The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-28
Is Advocated by Barre City
School Commissioners in
Their Annual Report
BUT ADEQUATE FUNrS
ARE NOT AVAIL : .G
The Condi - Of the Public
Schools Told in Vari-
Gus Reports

, Through the action of the board of
school commissioners in ratifying reports
from the several departments in the city
schools much msterial is available for
printing in the city yearbook, which is
to appear early in February. A year of
progress is indicated in the general re-
ports of the commission, the superin-
tendent and the principal of the high
school, as well as the heads of number
of departments. Below is given a digest
of the most salient features in the re-
ports of the commission, Supt. c. II.
White, Prin. II. H. jackson, Charles
Pamperl OF the evening drawing school,
Miss Josephine Il. Hovey of the musical
department, and Miss Catherine Reave-
ley of the department Of drawing.
Much that has been written in the an
nual report of the school commissioners
is retrospective of some of the larger
achievements of the year and the more
| important happenings 1t is stated that
much good has proceeded already from
| the completion OF the new Spaulding am
mex and to the fact that a change in the
state laws affecting the minimum age of
children attending school brought about
a material decrease in the enrolment is
attributed the necessity for leaving va
cant three rooms at the Lincoln build
ing. On the whole, the commission con-
cludes that citizens of Barre may have
the satisfaction of knowing that the
school population is being accommodated
in buildings entirely modern and sani-
tary. None of the buildings used for
school purposes, now that the Church
street school is vacant, is more than "a
years old, the report says.
Regarding the Spaulding annex this
statement is made: "The appropriation
voted BY the city was exceeded in the
construction and equipping of the
Spaulding building addition, but this was
occasioned, in measure, by the neces
sity, seen as work progressed, of more
rooms than originally planned and eer-
tain changes from the original plans.
which seemed quite important and inn
perative."
The commission pays tribute to the
services performed by the late Supt. f.
M. Roscoe in behalf of the school system
and describes the steps taken to fill the
created by his death. Nearly
all of the grade and high school teachers
for the fall term of 1915 and
teachers and students are now working
together in commendable harmony.
Important sections of the report are
given verbatim below:
''3y change in the state school law,
made at the last session of the Iegisla-
,ure the state aid to our city schools is
eliminated, except as to the pay for the
and instructor of the
eacher's training course. From now on,
therefore,, it will be impossible for the
ity to get any financial help from the
tate, except in the two departments re-
erred to above This reduces materially
he funds available for the running ex-
enses of our city schools and renders it
necessary to practice the strictest econ
my possible, if the amount for school
purposes. available from the 70-cent tax,
not exceeded in the support of the
chools
"In this connection, we would mention
deplorable condition. referred to an
ually by your school board for several
ears, that of lack of proper equipment
lr the conducting of manual training
nd of domestic science in connection
18th the city schools. In the erection
the Spaulding addition and repairs to
le old building, provision was made for
,oms to be used for this purpose. Three
rye rooms in the basement of the old
lilding, at little expense, could be
Iuipped with material for the teaching
domestic science to the girls and man
II training to the boys, but instructors
II these courses would need to be hired
I'd considerable equipment installed in
lie rooms For the present year at
asst, for reasons mentioned above, no
nds are available to be used for this
lrpose. This is much to- be regretted,
r it was the wish Of your school board
at with the completion of the Spauld-
g addition. these two courses might be
tabIished in our city schools.
"IYe believe that the city will not be
ing Justice to its boys and girls until
her departments of vocational training
an those now in use are established in
r schools. The commercial department
the high school and work in drawing
both the day and evening school is OF
,terial help in fitting our young peo-
for future work. but our endeavors
the vocational line should not end
re-"
The following abstract Of expenses is
pended 10 the report: Teachers sal
e. s4I .527.67. fuel S6.l5o2l. textbooks
l7.2f. ianitors s4s54os. schoolroom
4 Office supplies 81 1882, general sup
Is S359I3, repairs Sl.5422S. miscella-
,us s94S.9l, insurance s02s.72, refer
v books and charts s2674. printing
is5. water and lights ss07.69 furni-
e S3Al0.73. express. freight and cart
e Sll00l. evening drawing school So
I72. Spaulding addition sal .6T7l l03. to-
sl06 6.56S.GG.
there were - teachers employed in
fall 81 1918 and y rooms were in use.
re were ESQ pupils enrolled IN 1918
against 263n IN 1914. 2GQl in 1918.
u II 1919 and 2sg2 in 1911 TIE
rage daily attendance was 2ss5 and
percentage Of ATTENDANCE a. The
oiimeui hy buildings Is the fau term
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