The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-10-02
THoMAsToN
SCHOOL CLOSING NOT HIS FAULT
DeweII Takes Exception to Criticism-LOcaI Corps
 Awarded Prize

of The Democrat: Could use your paper to answer an attack on my administration as a member of the Thomaston Board of Education which was printed in a local paper Sept. 30, l9372 This article suppos- ed to be by two former board mem- bers, who seem to be afraid to have their names known, states that was the prime mover In closing the Reynolds Bridge school.
 This is a direct falsehood, as the intent of the Board of Education had been to centralize the schools long before I ever became a board member.
 Here is the real truth about the closing of the Reynolds Bridge school.
 In the fall of 1884 through the death of a teacher in the Center school a vacancy occurred and at our next meeting of the Board of Education Supt. Brown recommend ed that we transfer Miss Flynn from the Pine Hill school at Rey- holds Bridge to the Center school and close up one school at Reynolds Bridge as there were only scholars enough in both schools there to All one school.
 This was done and If am not mistaken the minutes of that action read" AS suggested by Supt. Brown motion made and carried that soc called Reynolds Bridge school be closed" Now to make sure that l was right in regards to this motion I went to Supt. Browns office yes- terday and asked to see the minutes of our meetings. They were made available by MT. Brown, but search as I might the minutes of that meeting are missing and Supt Brown in whose custody the minutes are lelt, has not up to the time of writing of this statement produced them.
 Can 1t be possible that the two eX-board members who claimed l was the prime mover in closing the Reynolds Bridge school have had access to our school board meeting records, and have removed these minutes, knowing that they might show my statements true and theirs false, If not then who has removed them? Our superintendent should know for they arc left in hit charge. To me it is quite clear why they arc missing although MT Brown professeS ignorance of their whereabouts.
 Now these ex-board members also state that the board followed my advice. I assure you the first year was on the Board of Education the members far from followed my advice. If they had they woule never have given Supt. Brown z three year contract in the face ol letter from the Board of Finance requesting that the Board of Edu- cation defer giving contracts unti it had meeting with them.
 Instead of accepting advise the minority side of which was a member was insulted at nearly every meeting. We were called "radi- cals' and "a gang" One former board chairman whom I suspect as one of the ex-board members, who made the statement in the local paper went so far as to inform one of the woman members of the board, when she objected to an action be- ing taken, that, If she did not like 1t she could go home"
 I see 1 am also blamed for the loss of music and art. That was dropped from the schools before I ever became Q member of the Board of Education.
 I did not vote to close the Pine Hill school as 1t had only l2 pupils and about half of them were brought by bus. from down near the Waterbury line, and 1t was a big saving for the town to close this school since 1t cost about $l25 per pupil per year to operate.
 I voted to close the kindergarten as 1t catered to only a few in the center of the town and I did not consider 1t square deal to tax payers in the outlying sections of the town to support kindergarten for some one else. I still feel that If the people in the center want a kindergarten let them pay for it.. It benefits only them.
 These ex-board members voted for those changes too so what are they kicking about? They were the so mentioned successful business mem- bers" of the board who sat around the table and 0. k.'d every thing the superintendent did or wanted to do, no matter what 1t cose the tax-pay- CT.
 They have had their day and don't know 1t. The people of Thomaston are wise to them and their methods. They know who is back of all this propaganda and that his day as 8 dictator is at an end.
 GEORGE A. DEWELL.
 Win Prize
 First prize for best playing was awarded the V. F. w. Girls Fife and Drum Corps when thew com peted Thursday night in Water bury with the St. Francis Corps of Waterbury, St. StanuslauS Corps also of Waterbury and the Knights of Columbus Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps of Thomaston. The contest was sponsored by the Washington Park Drum Corps of Waterbury.
 Special Offering