Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-10
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Commissioners Raise Teachers Salaries
and Discuss Vacation Question.


At a special meeting last night in the
high school building the board Of school
commissioners questioned Oliver Dupaw
janitor of the Pomeroy school, and Joseph
Pine, janitor of the Lawrence Barnes
school, as to the cause Of the freezing oil
water and steam pipes in their buildings
and thereby causing large amount OF
damages, estimated at approximately 5000
After careful consideration the board
cleared the janitors of the blame in view
of the fact that the weather was extreme
ly cold and that they were trying to run
their heating plants without proper coal
which could not be secured. A letter OF
instructions will be sent to all the janitors
as to the proper care Of steam and water
pipes during cold weather and to order
their coal at least 10 days before they
need 1t.
An increase of s25 per year was voted
unanimously to the teachers in the
elementary schools and the Junior high
school. and to the janitors of the eight
room school houses and the junior high
school small increase was also given
The engineer and janitor in the high
school were given small increases in
salary.
Mile. Louise Cartier instructress in
French. took sort Of French" leave OF
Superintendent Chittenden and is now
either in, or on her way to Missouri to
accept position as French instructress
in one Of the high schools Of large city
there. In a letter to the superintendent she
stated that the contract she signed was
one-sided and that 1t did not matter to
her anyway. She received about $500 per
year and stated that she was to get about
double that in Missouri. Mile. Cartier was
wished the best Of success in Missouri by
unanimous vote of the board, but as her
popularity here was on the wane the
board are Missouri In thought as tc
whether she will make good there She
had been rather anti-American in hei
statements and acts during the fall and
winter Her attitude In saluting the Ameri.
can flag was resented by the pupils and
the superintendent was forced to hold a
conference with her in regard to he,
actions. She is said to have told her pupils
that she would salute the French flag and
no other. BY choice she was a French
Royalist," SO she stated.
A letter of appreciation for the valuable
services rendered during the past months
was voted by the commissioners to the
dentists Of Burlington who have, at the
Appointment of the medical examiners
taken care of the teeth Of the children
There was no charge for this service.
The seats in the high school (movable)
| were donated for use of the college girls
who are to produce a play in the nea,
future for the benefit of the Red Cross.
1t Is planned to open the schools or
Monday. January IA, provided that Super.
intendent Chittenden can secure a SUM-.
cient quantity of coal.
Miss Bertha L. Field. English teacher
at the high school, U. v. M. 1892 was
given her resignation with the proviso
that she provide some suitable substitute.
She has been offered the position as prin-
cipal Of the high school at Shelburne to
succeed C. H. Cambridge. who has re.
signed to accept position in the Chester
high school, near where his summer farm
home Is located. Her salary has been 500
| here and she is to receive $500 for the re-
mainder of the term at Shelburne and next
year she will receive $1,000.
! A lengthy discussion was entered on by
the commissioners In regard to the ad-
visibility of the winter and spring terms
| Of the school. Several favored going until
Easter and then having one week of vaca-
ton and closing the schools on June 21
while others favored the session to con.
tinue right through with % solid weeks,
closing on June IA. A proposition to
eliminate the semester examinations and
the Anal tests, putting more stress on the
monthly examinations and thereby saving
a week or more, was discussed. Another
nlan considered was to have the older chill
dren who are going to take up war garden
and other important work complete their
| courses in order to be released sometime
|