Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-07-15
THE MEDDLER.
~ ne GOA, NJ, PIT u on"

With the approach OF the annual
school meeting, discussion regarding
n change from the one session system
u being revived, and II IL likely that
the question viii prove the subject OF
considerable oratory next Tuesday
evening. The believers In the return
To the old fashioned two session plan
say that there are two advantages Ia
be gained thereby. First. II VIII do
away with the early breakfast ana late
dinner which are necessary al present.
second. the pupils VIII be kept busy
during the afternoon and therefore
out of mischief These are indeed I'M
answerabe arguments. That anyone
should be obliged To get breakfast as
early as $50 n. m. is q crying shame
land the great wonder II how II has
been endured so long. II Is also sur
prlsing how parents have managed 10
keep their sixteen and ethteenyear-
old youngsters out OF mischief every
Afternoon especially II the nursery
door has no lock- To advance such ar
guments IN favor of going back TO the
double session plan Is, to say the
least amusing The housewife who has
the breakfast getting herself is gem
orally glad 10 have the meal out of
1.-THE way al n seasonable hour while
she who is lucky enough TO be rid of
this irksome duty can generally Sc
cure the extra rest she covets by ar
ranging with the hired girl the night
before. As for the "out of mischief"
theory Ii would seem 10 point toward
desire on the part Of the parents to
shirk the responsibility Of caring for
their children. The high school Is not
Intended for free Kindergarten, and
! II high school pupils are not old
lenough 10 keep out of mischief their
lpace Is al home under the watchful
| eye Of papa and mamma.
There are. however strong argu-
ments in favor of the retention of the
present system as far as one session
Is concerned. In the first place the
work can be carried on without inter-
ruption and in this way much more
accomplished. Again, II gives the
pupil more time to study outside of the
school room. Everyone knows that the
concentration which Is necessary for
the mastery OF high school subjects
cannot be gained in the midst of a
score or more Of pupils some of whom
are studiousiy inclined and some not.
The argument advanced by the two
session advocates that many Of the
not affect the question al all. Loafing
can be done In school as well as at
home. Another advantage, which
means much 10 some people, Is that UNI
der the present system pupils have
time to work outside of school hours
and thereby gain educational advan-
tages which otherwise would not be
open TO them. The boy who spends his
afternoons working In a shop or office
IL seldom the one whose marks cause
worry to his teachers. He realizes
what his education is costing.
The question OF a change from one |
to two sessions is for the prudential /
committee to decide, although the con- I
seusus of public opinion taken by q /
vote In the school meeting would prob I
ably be respected. II is extremely (
doubtful If the ma iority of parents In 4
the district would be IN favor of such I
a retrogressive movement.
Two new committeeman viii have to 4
be chosen at the school meeting H
another thing that may cause A
a contest, Mr.. osgood whose term ex-
pires this year viii as matter of
course be reelected. but c. II. Thomp-
son has resigned and his place will 1;
have 10 be filed 1t Is understood that
The believers IN good old-fashioned
schooling with plenty of "readin. ritin
md rithmetic" Will have n candidate in
he field whose duty will be 10 see that
he frills aud furbelows of the modern
system are cut out as much as possible.
i this is true a lively fight may be
expected. l.. F Adams who has had a
of
prudential committee has been men :
toned as candidate, not especially by Il
he three r believers but by those who I
hipk that a small quantity of exper-
enee Is worth considerable theory.
Whether Mr. Adams's belief in the adj
stability of returning to two sessions
sill have any effect on his candidacy
: a matter of conjecture.
Judge Parker will be elected by one I
( the largest majorities that the =
emocrats have ever rolled up" quoth |
well-known democrat to the Med
der the other day, and he'll take New
ork away from Roosevelt like that
mapping his fingers Can anyone of
ur readers guess the maker of this
reelection? John Calvin? No. NJ j.
Ioran? Guess again. r. S. Childs?
Yell, who'd thought it,
In passing a local store window the
Their day the Meddler was attracted a,
y the following bit Of advertising. n
What you want is here today; it may
e gone tomorrow" Naturally he e
oked for display of choice variety =
ut saw instead an empty window.
hen he decided the store-keeper
cant the sign to read, What you -
ant is gone today: it may be here
The democrats of Windham county
i've made good move in ignoring
K county seat and calling their con-
,ntion to be held in Brattleboro. II
is plan had been adopted by both
rites several years ago there would |
no trouble in getting the county
lildings moved to Brattleboro
here they belong. It's certainly
1, ;r1,r i