The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-05-29
CENTRALIZED SCHOOLS.
Which Viii Manchester Select. The
MosrIsfn or the ABtIquaiadf

ptaAfioc ioAnfys ibu1ahA, 10 ms bIo
lher sam smith Of Manchester.
Dear Brother Sam
notice by the journal lately that
yoayc been having considerable
.alk about changing your school sys-
tenn IN Manchester aud some OF the
folks want to shut up the district
school houses and have central
school. We've tried the thing GU.
in Tippecanoe County aud maybe
you'd like 20 hear how II works.
You know when bought the
iarm out here, although Il was a
good farm and cheap, as prices 60
nowadays, Martha didn't like II be
cause il was so far from school
and the children were just getting
to school age.
The school house was mile and
a half away and it want much OF a
school house at that; but ! talked
with some OF the leading men out
here and they said at the next eiec
ton they were going TO try TO have
the schools consolidated and the
outside children brought in b,
teams: and as they had been work
ing up sentiment favorable to IL fol
some time they thought they coulo
carry II. When | told Martha that
she said II there was a prospect foi
something better In schools shed
risk II, for everything else was right
SO We bought and came here.
We'd hardly got settled before
the election was held and the tow
voted TO borrow $4,000 at four pei
cent to build central school and
to raise the tax levy so as TO pa,
4 back in ten years. eouldn
vote. but | talked and run my team
election day and | was mighty glao
when | could 20 home and tell Mar
tina the central school was coming
sure. And I've never grumbled oven
The taxes, though our mortgage was
pretty big then.
OF course we had to wait a yeai
for the school. for they wanted 6
brick building with The
best OF heating and sanitary ar
and meanwhile the
went 20 the district school
Sally was eight and Jimmy six ano
II we hadn't had the teacher board
ing with us don't know how we
should have managed, for there
didn't happen TO be any other child
rem going our road for quite a dis
lance. The school house was
ram shackle building, a regular tin
der box. with no ventilation bu'
broken window lights, and the out
weren't any credit to the
community They We're hardly de
cent, II they were that. Then, too
il stood not far from the railroad
track and tramps used to get II
and sleep there and b,
away when the teacher and
the children came IN the morning
rhat. and something's she'd heard
cared the teacher and she sale
he'd never. teach another term
of district school IL was too bad
oc. for she was a good teacher anc
The children liked her.
When winter came there was an
other teacher, not quite so satisfac |
Org. The winter was very cold. II
sas hard work keeping the sohoo
,ouse warm and the children hac
,olds or snuffles all winter long
'ome spIing term, there was still
Inother teacher who put the child
On back TO where they were at the
'eginning OF the year: aud the floor
vas 50 damp Sally got rheumatism
2 We hadn't had something better
o loos forward to | guess we'd hav
ad 80 sell out and move TO town.
By fall the new school house wa
eady and a mighty fine one II wa
20 money spent for show. but every
hing convenient and right FOR work
nd health. There Was good
emeut basement WIRE the children
layed III stormy weather and they
ept janitor who gave his whole
Ime TO the building and did things
u 10 the handle
But We folks out in the country.
hree miles. wouldn't have had any
enefit from all these fine things
I il hadn't been for the teams THAI
arrlcd our children.
The town bought covered barge~
iiih good springs and cushions.
.ilndoNs along the sides and top 70
ght and ventilation. and some OF
hem Ind little coal heaters in them
hat took my eye on sally's account
" / knew just how cold II vas rid
AK three nsilss home from town IN
be- face u the wind. even with q /
lr coat on. The barg.s we're hung
~ with broad tires 10 as NOT 70
u the roads and were easy 10 get =
! and out ~. The uown hired re- I
men with good teams 10 I
ani The bafgcs and they were en-