Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-11-08
THE HOME AND THE SCHOOL.
Principal Smiths Informal Talk-Varlous
Suggestions for Improvement Of Con-
ditons In Our Schools.

Principal f.. b. Smith gave his first
talk Of the present school year in the
high school room Wednesday evening.
He laid the main emphasis of his remarks
on the necessity of greater cooperation
between the home and the school, and
upon the conditions in our Brattleboro
school system with a view to their i'm
provement. He spoke of the recent state
convention in Burlington when the meet
ings were held in the Edmunds high
school, a magnificent building with fine
assembly room, which our own building
lacks. Emphasis was placed on two
things at this conN entlon-industrial ed
ucatiun and health of the children-man-
ual training and physical education. The
physical training in our Brattleboro
school is in charge of Miss Wcllman who
Is doing excellent work. In addition to
her work Die rich Stolte has been en-
gagged to give two afternoons each week
to training the boys. lie Is coach for the
high school boys, and teaches the grade
boys general athletic work. 1t Is hoped
that tine work of Mr. Stolte will be an
incentive to the boys to do better work and
that 1t may possibly stop the cigaret
smoking which Is very evident this year
Mr.. Smith urged parents to see that their
chlIdfcn are kept of the streets and do
"a certain amount of study regularly every
day outside Of school hours-a minimum
amount of at least two hours day.
In speaking Of the Washington fund
MI Smith said that a general subscrip-
ton viii not be asked FOR this year Pa
rents of boys and girls ina the senior
class nave been Interested and have con-
tributcd So that with the school fair the
Iuhd VIII be raised, 1t was voted this
year To nave school pin instcd OF class
pms so mat question has been settled
II was a pleasure TO say that the work
Of the high school is now going better
IMAM az any time since Mr.. Smith came
to the school as principal
MI smith urged that the older people
SHOW their interest In the Dial the school
| paper announcement of the following
| prizes was made: $3.50 for the best
Christmas story contributed to the Dial:
~ for the best story contributed to the
| l)ial during the year; 81 for the best
| poem contributed curing the year The
| - prize cannot 60 to the winner Of the
| prize for Christmas story. At a reunion
| OF alumni In June the class OF 1855 voted
! $50 to oe used for prizes for excellence
| IN some form Of Lublc speaking This
money has been divided into sums of Sc
and 81 for the senior class and 50 and 81
| Tor the Junior class to buy books as prizes
FOR work in debates during the year
Mr.. Smith again emphasized the fact
| that the high school and grades are la
! boring under great disadvantage in hay
|
ing. Both departments are crowded
| There Is barely loom enough for the
grammar grades iu the building as ar
ranged now, and with two sessions fol
| the grades and one for the high schoo
| there rs much confusion. Sooner or later
| the district will have to consider tn,
| question of more room. His own belief
is that the best solution Of the districts
! problem would bc to provide building
! for the lower grades and then make tive
siN-year divisions Of the school work
! making 81 total OF T. years for the schoo
course. whereas We have 10 now. Tn,
| principal thinks pupils are now going Intc
| the high school at too advanced an age
| They ought to enter at least a year ear.
Her Mention was made OF the com.
| mercial course winch there is hope OF
| seeing established next year.
Mr.. smiths remarks were followed b,
a discussion. during which several ques
| tions were asked and answered