The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1911-02-08

the most noteworthy feature of the year
past was the completion Of the Lincoln
school building, at cost. including land,
of Sll ,937s5, an of which is paid ex-
cept one bill, over which there Is some
controversy The new building is mod
ern in every respect, more nearly fire.
proof than any other building in the
city and has large playground IN the
rear. The citv is anxious 10 gain pos
session OF the Gospel common in front
Of the building, but has not yet been
able to do 50.
DIR. Joe W. jackson, school commits
sioner from ward 6, has had the super
vision of physical culture instruction in
the schools the teachers having been
given simple exercises to teach the pu-
pills. This new branch has met with
good results. Extensive repairs have
been made on the Spaulding and
Mathewson buildings.
The commissioners have few hints
to give parents, among which are these:
Parents should see that school is given
the first place in the child's interest
and that other things should not be al
lowed to interfere; that the books their
children read are those which help to
build up character and are not merely
90 much trash; that children should be
kept off the streets at night and given
an adequate amount of sleep; parents
should visit the schools and get in touch
with the work their children are doing,
and should see to it that the pupils are
regular and punctual in attendance.
The report of O. d. Mathewson, super
intendent OF schools, is quite compre-
hensive and touches many important
points in the educational system of the
city. He first mentions the completion
OF the Lincoln school building. which
will accommodate nearly 400 pupils Six
of the eight rooms were opened in the
fall. with an attendance Of 26l and there
are some pupils now in the Methewson
building who could attend the Lincoln
school ii they were in other grades.
Speaking Of the large play ground in
connection with the school, Mr.. Mathew
son takes occasion to express his ap-
proval of the work of the civic fedora
ton in conducting the playground in
the northern part OF the city last sum
mer.
The musical entertainment given last
spring BY the pupils of the Mathewson
school under the training Of Miss Hovey,
credit upon both teacher and
pupils and netted $ll47S toward the
purchase of piano for the building.
The fund, accumulating chiefly from
the annual prize speaking contests. the
income from which has been used to pur-
chase, statuary, pottery pictures, etc, |
for the school roms. now amounts TO 81
lI4.63 and is an deposit in the Granite
Savings Bank and Trust company. If !
this could be increased to $1,000 and |
then made a permanent fund the in |
come could he used TO advantage in pur- |
chasing such articles as would tend TO /
develop the esthetical side of school life /
An effort is being made in school /
drawing in the higher grades to make /
the work more helpful in connection /
With the granite industry. The draw /
nc teacher, Miss Lucille f. Gravesteiu, /
& conducting the work IN a satisfae- I
.ory manner
While the work Of teaching physical +
.ulture in the schools has not been fully /
as vet. enough has been done 4
n the past year to assure the superin- 4
endent that the work Of DR.. Joe NJ.
Jackson, under whose direction it was
AIKEN up, has proved successful. Tho
lov scout movement. under way in most
# the local churches. tends 10 cultivate
more manliness at home, on the street
md in the school.
The number Of over-ago pupils in the (
Iiferont grades is smaller than last
ear. due largely TO special work done
With the pupils, resulting in special pro-
notions. The most common causes of
What seems 60 - slow progress are
he home. with its indiiierences. poverty (
nd sickness; the inability 60 speak the /,
lnglish language failure e enter school
e early AZ possible, and irregular at
endanee.
Several suggestions aTa mAAa lar