Putnam patriot., 1920-10-01
SEEK CONSOLIDATED
 EIGHTH GRADE
Many Parents Believe That Such a Move Would Be
 Beneficial
Voted Down At Town Meeting
 Be Brought Up Again

anu NOitaOll NCA0 tAtSASs ottQMAAAA Ntkttl the question: "To see what action the town would take toward uniting the eighth graders in center" was of unusual interest The parents of most of this years eighth grade pa- pils wished an eighth grade at the Academy and so petitioned the school board. The board refused to act without vote of the town. Hence the special meeting.
 The plan outlined was to establish an eighth grade in the Academy build ing for the pupils who wished to at tend there. to have eighth grade in struction in the district schools for pupils who did not wish to attend a center school. The parents who wished the consolidated grade Rad promised to furnish transportation for their children.
 After it was moved to establish the consolidated grade. Mir. Heller, principal of the Academy. stated what effect it would have on the Academy. He and others brought cut the fol- lowing advantages of the plan;
 To the eighth grade. Stronger work under a teacher giving all her time to one grade. longer recitations, competition of equals in larger group, opportunity to share atmos- phere and supervision of Academy, possibility of departmental work with teachers of the Academy
 2.-To Academy. Higher stand ard of work due to entrance of better equipped pupils. fourth teacher for departmental work.
 3.-re district schools Longer recitaticns for lower grades, better work by teacher because of fewer subjects to handle, removal of older pupils who under present method have time to be idle.
 The objections brought forward were the expense of another teacher, transportation and fitting the Acad- emy for more pupils; the inequality of advantage to those in outlying dis tricts; the hardship of transportation. l The burdened taxpayer and the sad state of today's method of education as entrusted with the glories of the past were cause of much eloquenee,
 The sole expense was shown to be the teachers salary, S900-$1ooO- and over 45qe of this would come from the state-since transportation was promised by pupils attending, and since there was an available room al the Academy. As attendance was te be voluntary, no pupil would be fore ed to undergo the hardships of long trip to the Academy. In his district he could have the present eightf grade instruction. Refutation of the linequality argument rendered elo quent some who favored the plan Democracy, it was maintained, means the maximum opportunity for tho largest number possible. It cannot mean equal advantages for every in djvidual. there cannot be school ir every dooryard The proposed con soldation would give better advan tage to those who would go to th' Academy it would take present ad vantages from none. And as tho South parish pays more than half thu taxes of the town, they would pay fol the benefit that proximity to the Ac ademy gives.
 The vote stood twenty-nine in fayol to seventy against. It I@as an unus ual town meeting.
 Senexet Grange Favors Plan
 The plan of establishing an eighti grade at Woodstock Academy wal brought up as a subject for discussion and debate at the meeting of Senexe Grange, held Wednesday evening September 22nd. Following livel, and interesting discussion among thu members the following resolution fla voring the plan was adopted:
 Be it Resolved-That this Grange go on record as favoring center school for eighth grade pupils oi Woodstock and approves and endors es the proposition for effecting sucf organization as was discussed at ths special town meeting held at Nortf Woodstock on the 4th inst, to wit the organization of an eighth grade class at the Academy building, oper to all eighth grade pupils in Wood stock, but with the continuance oi eighth grade work in any and all dis trict schools where the parents of pu pills may so request.
 That authority is hereby authorized for the transmission of copy of these resolutions to the town school com mittee and their publication in the Putnam Patriot and Windham Coun ty Observer.
 Among the advantages of the plar as related by those who took part 1T the discussion were:
 l Stronger eighth grade worl in longer recitations for at the Acad emy three hours would be given te actual teaching periods, while at the grammar schools only about 40 min. utes is given.
 Second-Stronger district schools with fewer recitation periods due tc eliminating the eighth grade, allowing s;wxxn to ho oivep rom ainiup