Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-09-14
THIRTY YEARS A TEACHER.
Elmer In 5rattlebOro High School
Teaches Latin and Higher Algebra.


A record which is rare in educational
circles is that which has been attained by
Mrs. Stella S. Elmer Of Brattleboro with
the opening of the Brattleboro high
school Tuesday Mrs. Elmer entered upon
the duties of her 31st year of service as
teacher in that school, and the Brattle-
boro community we'll may congratulate
itself that the end Of her public service
is not yet in sight. The amount Of good
that Mrs. Elmer has done in her capacity
as a teacher and in her contact with
young men and young women both in
and out of school is incalculable. She
has been an inspiration to hundreds of
students, now located in all parts of New
England and the unanimity with which
she is held by them in sentiments of en-
during friendship and love is remark
able. She was an invaluable support to
the late Benjamin F. Bingham in his
work as principal of the school, position
which he held &c consecutive years, and
he realized the value of her services. as
have the succeeding principals and the
successive school boards.
Mrs. Elmer came to Brattleboro when
she was about ~ years old, and she has
been a resident Of the town ever since.
She is familiar with its people and par
ticularly with its schools In 1856, the
year of her coming to town, she attended
the school in whose work she was des-
1t was then located on the southern part
of the present high school grounds. 1t
was not graded and was attended by
pupils of various ages and stages of in
tellectual attainment
After spending several years there Mrs
Elmer entered the graduating class of
the Springfield, Mass, high school in
1862 Then she taught one term in a
district school in Newfane and two terms
in the grammar school in Claremont, n. H.
Next she taught a primary school in
Brattleboro, the school committee agree
ing to allow her to fill the first vacancy
that occurred in the high school. After
teaching one term in the primary school
the opportunity came, Miss Josephine
| Hyde resigning her position in the high
school to go to Cuba as a governess.
Mrs. Elmer began teaching in the high
school in the spring Of 1864 and was Mr..
Bingham's only assistant After the fall
| term Of 1869 Mrs. Elmer, then Miss Elmer,
resigned and on Nov. 20 Of the same year
she was married to James P. Elmer OF
Canton, N. Y, civil war veteran. She
| resumed her position in 1882 and has
! taught continuously since then. AS the
school attendance increased two two
/ story wings were added to the old school,
| house, and finally the building gave way
to the present brick structure.
Beginning with 1882, public gradual
| ing exercises we're held and diplomas
| were awarded. The exercises were
| held in the old town hall build
| ing through the fundamentally OF
| DIR. Henry d. Holton, who was a mem
| Der of the school board 25 years. From
| that time until now 526 students have
| graduated from the school. Among Mrs
| Elmer's school papers is a complete file
| of the graduation programs, beginning
| in 1882.
When Mrs. Elmer began teaching in
the high school the era of specializing
had not arrived in Brattleboro She
taught all branches that she was re-
| quired to teach. AS the teaching force
increased, however. she found it neces-
sary to restrict the scope Of her work
From the beginning she has taught Latir
| and her specialities have been Latin anC
! mathematics. Her branches now are
| Latin and advanced algebra.
Stella S. Elmer was born in Putney
Aug. r. 1874. When she was nine year,
old the family moved to Ludlow, wher.
her father spent year in the tailoring
business. The family then spent a yea
and a half in Proctorsville, coming 4
| Brattleboro in 1856.
Mr.. and Mrs. Elmer have three chill
dren. They are James Leslie Elmer
who is now in Guilford. who served three
years in the Fifth United States Cav
airy in Texas, who was quartermaste
sergeant of the First Vermont regimen
at Chickamauga and who served thre
years in the Philippines, attaining tn
rank of lieutenant in the 43d regiment
Lula s., wife of George S. Wright, who /
principal of the Whtcomb high school II
Bethel, and DIR. Raymond S. Elmer,
dentist in Bellows Falls.