Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-12-13
GRAHAM WOULD NOT
CLOSE THE SCHOOLS
Writes Letter to Fuel Admins.
traitor Garfield Relative to
Recent RumOr.

Montpelier. Dec. 10.--1he adoption Of
such an extraordinary fuel conservation
mea sure as closing the country's public
schools in the northern and central states
for two Of the winter months. limited at
as a possibility In some newspapers. has
prompted Gov. Horace r. Graham to ask
for first hand information from Fuel Ad'
ministrator II. A. GARFIELD. The Governor
does not believe any such action is noces-
saYy in Vermont. DR.. Garfield. In response
| to a telegram said that nothing haH been
| definitely decided and he sugge/ed that
Governor Graham write him letter set
! ting forth objections to plan which
would operate toward closing the school
for a time.
Gov Graham replied as follows:
| II. A. Garfield. Fuel Administrator,
Washington. ID. G.
I Dear Sir:
| In the matter Of my telegram Of the
4th instant and your reply of the 9Th
instant. as to the proposed plan OF
closing schools. through the winter
months:
believe that this course would be
very unfortunate for Vermont. for the
following reasons:
First--More than one-half OF the pu-
pills in Vermont are in attendance at
| schools heated by wood. In most cases
this fuel would not be available for
| other purposes. / am not aware that
any of the cities are at the present suf.
fering from lack Of coal in their
schools. School boards in the cities u.s.
ually purchase their supply Of coal FOL
the schools. during the summer months
| Second--1f schools were closed al
girls of Vermont. particularly in the
rural sections, with absolutely no neces-
sary employment. This would be true
in larger measure with reference tc
the children in the larger villages and
in the cities. If the schools were con.
tinued after the first Of June, it. would
deprive our farmers of the services oil
their children during the time wher
they are most NEEDED AT the same
time, the children would not he able tc
care for their own gardens. The casl
value of the food products raised b!
the school children during the pas
summer under the supervision of ths
board of education and these statistic:
are accurate. was in excess OF $160.o0o
We are making plans 70 utilize the en-.
thusiasm developed for this work 20 as
to increase greatly the production dur.
ing the coming year.
Third-1t would be impossible to keel
children above the compulsory educa
ton age in school. Those who secured
employment during these two months
| would be almost certain to remain in the
industry. rather than to return to school
The time of sugar-making and spring
planting would come very soon after the
opening Of schools, and the farmers boys
would not return to their studies. Thi,
would cause US to repeat the disastrou.
experience Of England in this matter.
Fourth--reachers could not afford Il
remain idle during these two months
When once theX are located in an indus
try. it would he difficult to secure thei
return to the schools. l believe that WI
would suffer Il loss Of more than ~
teachers in this way.
Fifth believe that one week in schOo
during either the month of January o
February is worth two weeks in schoo
during the summer season.
Yours very truly.
|. HORACE F. GRAHAM, Governor.