The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-10
Recomn' 'ded by Supt. Ros-
IL u Pupils Who
,NNs y Lag Behind
MORE "REPEATERS"
IN BARRE SCHOOLS
He Also Recommends Sum-
mer Continuation
Schools

Commendable progress in all depart
ments of the city's schools is described
in the Forthcoming annual report of the
Icity superintendent, the principal OF
Spaulding high school and the various
departmental heads. All matter per
tanning to these annual statements has
been forwarded to the printer in prep
iaration for the issue of the city report.
Superintendent f.. NJ. Roscoe devotes
considerable space to review of what
has been accomplished in the second year
Of his supcrintendency. He gives de-
tailed account OF the changes made in
the various buildings for the purpose Of
increasing the accommodation and urges
that arrangements be made ultimately
for seating only AZ students in each
school room. Two additional teachers
have been engaged since the new North
Barre building was opened. Revision to
la certain extent has been made in the
arithmetic, English, literature and his
tory course and new system has been
introduced in writing. Results are being
accomplished already, the report says,
where changes of this kind have been
made. The work in physical training
has been carried on with much enthu-
siasm under the direction of DR.. Joe W.
jackson. Outdoor recreation for every
session is recommended in preference to
indoor exercise. Folk dancing has been
introduced among the younger students
with the supervisor OF music in charge.
Referring to the revision of school
laws, the superintendent says; ''ln nv
last report ! spoke OF the indefiniteness
of the school laws in regard to the age
limit for school attendance. Since then
the legislature has removed any possible
doubt in the matter by placing the age
limit at l6. Ii limits the granting of
excuses and provides that only for emer-
gencies or absence from town may
pupil be excused and such excuse must
be issued in writing by the superintend
ent for a period of ten days only. ! be-
lieve this law has been well carried out
and we have received splendid support
from the truant officer"
Continuing, the report says; "Thus
far hare spoken of the things we have
attempted to do. There remain many
things TO be accomplished if we would
have our schools perform the duties
which the public is coming to expect OF
them Rightly or wrongly, the school is
having additional responsibilities thrust
upon it. 1t is impossible for us to fol-
low the beaten paths of custom and ira
dition in the matter of school work, how
ever successful those customs may have
been. EfficiencNis the great test which
the business world is demanding and eff
cheney tests are being applied to our
schools.
"There are in our schools many pu-
pills who are retarded They are known
in the tables appended as 'repeaters'
These tables show an increase in the
number this fall term over that of the
year before. This is due, in part, to
the fact that pupils are now required to
remain in school until they are 10. But
At present there is very little that can
be done to help this class of pupils.
Many need special help which is inn
possible for them to receive when
teacher has from 40 to 50 pupils in
room. | would recommend that teachers
be engaged who shall work with small
groups of pupils who need special aid.
would not include in this number those
who are mentally defective. They, too.
should be separated from the other pu-
ills and given special attention, but
believe that such cases can better be
reated ia institutions created for that
In concluding, the superintendent rec
that summer continuation
ehools be opened for the benefit of pu-
ills who have failed to make their grade,
lis suggestion contemplates a school
hat will be open three or four hours
uring six weeks of the summer. One
il the largest contributions to the re-
the report goes on, is the poor
hvsical condition of the students. All
hat can be done. however, to remedy
hese conditions, is being done, as the
tate provides eve and ear tests. The
nthor of the report advocates medical
equation and inspection in the public
ehools and believes that satisfactory
MEDICAL inspection can be had for $500
er year in Barre.
Before closing, the superintendent pays
compliment to the. work of the evening
rawing school and the sewing school
by the Woman's Civic club
lie also commends the various teachers
or their corporation during the year
Principal Whites Report.
Principal G. II. Whites report on the
,ndition of affairs at Spaulding high
,hool notes an increase of 90 over the
1rollmcut of the preceding year. Flew
d seniors and five graduate students
re taking the teacher training course.
hey comprise the largest elass/of its
ind in the state. Mention is made OF
le glee club, creditable athletic teams
nd the distribution of the alumni Eng
sh and the knights of Columbus prizes,
ecapituary statistics are given of the
aduation exercises, the number of stu
,nts in each course. etc. Last year the
hool graduated So; OF this number nine
.e teaching 20 are going to school in
ltside towns, many of them in colleges,
I'd others are working. In closing,
rincipal White expresses appreciation
II the loyalty and faithfulness of the
achers under him.