The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-09-07
UNIQUE BOSTON SCHOOL.
Located on Th0mpsOns Island, 1t Has
Run for Over so Years.

Run for Over so Years.
There is a certain school on an island
in Boston harbor which hasn't changed
the fundamental principle underlying
its teaching method for more than
eighty years. When The Boston Farm
school was incorporated it was decided
by the proprietors that the ideal and
practical method OF educating boys was
to learn by doing. The school was To-
Gated on Thompson's island in Boston
harbOr about a mile distant from what
is now City Point
From "A very valuable report made in
1899 by Henry b. Rogers, Esq, for many
years an actlYe member of the board of
managers, We are able to get some idea
OF the school at This PERIOD. The boys
1T that time Were farmer boys doing
work similar TO that on the opposite
shore of Dorchester and Quincy They
also worked III the house and did chores
and whatever was necessary to make
the home. In the winter evenings they
studied and IN the winter season most
OF them attended school and got the
rudlments OF common school education.
As far back as 1899, therefore it is
shown that the school was teaching the
boys reading, writing, arithmetic, geog-
raphy and grammar, and instruction in
the III = T. principles OF agriculture. NORTH
culture and botany: the different kinds
OF soil, the most important processes of
cultivation, the names, uses, and dis
tInctIyC qualities of seeds. plants and
trees: and in order that these pupils
might be trained to habits of order and
industry, they We're required to perform
as much of the manual labor done on
the farm and in the house as their va
rIous ages and capacities would permit
Zach boy was required to make his own
bed and keep his clothes in order Each
Sunday Il preacher came down to con-
duct the religious services on the island |
oday the students at The Farm and
Trades school still learn by doing' in
fact; the boys attend school half a day |
and are employed at industrial work the ]
other hair. They are taught mechanical
drawing, cabinet work. wood turning.
carpentry, blacksmithing, machine work |
III metal, printing, painting, cobbling. |
office work. farming, the handling of |
boats and household duties The prac-I
teal application of all these is most
important phase IN the instruction att
this school. In the lower classes the
course includes the usual grammar
school studies. In the upper classes,
United States history, general historyl
ana physiology are gradually added to
the course. All classes are taught to do
brush and pencil drawing from nature,
from memory and imacinationI
and perspective light and shade and
water color. In each class literature has
an important place. All the boys are
taught class singing. the elements of
music and staff notation. Slovd is thei
basis of the mechanical teaching in the
school and in the three upper grades
there is practical study of meteorology.
farmlng Is fundamental In the course
OF study at the school. The faTm takes
an importany part in the life of the
-gnnni uuTa arIl tr1p h. g . I,,i
school Is to give every boy a definite
technical and practical knowledge of the
subject and to impress the truth that
agriculture, besides being the most in
dependent of all occupations, is more
remuneratlve than many others for
those who are Industrious, intelligent
and we'll trained. The technical side of
agriculture Is presented to the pupils by
lectures and experiments both in the
lass room and on the Iarm. They learn
Nv practical field lessons the prepare
ion of the soil, planting the seed, cul-
ovation. harvesting, rotation of crops
md setting out and caring for all kinds
If, shrubs and trees, including praetieail
in the mixing of chem ,
Gals for fertilizers. The use of farm
machinery and tools. the care and man
lgement of animals and all other farm
work is practically taught.
If this school were a private school, |
md If admission was contingent only
lpon parents ability to pay a tuition. |
he school probably would be over |
yhelmed by applications from parentst
who appreciate the unique advantage
# having their sons taught bv this en- |
nently practical method of half a day
n the schoolroom and half a day on |
he farm. But The Farm and Trades
chool is available only to certain linn |
ted number and kind of boys.
II is in no sense a correctionarv insti-
utlon. It receives boys of not less than
EN- nor more than fourteen years of |
ge, of good moral character. in fair
,hyslcal condition and not lower than
he sixth grade in school. No matter II
low well recommended a boy NAV be. Il
on trial he proves untitled, he is not ! II
ilowed to remain. Parents. guardians II
II friends are asked to contribute to- II
yard the boys support if they are able III
mt bows are not rejected if this is i'm II
ossibe In fact ahout half the bows in II
he school are cared for without pecuni- III
ry aid from narents of guardians. This III
made nossible by contributions from III
rIends of the school The Farm andf III
rades school is only Dartlv self -sus- II
aiming and depends for its existence ON ii
he generosity of the charitahlv inclined II
or more than century it has been III
hus supportrd and it has long since III
roved its right TO be recognized as onel ii
BOstOnS worth while charities n