The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-06
FREAK ENGLISH
IN SCHOOL REPORT
BrattIeboro Superintendent's
Grammar and Spelling Are in
Sad Need of "Repare."

BRATTLEBORO, VT, March 5.-A
tempest prevails in Putney as the re-
suit of the publication in the Town
Manual just issued of the first an
nuaI report of the superintendent of
schools, which parents angrily de-
nounce as grossly illitefate. The report
was returned for revision to Supt. O..
H Blodgett, who ordered it printed as
written. A proof, which was submitted
to Supt. Blodgett, was indorsed 80. K"
The town auditors ordered the report
inserted in the Manual, despite strenu-
Gus effcvrts on the part of prominent
citizens to prevent it's appearance. The
report is as follows:
THE school report Of the past year
will not be much different from other
years, it is about the same, We have
maintained thirty-two weeks of school
with the exception of No. 8 which on
account of Sickness has had but thirty
weeks. The Scholars have made much
good progress, the trouble has been
nothing of much Importance if parents
would wisely direct their children it
would save much unnecessary trouble.
Parents should bear in mind and keep
their children ever mindful of their
studies during vacation as much is
gained by SO Doing.
1--WE wish there was no cause for
Speaking of corporal punishment but
as it has been talked and believed by
Many that it was a thing of the past
we think this an error, the law requires
and the supreme Court sustains it. If
mild words, gentle means will not re-
claim the wicked they must be Dealt
with in a SeVerer manner. Our school
buildings as a whole are not what they
should be. Some are in pretty good re-
pare, others bad, the town knowes con-
siderable about this without Telling.
There has been some thought and
some talk regarding the new method,
whether it is better than the old time
can only tell. Blackboard exercise is a
good thing but how about to much.
Teaching Arithmetic without learning
the rules is a strange idea to me.
Learning to read before a child knowes
his letters is another thing that looks
wrong.
"As it is not my intention to praise
anyone to their face we think it no
more than just that our teachers
names be mentioned. Teacher in No. L
intermediate, Miss Jenny Pierce, is a
very nice teacher who puts her whole
soul into her works and her scholars
sheW the result. Miss Lucy Whitney
teaches the little ones which is no easy
task. She has done it we'll and faith
fully. Mrs. Cora Haywood is school,
loving woman and her Scholars seem
10 love her, also they get along nicely:
Miss Lena Aver is a nice teacher and
has won the respect of those who know
her.
Miss Aiken is a fine Scholar and
has succeeded well. Her Scholars
have improved very much. Miss Stella
Webb | term a very nice woman and no
fault but the lack of dicipline. Miss
Lizzie Braily has done good work. She
Is a good teacher. Miss Cora Kenny
Is teacher of considerable experience.
She is a very fine teacher. The winter
term taught by Miss Lindsey is to all
appearances a very capable teacher.
Now l want to say that no one is
f2ultless but the faults of these per-
sons to whom l refer are not so many
so far as I am able to see but what
we should give them recommend for
doing their work good and faithfully.
yours respectfully,
20. B. BLODGETT,
Superintendent of Schools"
Copies of the Putney Town Manual
are in unprecedented demand and re-
quests for extra copies are being re-
fused. Some taxpayers are indignant,
while others regard the report as a
huge joke and read and reread Supt
Blodgett's literary effort with keen
relish. The retention of Supt Blodgett
will be the paramount issue at the
spring election next week, the appro-
priations and the liquor question hav-
ing been relegated to the background
In the Putney general store and the viii
1age tavern three-to-one wagers that
Supt. Blodgett will be retired without
the formality of a resignation find no
takers