Putnam patriot., 1909-07-23
State Trade Schools,

Stale lraoe S<hoefs.
 The Legislature has passed bill authorizing the establishment of seve- raj Trade Schools, to be located in va rious parts of the state. The duty of locating these schools dexolyes upon the State Board of Education, and in accordance with the intent of the law !, the Board is making . thorough cam vass of the State 10 learn where the most suitable places to establish the schools are to be found. To do this the Board has appointed agents to visit all manufacturing towns, and make a thorough investigation and learn all the facts needed to enable the Board to decide the question.
 Ex-Senator Henry J. Potter of Wood stock, has been appointed Agent of the Board to collect the information need- ed. and has already entered upon his duties. No more suitable person for the purpose can be found In the State. As an old school teacher he has studied the question of what constitutes the best education for the average boy or girl when either leave the common school--or even the higher institutions of learning-when they go out into the world to enter upon their life's duties. He early came to see that added to their scholastic requirements, some trade or calling that would enable them to be independent of outward help To be self-sustaining, and from that time to this he has favored Trade Schools.
 MT. Potter will canvas the town, vis- fling house to house to get the informa- ton needed to give an estimate of how many children, between the ages of l3 10 l6 years, would take advantage of a Trade School, were 1t located in Put nam, to learn some trade or calling while being educated. While that is, perhaps, the most important factor in deciding the question, il Is not final. The adjacent towns may also have chtl- dren of suitable age, who would like to attend Trade School if located in Putnam. There are also other matters to be considered: the healthfulness of the city; the number and variety of manufactories and other trade indus tries. The eager desire of the mass of our citizens to have such school loca- ted here, will have weight in making the award.
 NIT. Potter will take in everything that will bear favorably in deciding the location for this city. He will have his headquarters at skAe Putnam Inn this week and the fore part of next week, where any one desiring may con fer with him about supplying him with information In regard to the purpose of his visit here.
 When the Board of Education re- ceives the information desired, 1t will send committee of it's members here to hold public meeting to confer with citizens interested In the matter. Our Business Mems Association sent conn., munication to the Board of Education as soon as 1t learned that Trade Schools were to be established In the State, ex. pressing it's earnest desire to have one assigned to Putnam. Because of this request of the Business Mems Associa- tion, the Board will send a committee to confer with our citizens.
 Our School Board, we suppose, will take some action in regard to receiving the committee of the Board of Educa- ton when 1t comes to Putnam. And perhaps also they may confer with it's Agent, MT. Potter, and learn if there Is anything they can do to assist him in his work of collecting information to lay before the Board. It is an impor. tant matter, and if there is anything that can aid in getting Trade School located here. it will have to be imme- diately attended to. It will be great benefit to Putnam to have such de. sirable institution. This town has ne- yer solicited nor received any public institution from the State, while q score of other places no better entitled, have received such benefits. This is A strong argument 10 sustain our claim to have a Trade School located here, provided that, in otherSrespects, Put nam shows it is well entitled to it.