Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-06-08
TALKED ON SCHOOLS.
Principal Smiths Address Before the
Professional Club.

hcld AT the BROOKS nouHt hpHuhg
evening ut 1890 followed by a supper.
II was Ladies' night and about half
those present were ladies, Supper was
served to Al, about so being present
at the meeting. The following officers
were elected for l90d.7: President,
Rev. II. X. Miles; secretary and treas
urer, Rev. Il. I, Mathison; executive
committee, 4. Burr Smith, Wesley
Minis, DR.. l.. =. Edwards. An excel
lent paper was read by Principal Il.
Burr Smith, followed by n discussion
led by Colonel G. A. Miles, in which Il.
+. Adams, Rev. +. Q. 5. Osgood, Rev.
l.. NJ. Keneston, Miss Tucker and Miss
Gregg, all of whom are connected with
the schools, participated. Mr.. Smith s
paper is so local in its nature, so time
ly and practical that we give it MS
fully MS our space will permits
Education for Service.
The word education itself is too much of
a subject for brief paper like this, Edu'
cation is q life process. Ordinarily as we
speak Of education we think OF ~ IN CON
nection with a limited number OF years IN
q child's life beginning as early perhaps
as the fifth year and going as far as 10 to
25 years. And | wish further 70 limit my
subject by considering only the efficiency Tor
| the opposte) OF the process. The thing Tor
us TO notice is this: there is service to be
rendered In this world OF ours.
| ] suppose In the last half century more
progress has been made In the industrial aud
mechanic arts and more discoveries in sci.
enee have been brought 10 light thhn IN any
previous period In the history Of the world.
And so in education, there has been change
after change. some Of them of little ultimate
value, but all tending TO bring about high
er level OF perfection In this life process
| II is most significant fact that the attend
ance at higher institutions Cor learning has
increased so remarkably in the last 10 years.
The boys and girls who went TO college
from this town in the decade from 1850 10
1880 could be counted on the two hands; in
the last 10 years of the century that mum.
Der was greatly increased and since 1900
almost as many have gone each year as
went in the period from so TO 90, ! take
Il that the reason is not far 10 seek, people
are realizing more and more the need OF a
better education, better preparation for lie
work. better equipment for service. SO tho
question for discussion Is, what is being
done in preparing the present generation OF
boys and girls to take our places a genera
ton hencei And can We justly say there
is anything wrong with the process
There is a great desire ON the part Of those
most interested in our schools, and that
means a large majority OF our tOwnspeople,
that our schools should be hrst-class In every
respect--there is almost unanimous agree
ment that here every boy and girl should be
given chance to make the most OF grand
opportunities ! would not for minute main
tain that the standards here in Brattleboro
are low. However, ] do think that II FIRE.
quently happens that the school question VIII
receive for q short period OF time, great
deal Of attention, some needed reforms will
be accomplished. and then, unfortunately,
forward step having been taken, no further
Improvement will be though, Of for many
long day, until there is CRYING need for some
further radical change. There has always
been a small minority OF townspeople who
have had the sense 20 know that the school
question has been, is and will be, the most
vital question of public interest. From the
beginning for aught ! know, certainly with
in my remembrance, the town has been for.
tunate in the character and ability Of the
members Of the prudential committee. Now
let us look the situation sqnarely in the face
here in Brattleboro. We have a well.graded
school system fairly well housed, a teaching
corps that compares favoraby with that of
any other town in the state possibly in New
England; but compared with the very best
schools in the country, we are long way
from perfection. For the best work. our
grammar schools and high school should be
in separate buildings, pupils in our schools
do not come under men teachers early
enough in the grades, and when they do
come 10 the high school. there are not
enough men teachers II public opinion is
good for anything in this town, we can
realize better conditions than we now have.
Think of the responsibility that rests on the
membership Of this club for the well order |
ing Of affairs here in Brattleboro. | be- |
lieve there is great desire among the mem. |
bership Of the Woman's club TO be of some
practical use in this community, This club |
too has a duty TO perform in creating a
progressive spirit in regard to school mat
tiers.
board OF trade has recently been or
ganized and the town is TO be congratulated |
for il shows there is a civic spirit here that |
stands for something. How does this or. |
ganization expect to accomplish anything |
Simply by influencing public opinion in GER |
tain directions, Our strenuous president |
among his many activities breaches a crusade |
in favor Of larger families. To many people, |
even if they eoncede the point that more |
children are desirable. IL would seem that !
more emphasis could be placed on the quail.
ty rather than the quantty--and so / would |
like to urge a better Brattleb0ro before we
talk TOO much about bigger one. ! am not |
advocating that the board OF trade take up
he question Of the schools. But am urging
hat public opinion in this organization in
dude in its wider outlook for better condi-
ions in Brattleboro, better schools The
ocal papers are an index of public opinion
n BrattebOrO The press in any commun-
ty has a splendid opportunity to serve its
leaders,. II can do much toward forming a
progressive spirit in matters educational IL
sn't necessary 10 speak of the pulpit here
-Ouiy 10 make tllS OBSERVATION. II tle peWs
ire not better filed with the leading men
n the community, the ministers of the town
annot have the influence they ought to nave
What are We doing for the Brattleboro Of
926 or 1856 1t may almost be put down
S automatic, paradoxical as it may APP.
'ear that 10 bring about right conditions, by
nd by, we must be forever dissatisfied with !
onditons as they are
Let us take a survey of the actual stua-
ion. First, what is the town doing for the
Inv ri pp1 hahn NJ hnNvg and rsir1z
iealth must be the first consideration. Any {
ducatiOn that is gotten at the expense Of |
he bodily health cannot be worth much. ]
ught to say in passing that there is good
cal charged to the school on the score Of |
eath that doesn't rightfully belong there. e
I is only the very rare pupil that breaks c
own from too much study. Growing chill I
rem frequently are not well nourished, too !
ften get too little sleep, are allowed to be !
'on the GO too much and so bring about 7
condition of affairs that causes break !
own, and then the school is charged with {
orkins the children to death. Our school I
uildings are fairly well heated lighted and a
entilated. recent state law compels eX. n
limitations for eye and ear defects, the board II
health has jurisdiction in case of con
lgious disease; the town itself is well situat-
and a healthful bodily condition can \
lrdly be helped. But looking at what other G
re pitifully small There is not school 2
lilding in this town that has a suitable a
ayground unless it he some of the primary V
,hools where so much space is not needed. o
e have in our high school today about rs A
)ys and no place in the town for those y
pys to play a game Of football or baseball. II
o be sure, there is the island where the W
gh school teams occasionally play, when 9
ley have the necessary IS for the use Of the n
'ounds. In its present condition it is not
suitable place for our boys to use. If the W
land could be bought by the district, am d.
IT sure but it would be the best thing that s.
Md be done in providing an athletic field D,
herever such a field is bought I hope it az
i'll be primarily for the school boys, because OF
wn teams would expect to use general n'
hletic field and there is too much profess u
onalism in the way town teams are man. U
ed and too little real snort l. e. playinp &c