Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-11-10
NEEDS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Parents, Teachers and Others In Confer.
ence Last Evenlng-More Room and
Additional Facilities Imperative.


ence Last E~venlne-More Room and
Additional Facilities Imperative.
The conference last evening of parents,
teachers and others interested in the
work of school district No. 2 was a de-
cided success and should have been at
tended by many more. 1t was a happy
thought of someone to throw open for
inspection the whole building, and the
Grove street annex as well. Practically
every teacher in the district was on duty
and the visitors had a chance to see the
teaching force as well as the material
equipment. From primary teachers to
high school teachers. or from high school
principal to grade one teachers (Which
ever way the Importance of the staff
impresses YOU, 1t is a body to be proud
of. The evident team work of the force
also impresses one. From $50 to $50
many visited the building, some going in
every room from the little shop in the
basement to the laboratories and studio
on the third floor. In each room there
was something to interest and a chance
to meet the teacher in charge.
In many cases the teacher of the same
grade in the Canal street building was
with her colleague of the Main street
building, while the primary teachers
were with the exhibit in room I. where
was displayed the excellent exhibi of
grade work, drawing and manual train
ing recently shown at Montpelier. 1t was
an excellent exhibit and a distinct credit
to the grade teachers and the supervis-
or of drawing and manual training.
Some of the wood work was a revelation
of the possibilities of this department.
The laboratories and commercial DEPART
ment rooms also received many favor
able comments. Many visited the Grove
street annex, where the third grade is
now CHARTERED, and many expressions of
surprise were heard at the cozy rooms
provided.
About 1875 people were in the high
school when Principal Smith spoke on
"Our equipment and needs He re-
ferred to the crowded condition of the
Main street building and expressed his
appreciation of the public spirit of Pat
rick Fleming, who has provided such eX-
cellent quarters for grade three in his
house on Grove street. Next September
another grade will probably have to be
placed in the annex, giving the high
school the use of the entire second and
third floors of the main building. In
Mr.. Smiths opinion the time must soon
come when the Main street building
shall be given over entirely to the work
of the high school. In this connection
he spoke of what many people have real
lied, that it is a bad thing to have the
lower grades and the high school in one
building with their different school hours
and their widely varying ages.
Mr.. Smith advocates giving up the
Main street building to the work Of
the high school, except that he would
make the high school include six years
instead of four as at present. This
would necessitate a building on the north
side of Milestone brook similar to the
Canal street building, y distinct ad-
vantage of this plan is that all phases
of high school work could then be in
one building. Many cities have their
| ola GGinD1 tanhnipa1 md pAp,p,.r,f.t tilt,
schools in separate buildings. Here for
many years they could be housed in one
building under one master. Mutual APP
probation by teachers and scholars of
the different departments could thus be
secured.
In his optimistic and enthusiastic way,
Mr.. Smith also spoke of the need of an
athletic field and playground, and a GYM
nasium available for both girls and boys
under suitable dictatorship. 1t is i'm
portant to organize the physical educa-
ton of the boys and girls of the district.
An organization of parents and teachers
advocated by the teachers and women's
clubs of the state was referred to by Mr..
Smith.
Miss Wellman, the supervisor of
grades, was called upon and mentioned
briefly some little things that help"
She urged the parents to cooperate when
children are sent home on account of
illness, to hear the teachers side when
complaints are made, to start the chill
dren at school promptly after vacation,
and to see that home work is done by
pupils in grades I, s and 9. She also
spoke of the need of good pictures for
the grade rooms and in closing urged the
parents to visit the schools.
Rev. Mr.. Osgood, chairman of the pru-
dental committee, in his delightful way
sprinkled a few drops of cooling water
on the principals enthusiastic plans for
the future, saying that the committee
We're between 1.-The devil and the deer
sea" and that haste must be made slow
ly. The committee are looking for a
suitable lot in the Fort Dummer Heights
section to accommodate lower grade
children and they expect before long tc
call the attention of the voters at a
special meeting to their plans. They
are also considering a site for another
grade building similar to the Canal street
building. These We're the first things
Some of the other things must come
afterward.
DR.. II. d. Holton for many years
chairman of the school board and at its
f head when the Main street building was
= erected in 1SS3-S4, vigorously advocated
: the putting up of two new buildings ant
= said the tax payers of the district hac
never failed to vote the money needed
for scnool purposes. If the buildings are
needed tell them what you have to have
1 and they will give it to you. He referred
!, to the meeting when the appropriation 10
y the present high school building wa!
e raised from $4,000 to $4,000 without
5 murmur and how the m had
y, balance left of $32.42. DR.. Holton's re
y marks received the only applause of tn
evening, showing the sentiment of thos
u present.
a Mr.. Osgood again spoke briefly assur
s ing the audience that the
were as anxious as anyone for the neN
buildings and all the other Improvement
suggested as fast as ways and mean
/ could be provided. After the discussio
another opportunity was given for tn
- inspection of the building.