holton, moderator, read the warrant for
the meeting, and Walter A. Gilbert was
elected clerk pro TEN. Under article /
Dr. IIolton was elected moderator The
printed report of the treasurer was
adopted. but there was some discussion
before the report of the prudential com
mittee was adopted. c. W. Pierce. who
introduced last year a resolution request
ing the committee to give special atten-
ton to the establishment of a business
course of study said the report was all
right as far as 1t went. but ne saw NJ
mention Of the business course. lie
thought that in justice to the district
some kind of report. either printed or
verbal. ought to be made.
| The moderator read the resolution,
after which G. II. Thompson of the
committee. said that the matter had been
! looked into by the committee who found
! that such a course would increase the
! expenses of the district from year to
| year and that the committee did not
| feel warranted in establishing 1t under
the present income. J. l.. Martin, also
of the school board said that all the in
| formation the committee had received
! was against establishing business
course for pupils who were purusing reg
ular studies. He thought the business
course should not be taken until after
the pupils had graduated. The cost of
establishing a business course would be
$500 and the annual cost of maintaining
it would be $1,000
10.
general criticism OF modern methods of
education as against the old methods,
| having spent some time in examining the
lower grades. He thought the primary
studies were not taught in a proper way.
He said he had fault to find with the
| way in which arithmetic was taught.
! There ought To be more drill, more oral
work and less written work. More ac-
| complshed and experienced teachers
ought to be employed in some of the
lower grades. Green girls were out Of
place in teaching young children. 1t
| would be far better to pay first class
prices for first class primary teachers
than to spend money on a business
course He criticised the vertical system
of writing. saying that it destroyed in
dividualty. After these remakS the re-
port was adopted.
Under article these officers were
| elected: Clerk Walter y. Gilbert; mem
Der of the prudential committee for three
years. Charles II. Thompson; treasurer
George c. Averin; auditor. Charles A
/ Harris: collector Robert T.. Gordon. with
! the same salary as last year The nomi-
nation of c. II. Thompson TO succeed
/ himself as member Of the prudential
| committee was made by James 2.
| Hooker. VINO said that it gave him great
/ pleasure to place IN nomination a man
who had always been a good citizen and
had served on the school board with
| credit To himself and to the district
| Mr. Thompson's election was 10y unan-
imous vote.
ON motion of George W. Pierce. article
T. to see If the district will continue to
receive tuition scholars, and If so, on
what terms. was left to the discretion Of
| the committee &. F Thompson moved
| that a tax Of IS per cent. be levied as
! recommended by the committee for pay
| ing current expenses and reducing the
bonded debt $25o0 The motion was car
ried and the tax was made payable forth
with. J. l.. Martin then said that the
roof Of the High school building was in
need of repairs some of the seats need
| ed to be made more comfortable, some
of the fence posts ana rails around the
school yard We're deCaNcd and ought to
be replaced. and some of the floors ought
To be relaid. The estimated cost of max
ing these repairs was three per cent. Of
the grand list. and he moved that an eN-
! ira tax Of three per cent be leVled in
order that the repairs might be made.
which would raise from 800 To $50.
There was no opposition to the motion.
| Under the head Of other busienss 80
Charles r. Crosby moved that the next
school meeting be called in Festival hall
as the room in which the meeting was
held was not large enough. Mr.. Martin
said there was plenty of room in the
High school room, but that in recent
years the meetings had been held in a
smaller room So that the people would
not get lost. G. W. Pierce said he hoped
the motion would not prevail An aye
and nay vote was taken. but the moder-
ator was unable To decide. second
vote was taken, when the moderator de-
cided that the nos " had won. Mr..
Crosby suggested that hereafter the
printed reports be gotten out earlier so
that people might have an opportunity
to see them before the school meeting.
The clerk was instructed on motion of
G. +. Thompson. to extend to the retir-
ing clerk, $. W. Kimball, the hearty
thanks Of the district for his long term
of faithful and efficient service. Mr..
kimball has been clerk of the district 20
years. 1t was known that he intended
to resign al this meeting. but he was
kept at home by an attack of tonsiltis.
DIR. Holton noted the absence of an
article in the warrant to see If the dis
trict would employ supervisor {. Ii.
Thompson explained that under State
Superintendent Rangers Interpretation
of the new school law the employment
of supervisor was obligatory. Col.
Miles inquired as to who were the final
judges in examinations, and Rev. f. Q.
S, Osgood of the school board said that
the pupils passed from grade to grade
on examinations subject to the approval
of the school board as well as the teach
ers and supervisor.
Mr.. Martin suggested that in view of
criticisms which had been made people
should remember that it is a part of the
committees business to receive criti-
csms and that any complaint made to
them would be considered carefully. Mr..
Thompson, of the school board. said in
reply to Col. Miless criticism in relation
to arithmetic that this school well as
many other leading schools in the coun-
try adopted a text book which they sup
posed was all right, but they had put 1t
aside and had bought the most old-fash-
toned book they could find, which would
be introduced next year. He said also
that the vertical system of writing had
been changed to a modification of the old
Spencerian system, which would give
greater speed. The meeting then was
adjourned