St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1914-09-09
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Petitioners Would Rescind Vote In
creasing Academy Tuition
Eighteen Boys Out.

After a week of conference and
attempts at mediation the differences
between the trustees of st. Johns
bury Academy and the boys who
have refused to comply with the
order that they sign an apology re-
main practically where they we're.
A petition has been circulated and
presented to the selectmen and
special town meeting will probably
be called at once. This will give
both sides a chance to present their
cases and is probably the best way
out of the dilemma.
The question at issue is chiefly
whether the boys will be allowed to
resume their work at the Academy
on verbal apology or whether they
will be held strictly to the point and
made to sign the prescribed form
sent out by the trustees.
At the opening of the school last
Wednesday the trustees were pres
ent and following the chapel exer-
cises they requested all new stud
ents and all those who were in no
way concerned with the disturbance
at the Academy last commencement
to leave the room. About 80 boys
remained thus admitting that they
were in some way connected with
the affair. Letters were sent to the
parents of these students and en-
closed was the following printed
form; which the boys were asked to.
sign before they could be considered
in good standing at the Academy:
As one implicated in the disorder
Iy events of June 2, 1914, on the
Academy grounds, 1 now realize that
those actions were an injury to the
good name of the school, and | here
by make personal apology for my
part in the same.
As a condition of returning to the
school 1 promise obedience to all
regulations and courteous conduct
toward all instructors.
1 will meet my share of the ex-
pense of damages done to the Acad-
emy property.
A few of those who received the
letters proved to the satisfaction of
the trustees that their connection
with the affair was passive and they
were allowed to return without sign
ing the apology. Two or three
others signed the form and were re-
instated but about 18 held out. The
parents of several of the boys at
once took the matter up and since
that time various conferences have
been held between the contending
parties.
The parents maintain that the ac-
tion of the school is arbitrary and
that the requests are unreasonable.
They feel that the 8 boys who are
out are being made to stand the
blame which should properly be dis
tributed among nearly hundred,
many of whom were among the grad
uating class of 1914, and thus are
beyond the jurisdiction of the
school. They feel that in signing
this apology the boys are in fact
admitting that they we're the prin-
cipals and ring-leaders in the dis
turbance and that the more guilty
ones will be allowed to go scOt-free
while their own records will be be-
smirched. They further assert that
the principal, during his stay here,
has been, to say the least, very in
discreet. They cite many incident
which they claim have served to in
fuence the student body against him
and according to their side of the
case the events last June were simply
a demonstration of the ill-feeling
against him. They further claim that
they were led to believe that a set
tlement of the damage and promise
on their part to do better in the |
future, and live up to the rules of |
the school would suffice to place |
them again in good standing. When !
it was seen that the trustees had |
firmly made up their minds to abide
by their decision and require a sign
ed apology from the boys, several of
the parents decided to take their |
children from the school and send |
them elsewhere. In so doing they |
required letter from the Academy |
which would entitle them to en-
trance into any other institution. In |
order to get such a letter it was
suggested to the trustees that the |