The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-09
@rrmont 1atrlman.
WHAT NE&Tg

the erection of High School bulld-
ing for this city, and we are no near
or a solution of the problem, appar-
emily. than when the matter was nrsI
taken up. Meanwhile conditions are
becoming almost intolerable III the
nublic schools The present build
ings are so crowded that the pupils
cannot receive anything ike ade-
uuate instruction, the teachers are
oyerworked, and there is no roohl
for more teachers if they were en-
ployed. The weeks are passing rap
idly. and if action is not taken speeu-
ily the completion of a building can
not he reached so that it will be avail
able for use before September l9lZ'
How are we to care for the natural
increase of our school population
during the next two years? We can
not ignore this question. We cannot
divest ourselves of responsibility lot
conditions that are a shame and
reproach to the voters of this city,
AS sensible men, having at heart
the best interests of our city and our
children. we know that conditions
cannot be allowed to continue as they
now exist In our recent meetings we
have allowed prejudice to play alto
gether too large a part in our dellD-
erations. Whether the erection OF the
nresent City Hall was wise or unwise,
whether the location of the site hrst
proposed for High School was or
was not attended by circumstances
Omen to criticism, are events OF the
past. They do not enter into this
matter of our school needs today
And vet we spend our time in heated
discussions OF subjects not directly
concerned with the present school
problems. in a manner that serves
only to stir up strife, and delay our
decision of the point at issue and the
children Of Montpelier suffer, and
wait
This is not time for prejudice.
This is not time for passion. 1t is a
time for wise and calm and careful
deliberation.
A great responsibility rests upon
us. Let us meet it like sensible men.
Let MS adopt no makeshifts, that in
the end will cost more money than a
good school building while afording
inadequate opportunity for the best
work. We ought not to furnish the
pupils OF Montpelier with educational
facilities poorer than those Of other
towns and cities Of our class. We have
had good reason to be proud of our
schools in the past We ought to
maintain that record. When we send
out our boys and girls to make their
way in life we ought to be able 70 say
tn them: I'VE have done our full duty
Inv YOU. We have given you an OPP
portunity second to that afforded by
no other school in Vermont" 1t IS NJ
true economy to attempt TO save money
by crowding our school buildings Sc
near together that the quality of worF
done will be permanently injured, OF
to erect building that is too small
or is inadequately equipped. By sc
doing we lessen by so much the priv
ileges that the children Of Montpelier
have right to enjoy.
One of the greatest forward steps
taken in educational methods in re-
cent years is the introduction OF man
ual training and domestic science BY
means Of the first many a boy ha;
been able TO find the task for which
he was best equipped and he has beer
saved from joining the DatheticallI
large arm Of the misft in life. Many
of the mothers of today find little
time to train the daughters in house
hold duties There are new ideas il
regard to the purchase and prepare
ton of food that the mothers had NJ
opportunity to learn and that they
are glad to have their daughters
know. The teaching of such subjects
is vastly more practical than tn
teaching Of many subjects in the cur
ricula of our schools The Journa
regrets exceedingly that any person
should attempt to infame the preju
dice Of the voters of Montpelier by
charging that the teaching Of domes
tic science is an insult to the mo
theirs here or elsewhere
We ought to have a school thor
oughly up to date, where manua
training and domestic science are
taught, and We ought to have it at The
earliest possible moment. We canno
afford to sit down and wait while oul
schools are becoming more and more
congested We must be prepared t
answer and to answer quickly, thu
question relative to the school situa
ton, on the lips of everybody, "Wha
neXt?'