Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-02-01
BRATTLEB0R0 HIGH SCHOOL
Principal Smiths Second Talk to the
Parents about School study, Shoot Dis
oipline and Department, and Especially
about AthIetics-the Washington Trip.

,-,
Parents ABOUT SChool Stuuy' 0"OV' 10
oipline and Deportment, and Especially
...,-.,- A. ,,,..,,i.z.o, rrto
ABOUT Ntn'etCs-t"e "aS"''s'0" '''T'
IN "Wednesday evening for the second
time since this school year began. "A good
sized company of parents and friends
gathered at the high school room. by the
nrincinal's invitation TO have a confer
p,, a,,,, 20 iistcn to a familiar talk from
princinaI Snit6 about affairs connected
with tbe school There was a social half
hour before Mr. Smith called the company
TO order at 8 O'Clock.
Mr. Smith smoke first about the fund
III, !s hoino ra tbnrcd to nav the ex-
nonses of fine senior class on "a trip TO
Washington. which is to be taken in place
of fine annual graduation reception. He
said in substance, that the class of 1907
had for more than "a year past been very
anxious TO make this trip. that it had
been slow work to gather the necessary
5000 tn nay the expensps that contrihu-
tions from citizens had been asked for
and received. and that with these Conui-
butions and the prospective funds from
the fair to be held by the pupils Feb I,
fine amount was assured and the trip
would be taken. the day of departure hay
ing been fixed for Feb 20 so that the class
might he i'm Washington while Congress
is i'm session. Mr. Smith said. very frank
". that it was an open question whether
II would be wise or possible to make these
trims each wear on account of the expense
involved; that many citizens felt that the
exnense was an added burden which the
community ought not to be asked to bear.
and that he had no hesitation i'm saying
that preparation for the fair had taken
quite too much of the time and thought
Of the girls But for this year the trip
vas TO he taken
Mr. Smith spoke of the "honOr system
which the present senior class had intro
duced of It's own motion. He thought it
showed a good spirit on the part of the
school. and that the system was apparent
" working we'll
Reference was made to the fact that.
by agreement with Mr.. Eustis, the admin
istrator of Col Austine's will the income
from his high school bequest of $40 900 is to
he divided into four parts for the benefit
of four pupiIs. instead of giving the whole
amount to one pupil of the highest rank.
The nrincipal believed that with n body
of pupils like those in the high school, it
ought to be possible to do away entirely
with the afternoon session, and to depend
on the diligence and good faith Of the
pupils themselves to keep their work up
to the required standard. Could this be
done the afternoon work of the teachers
could he devoted to the help of such pu-
nils as for any reason need special as
sistance. Mention was made of the fact
that another series of special reports will
sent
informed and duly warned if the work Of
their children is not satisfactory. As in
Mr. Smiths previous talk reference was
made to the social activities of the school
and to the lines along which the teachers
think it wise to direct and confine the
social diversions Mr. Smith thought it
highly desirable that there should be n
commercial course for the benefit of pu-
pills who do not mean to go beyond the
high school
Among those who listened there could
he no doubt that the part of his general
line of comment which seemed most es-
sential to the principal was that which
related to the discipline of the school, the
maintenance of a high standard in the
school studies, and the bearing on these
of the athletic diversions of the boys Mr..
Smith said. in substance. that he believed
that the whole corps of teachers believed
and the school hoard believed that proper
,enioyment of athletic sports and events
was a desirable and even a necessary
adjunct of the school work but that along
with this went the inflexible belief that
roaintanapca of +be studv standard was
the first essential, and that leadership or
activity in athletics ought not to be and
would not be regarded or accepted as any
reason for toleratinp the failure of any
bow to keep up to the standard in his
hooks Mr. Smith said that the friction
which had arisen with some of the bOvs
over matters of discipline and deportment
had grown mainly out of the question of
othIerics and he LET his own opinion and
nosition about This he very clearly rnown
tie said he thought athletic training ought
not TO he for the benefit of n chosen few. !
hut for averv how in the school If he
could have his own wav there would he |
a sunarvisor of gymnastics and athletics |
who should devote his time TO the personal
insTruction and deveIonnent Of each indi- |
1,idral nuniI In sunnort Of the general
relation to tha study standard rhe no |
eition ~, tbie oueetjon taken and main |
tained nv the beodmasters' associat ton If
western Nassacbusatts tba schooImasters
cI,,b of Verpoont and nv tho faculties of |