Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-05-11
DlSCONTlNUES SOLID SESSION
School Board Decides to Adop,
the Old Method.
New Schedule Goes into Eject Mex
Year-Hours to he from n 10 ~
and 2 to Mot Too Much
Work for Students.

BY a vote Of four to two. the cit,
school board decided last night to Civ,
up the solid session in the high school
beginning in September. Double sessions
extending from nine until twelve, and
from two until four. are to be the daily
program next year.
There was a full attendance of III,
board at the high school last mint and
Superintendent Henri q. Wheeler wa.
also present. The question in regard t,
sessions was debated for a full hour
and, although the suggestion was mad,
that the decision be postponed. it wa.
the sentiment of the meeting that tn,
matter might be settled then quite 4,
well as later.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
TTeman b. Chittenden was earnoet1I
in favor of the change that was dnau,V
made. He said he believed that
higher standard of scholarship wou1t
be the result. and that the tendeac,
of the double session would be t,
make use of the afternoon hours ant
thus keep pupils on the streets. Par.
ents as a whole, he sard, would favol
the new arrangement.
Mr.. Chittendon also said that fly,
hours Of school work per day is not
too much for pupils, that 1t is the dut,
of the board to arrange the session,
so az to be OF the greatest possfbl.
profit to the child, and that any
teacher opposed to what seems for
the good Of the children should not he
retained on the teaching staff. liz
thought that the double session wouId
lead to increased interest on the part
Of the pupils, in regard to their stud.
les. and that they would do better
work.
Or. George +. Latour was strongly con,
WINGED that a solid session of five hours
if need be, IS far more suitable. Speak.
ing from the standpoint of a physician, he
pointed out that study and recitation
hours following a full MONDAY meal are
not profitable. He recommended length.
ening the present single session, If neres.
sary, but said that a separate afternoon
session is time lost, and that If pupils
ore not on the street in the afternoon they
will be there In the evening, if restraint
depends solely upon the plan of school
hours.
Il ave experienced both The solid ane
the double sessions he continued, and |
prefer the single session. Also, | know
several boys who work afternoons. Ont
boy is the sole means of his mothers sup
port. These fellows need the time which
g. solid session gives them. AS to tn,
presence of pupils on street corners ana
elsewhere downtown. out Of school hours,
that is a matter for their parents to az.
tend to. and 1t Is not the concern Of the
school board"
V. A.. Billiard spoke In favor OF the pro-
posed double session. He suggested that
the hours could be changed somewhat il
It should be found that four o'clock, as a
closing hour. is too late for the short win.
ter days.
Frank ]. Dwyer said that In his opinion
an extended session might he advisable
hut a double session would not work 81
well. He made the point that many chill.
dren nave long distances to walk from
their homes, and that it Is asking too
much to expect them TO go home for the
noon meal and return for an afternoon
session.
A. f. King said that IT Is doubtful that
a pupil can accomplish more work ol
better work in a longer session, Few
students, he said, would have to walk
over a mile. He favored two sessions
daily.
DIGESTION AND STUDY.
To meet the objection that some pupils
live so far from home as to make The
divided session a hardship for them o.
was suggested that the school furnish 2
midday lunch at cost, and that the
domestic science department get SONS
practical experience by running the pro
posed lunch counter. Mr. Ballard said
that he thought this scheme not practical
He also brought up thu matter of homs
study, in relation to a heightened SEES
sion, and Mr.. Wheeler replied that ir
many cases home conditions, Tor various
reasons. are not favorable 10 study ont of
school. Mr.. Ballard said that q lunch
served at the school would give rise &c
the conflict between digestion and study,
Just the Same as would a meal eaten Al
home,
Mr.. Adsit thought that the lenE,here'
session advocated by Mr.. pwYor would
be a long time to keep n child a, work.
Mr.. Wheeler expressed himself in fas'I
Of the divided session. He said he boo
N.ved II would lead to better work in tht
schools. But for families in which there
are children OF high school age, With
other children in the Grades. it seems
more convenient to have uniform sessions
in all the city schools
other business was taken IN at tho
meeting. Tho matter of the appropria-
tlon for manual training was referred to
the committee on school property. Prep
a~rations for the graduation exercises
we're left with Mr., Wheeler.
PRINCIPAL NJ. II. Chittenden came in for
a few moments near the close of the