St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-04-12

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present day are under the highest OBJ
legation to carry out to the limit of
their ability.
From such a beginning an institu-
ton grew up very different from a
high school supported solely by taxes
and administered by town officials
chosen by popular vote. In the course
of years, it became known as one OF
the leading secondary schools of New
England with an ever increasing num-
Der of successful and distinguished
alumni. AS such, it drew students
from many states, and as such it has
to the present day maintained a stand
ard of education recognized by all col
leges and all competent critics to be
of the first rank, unquestionably high
err than that of the average high
school in the state of Vermont. For
these reasons, it commands the active
interest and support of a large body
of nonresident alumni. whose gifts
figure largely in it's endowment.
Serves St. Johnsbury Students.
The Academy founded in 1912 open
ed its doors at once to st. Johnsbury
boys and girls and almost continuous
ly from that day to this, town students
have formed a majority of its enroll
ment. This majority has varied, but
at present is no larger than the aver
age of many years in the past.
Throughout nearly three-quarters of a
century, the Academy, under the
guidance of it's trustees has performed
the responsible task of educating the
young people of this community and
at the same time has welcomed stu
dents from a distance, giving one and
all the advantages made available by
generous gifts of buildings and funds.
The tuition charged has never paid
| the expenses of the school, and the
income from the endowment is very
properly used for the deficit. In the
expenditure of this income, the town
pupils share pro rata with students
from abroad. The expense per pupil
above the amount received from tut
ton in the last eight years has aver
aged $500 each year, or a total of
$5,S12 per year for st. Johnsbury stu
dents. In these last eight years.
therefore, out of the income from in
vested funds, the Academy has ex-
pended $46,496 for the benefit of ST.
Johnsbury children over and above
the amount paid by the town. This
indeed under moral obligation to do.
This large sum includes no interest on
the plant investment and if this were
added, say 49o on low valuation of
500, 900, further sum of $50, 900 for
the eight years should be added, or a
total saved to the town of $78,496.
The school is, of course, greatly
strengthened by the attendance of
local pupils, but is it generally under
stood that the town also benefits so
largely by this relation?
The Matter of Tuition.
In earlier years the school received
its tuition direct from the children or
their parents. More recently the state
has required each town to provide
higher education in it's own high
school or by arrangement with some
private institution. Naturally the
town of st. Johnsbury contracted with
the school already in its midst. This
in no way changed the independent
character of the AcademyAer the per-
sonnet of it's pupils. The Academy
merely accepted tuition from one
source instead of from many, and con-
tinued, as it intends to continue, Civ
ing the best it can provide from its
1t will be seen, therefore, that the
| Academy is today no more and no less
a St. Johnsbury institution that it has
been since it's foundation. st. Johns
bury citizens who founded the pros
perity of the town also planted this
school; st. Johnsbury citizens have
regularly formed a majority of its
trustees, and the persistent policy OF
the board has been to choose men
representative of st. Johnsbury pa.
irons. AT present 10 out of IA mem
bers are st. Johnsbury residents. II
addition, an alumni cooperation COM
mittee composed of three st. Johns
bury citizens, all active in the life OF
the community, meets regularly with
the trustees. Is is reasonable to sup
pose that a board so organized ever
ignores or disregards the interests Of
the children of st. Johnsbury?
The school does not exist for the
sake of the trustees or for the town
1t exists for the young people who en-
ter its doors, of whom a majority come
from st. Johnsbury homes. But
whether from this town or from
abroad, the trustees have a single pur-
pose in mind for all, namely, to main
tain for them school that will be ar
educational leader in Northern New
England. able to fit them for any col
lege or to send them out with the
character and ability to earn an hon
orable living
Ready To Cooperate.
While believing in the wisdom OF
maintaining the independent status oil
the school, they are equally of one