Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-12-14
OBJECTS TO CLOSING SCHOOLS.
Governor Says Children Should be Re
leased Early in June for Work in
tie Farm Gardens.

When newspaper articles appeared
with reference to closing schools
IN the northern and central states
during the two winter months, Gov
Graham telegraphed the national
fuel administrator, DR.. II. A.. Gar.
field, inquiring if there were any
foundation for the report and asking
to be heard by letter before final action
was taken.
DIR. Garfield replied that the qucs-
ton was under discussion, but that
nothing definite had been decided, and
stated that he would be glad to have
the governor write TO him.. In re-
Spouse Gov. Graham sent the following
letter.
MONTPELIER, Dee. s, 1917.
II. A. Garfield, Fuel Administrator,
Washington, p. C..
Dear Sir:
In the matter Of my telegram of the
18th instant and your reply of the 5th
instant, as to the proposed plan Of clos.
ing schools through two winter months:
believe that this course would be
very unfortunate for Vermont, for the
following reasons ',-t.
pills in Vermont are in attendance ut
schools heated by wood. In most eases
this fuel would not be available tor
other purposes. | am not aware hat
any Of the cities are at present sui.
fering from lack of coal in their
schools, School boards in the cities
usually purchase their supply of coal
1of the schools during the summer
months.
Second. If schools were closed at
this time, it would leave the boys and
girls of Vermont, particularly in the
rural sections, with absolutely no nee.
essa'T employment. This would be
true in large measure with reference
to the children in the larger villages
and in the cities. II tho schools were
continued after the first of June, It
would deprive our farmers Of the serv.
ices of their children during the time
when they are most needed. At the
same time, the children would not be
abIo TO care for their own gardens. The
cash value of tho food products raised
by the school children during the past
summer under the supervision of the
board of education, and these statistics
are accurate, was in excess of $3.50, 900.
We are making plans to utilize the en-:
thusiasm developed for this work so
as to increase greatly the production
during the coming year.
Third. 1t would be impossible TO
keep children above the compulsory
education age in school. Those who se.
cured employment during these two
months would be almost certain TO ;e.
main in the industry, rather than 10
return to school The time Of sugar.
making and spring planting would
come very soon after tho opening Of
schools, aud the farmers boys would
not return 10 their studies This
would cause us to repeat the disastrous
experience of England in this natter.
Fourth. Teachers could not afford
TO remain idle during these two months.
When once they are located in an in
dustry, 1t would be difficult TO secure
their return to the schools. | believe
that we would suffer a loss Of more
than two hundred teachers in this way.
Fifth. believe that one week in
school during either the month Of Jan.
uary or February il worth two weeks
in school during the summer season
Yours very truly,
HORACE +. GRAHAM, Governor