The Newtown bee., 1906-10-19
TOWN TOPICS
THE CONSOLIDATION OF MIDDLE AND NORTH CENTER
 DISTRICTS.
MIR CORBETT ANSWERED.

DISTRICTS.
 MIR CORBETT ANSWERED.
 To the Editor of THE VIEWPOINT BEE: MT COrbert'S communication in the last issue of THE BEE gives some light on his reasons for opposing the of Middle and North Center districts. He slvs he bel eyes "that union of the two districts without plan would be disastrous o the best interests of education in New town, and l stand ready at any time me" I think the public would be glad to hear them; and again ask him, as at the beginning, to let u> have some light on his opposition to proposition which to good many of us seems reasonable and calculated to help the cause of education, at least in the two districts concerned. We are looking for a betterment of our schools, and If he can help us in this matter, we shall be grateful. A" deti- nite plan has been proposed and it is well known to the community. It is matter of very small consequence to me that my plan to help should be set aside for something better. So in all frankness ask him what practicable scheme he has which will do away with the present absurd arrangement of having two district schools in this village.
 While this is the main purpose of the discussion, will answer the gen. eral reasons for his opposition. He says: First, the project had no known sponsors; second, was indefinite in provisions; third, it's scope unmeas- ured; and fourth, it's effects, if passed, unknown.
 In regard to the first. He was pres ent at the annual meeting of Middle District when the subject was sug- gested. He was called upon to express his opinion as being teacher, and his opinion so far as expressed, and that upon the main point of grading. was favorable. When committee of three was appointed to get the senti- ment of the people in the two dis my place on that committee. He de- clned to serve as having no children in the school and therefore not so much interested as others. That con- mi5tee consulted with large number of people in both districts and found a general approval. In fact no one seemed opposed to the plan. When l suggested to the other members of the committee the calling of meeting of the district to have formal vote of the district on the subject, it was first postponed on account of the hot weather and the fact that people were extremely busy. Later it was decided not to call meeting as it was unnec- could we'll be dispensed with in view nf fha onnlronf1V n 1 m D1ch nf the people in the two districts.
 In regard to the absence of names of petitioners in the call for the town meeting, MT Corbett is probably thinking of call for a special town meeting, which requires a certain number of petitioners. The legal notice was posted by the District Committee of each district 15 days be- fore the town meeting and the proper officers of the town put the article in call for the annual town meeting.
 In regard to the second reason for his opposition, that it was indefinite in provisions, l suppose he means as to the arrangements of the schools, which house shall be used for the pri mary and which for the intermediate. town can act. It belongs by law to the district.
 Third, he says tits scope is unmeas- ured." If he means that the good which could be accomplished by the change would be beyond measure, l grant it. He can hardly mean that this is an untried scheme. l think that Sandy Hook district had school with two rooms when l came to live in town. There are districts in nearly every town in the state where there are two or more teachers of different grades in different rooms. In the town where formerly lived there were six such districts.
 Fourth, he says "the e.effects" of such a plan "if passed, would be unknown" The effect wherever tried has been a success and it ought to be generally known, for it is used wherever people have good schools. The effect of divid- ing the work where it can be done so readily as here would be the greater efficiency of the teachers and the ad- vancement of the scholars.
 There is yelled allusiOn to the in- terests of the friends of education in the other districts of the town. It Corbett has in mind. The consolidat- ed districts would need no more money than the two present districts. He surely does not think that the people in more remote districts who, from the small number of children in their schools, cannot expect to have more than one teacher, would from a spirit of jealousy wish to prevent us from bettering our condition. This is no scheme of general consolidation. To that 1 am on some accounts opposed. can hardly believe that the voters of this town, If they thoroughly under stood this matter, are so narrow mind- ed as to wish to stand in the way of this village and it's immediate vicinity making improvements for the benefit of the children and it's own business interests, especially when it would not be done at their expense.
 What the discussion has to do with the High school, to which in it's pres ent arrangement he seems hostile, it would be hard to see. It certainly would give our teachers a better op- portunity to prepare their scholars for