Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-12
|THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE
Woodstock, Vermont.
Printed Saturday Morning
bNE DOLLAR A YEAR
WOODSTOCK NEWS
FOR A SINGLE SESSION
Student Argues Ably for Change at
w. ii. S.


w. II. S.
In the managing of school or any
Nbther affairs, a great number OF
+ zuuestions are sure to come up before
\ he authorities as we'll as the public.
3rhe proposition now confronting the
school committee is in regard to the
adoption of the single session. This
has already been adopted in practi-
bally all Massachusetts schools.
Should not Woodstock at least try
his scheme?
Let us see what it would mean.
A1irst, it would bring about a more
compact schedule and shorter inter-
mission The outline for this change
would necessarily require school to
4 pen at half past eight instead of
&ine. This seems to be the most
convenient hour, as it enables stu
Y 8ents coming on the morning train
10 reach the building with plenty of
Nime. Fifteen minutes as at present
Nor opening exercises, brings the
q rst period at eight forty-fve, leaving
= bout forty five minutes each for the
& rst four recitations. This brings
he noon lunch of about half an
Aour, which seems all that would be
b Aequired, at eleven thirty-fve. Be-
A kinning again. at twelve, with the
\ hst two periods of forty-fve each,
he school closes at one thirty.
* The afternoon need not be entire
&y wasted, for special session could
4 be given for delinquents, those wish
.lng to make up lost work, to receive
a lid, or to stay for any other reasons
a In comparing this schedule with
E he one now employed, it may be
x een that practically no time, is lost.
q h the present plan there are four
ours and fifty minutes for recita-
ions. In the proposed plan there
re four hours and fifteen minutes.
At present there are from five to ten
minutes lost at recess in settling
own, and the same time, which
A ould be cut down, is lost at noon.
20 it is seen that the old method
"A fontains only about fifteen minutes
n hore, not taking in account the vast
mount of time that could be gained
H n the special session over the latter
4B School method.
Let us now look at the make up oi
Nv. H. S. In the high school, in.
luding the postgraduate and ninth
grade classes, which are considered
bs parts of school, there are la
NPupils enrolled. OF these, more
than 65 per cent, or to be accurate
p0, come from outside the village
limits. What does this mean? II
means that the majority drive ano
barry dinners, which are easily eaten
N a half an hour. How is the rest OF
he noon spent ? Some perhaps, ter
Il . twelve at the most, take advantage
bf the study room, but more otter
for general picnic than to study
@rhe rest either spend their time il
some sports or in the reading room
btill others take to loafing on the
Street and street corners. Not only
4 hose bringing their dinners speno
their time in these ways, but those
iving in the village are sure to re-
turn from home and join their com
1|fades.
In comparing the advantages with
the disadvantages in a single session
those most affected by it may be put
in three divisions: Namely, the
Teacher, students and those connec,
ed with athletics. '
AS far as.the teachers are concern
ed the disadvantages are practically
nothing. Their one great advantage
lies in the special session in the
afternoon, which enables them te
spend more time with the pupilt
and more time in the preparation o.
the next day work.
1t is not always convenient for the
teachers to stay after school to help
pupils, or spend time In schoo
A work. With the afternoon session
there is plenty of time for helping
backward students, those wishing
to go more deeply into subject, o.
even more time at the library il
reference work, which is now impos
n sible.