Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-07-13

The annual reports of the prudential
comnittee-E Q. s. Osgood, j. l.. Martin
and l.. f. Adams-and treasurer-George
c. Averill-of school district No. are
printed and ready for distribution. To
these are appended the reports of the
principal of the high school, the super
visor of the grades, the supervisors of
music and drawing and the health Of
ficer
Regarding the condition of the schools,
as a whole, the committee say they are
glad to speak favorably. "The year has
passed away with no special epidemic or
other hindrance TO mark its course, and
the attendance of pupils, notably in the
grades, has decidedly improved. Several
changes have taken place in the teaching
force, both of the high school and the
grades, during the past year, necessitat-
ing at first a certain amount of confusion.
But we are glad to report that we are
beginning the new year with very few
such changes, thus placing at our COM
mand a corps of instructors experienced
in the work before them, and eager to
maintain the highest standard of effici-
ency possible. 1t is with pleasure, too,
that we note an increasing desire, on the
part of parents and the public generally
to cooperate heartily with the prudential
committee, as well as the supervisors and
teachers, in their efforts to make the
present school system a success, one
adapted in all its functions to truly edu-
cate the children and youth in the COM
munity."
AS will be seen from the statement of
DIR. Tucker, our health officer, the sani-
tary condition of our various school build
ings was never better than now, many
improvements having been made during
the year.
The committee state: The first report
of Mr.. Smith as principal of our high
school reflects the enthusiasm and the
spirit of faithful endeavor with which he
undertook to fulfil the duties of the po-
sition year ago. Sufficient is IT to say
that he has carried on with praiseworthy
success the work that Mr. Whitaker did
so much to advance and to broaden dur
ing his nine years residence in Brattle-
boro, and the banner class of forty that
graduated in June is well prepared,
through his efforts, as well as those of his
assistants, to make a good account of
itself in larger sphere of education and
service. In addition to the studies al
ready in the curriculum of the schools,
some special attention has been paid to a
review of arithmetic during the senior
year. and beginning has been made in
the direction Of defamation and debate.
In the departments of music and draw
ing much has been mapped out and ac-
complished during the year, and on va
rious public occasions the people in the
district have had an opportunity to learn
for themselves exactly what is being done.
Both Miss Gregg and Mrs. Crosby bear
testimony to the fact that one lesson
week before each class cannot in itself
produce any wonderful advance In knowl-
edge or attainment, yet that this, sup
plemented by the faithful cooperation
of the several teachers and the earnest
endeavor to excel on the part of the pu-
pills, may bring about creditable results.
In the report of Mrs. Crosby a strong
nj lie do tor III.
higher grades of our schools This has
also been presented in the form of a COM
munication received from the Woman's
club In order that this kind of instruc-
ton may be given in some tentative way
the committee have acceded to the re-
quest of the committee on philanthropy
connected with the Womans club, as is
indicated in Article of the school war
rant; and Qf permitted by the district)
will, in the summer of 1907, open certain
rooms of the high school building for this
purpose and expend a limited sum of
school money in connection with IL.
The committee review at some length
the important repairs made during the
year, on which $4721.54 was expended.
In taking up the financial question the
committee state: AS the report Of the
treasurer will show, we have received
the sum Of $31, 090.75 from all sources dur
ing the past year and have expended SOL =
credit OF the district. All known bills
outstanding amount to less than $S5 AS
an offset to this we have owing us for
buttons the sum of $3.50, which will prob
ably be paid in full in the course Of the
summer. Our floating indebtedness (made
necessary by the thorough nature of the
sanitary improvements consists of a note
for $500, payable in four months. A
bond for $2500 has been met during the
past year, thus reducing our permanent
debt from $4,000 to 1927, 900. In order to
provide for the Improvements above as
well as for the regular expenses of the
school year, including the payment of our
last high school bond of $4,000, and the
settlement of the $500 note we recon-
mended that a tax of seventy cents be
laid in the grand list
Principal r. b. Smith of the high school
particularly urges cooperation between
parents and teachers, and discusses the
Importance of the subjects of promptness
and punctuality. The New England Col
lege entrance certificate board has granted
the certificate privilege to the high school
another three years, owing to the excel
lent record of the boys and girls now in
college who prepared here for their col
lege work.
Mr.. Smith discusses athletics as fol-
lows: The question of athletics is a per-
picking one in many ways In the first
place 1t has been my earnest effort to
make studies first and athletics second.
To accomplish that result, it has been a
requirement this last year that the boys
who have been below grade in their
studies have not been allowed to play in
the games with other high schools. This
regulation has interfered somewhat with
the victorious career of our athletic
teams, but scholarship has not suffered
on account of athletics. The great need
of the high school to-day is an athletic
field to be controlled by the school author
tiles. hope some move toward securing
an addition to our equipment will soon
be started. The voters OF the district are
the ones who ought to be especially inter-
ested, and 1t is for them to remember
that 1.-THE boy without a playground is
father to the man without a job"
In closing Mr.. Smith says: 'In the mat
ter of discipline, it has been my endeavor
not to lay down rules and regulations, the
infraction of which shall bring down a
multiplicity of penalties, but rather, to
inspire a, spirit of willingness to cooper
ate with the teachers in everything that
Is best for the school l believe there has
been a steady growth in genuine manli-
ness and womanliness in the school. And
after all, that is the main purpose Of the
pubic sehool-to make good men and
women; to help form strong characters
me lessons that are OF the most value
70 us are not those we learn in books, but
those we learn in contact with other peo-
pie in mastering ourselves"
Miss Marguerite Tucker, supervisor OF