Barre High School - Barretone Yearbook (Barre, MA)

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authorities realized that the rank did not roally represent a student’s ability in a subject. A general roviov at the end of each term should give the pupil sufficient knowledge in a subject without his having to take a two-hour review of his accomplishments at the end of each school year. The final ranks may shov some pupil not to bo as ex- cellent in academic knowledge as a second pupil is; yet ask these same pupils the same question two years after the orig- nal examinations and the results may be different. There is alv ays the pupil who memorizes his way through ever subject. If that pupil hasn’t a superlative memory, in time his crammed knowledge is sure to slip from his mind, though his ranks in his finals may have singled him out as excellent in his subjects. Final examinations come in June, one of the hottest months of the yoar. A normal person can’t think best in the heat. Any person’s ability to work sags more or less in the summer. Tliis certainly would affect the final ranks, for finals are not play. Everyone realizes that final cxaLiinations are becoming less important every year because colleges ask for a general idea of a student’s Iniowlodge, never as]-: fir a final rank, but especially try to find out about the student’s character. Final examinations and ranks certainly don’t develop a person’s character beyond the old adage that ”v;ork never hurt anyone.” To sum up, then, wo maintain that final examinations should bo abolished because they are too inuch v ork, they do not represent a pupil’s real knowledge , and they come at a distinctly inopportune time of the school year. Dominic‘s Todine. ' ’38 ' ' BARRE S BENEFACTORS One of the most beneficial of the many gifts ’which Barre has received from native sons, was the High School building, v;hich was given by Mr. Henry Aoods, of Boston, and will stand v ith the public library as a monui ' .iont to his memor ' y for future generations to see. Although it is not made of bronze or marble, it v ill survive all costly monuments because his memory is cno that will be cherished for years to come for his generosity and interest in education. The building, erected by Andrev s, Jacques Rantoul, architects, of Boston, and Gutting, Bardwcll Co., builders, of V orcc-ster, under the supervision of Mr, Goorgo W. Cook, chairman of the build- ing committee, v as presented to the tovm at a special tovm meeting in 1900. Mr, Cook gave an addross in which he pointed out the many features of interest in tho building. Mr. Henry Woods, born in Barro, obtained his education in the publia schools of this town and rt Mor son Academy, Pie became a clerk in the store ‘of Bush Delano of Hardw ' lck at the ago of 15. Ho then entered the employ of J. C. PIov ro, of Boston, afterward the well-known dry-goods house of C. F. Plovcy Co., a position ho hold for more tPian half a century. The spirit of giving for the good of the people was one of his outstanding characteristics. He aided children in their

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Gducatlon by both school and library offerings. Even though ho v as a resident of a foreign land for over thirty years, his interest in his native town was forever before him. He v;as active in many of our local activities. He willingly gave the library building and a fund of 6,000. At Barre ’ s celebration of her 100th anniversary in 1874, Mr. Woods presented a life-size of portrait of Colonel Isaac Barre, in v hosc honor the town was named. Tlae painting, a copy of the one done by Gilbert Stuart for the gallery of Lord Amherst, occupies a prominent place on the walls of the public library building. He assisted in the building of the Barre Hotel. He supplied the Barre Village Improvement Society v ith its fund of over $8,000. He provided the Coiigregational Society with a chapel and a church organ. His assistance to the Barre Water Company, v;hen it was lacking in finances, made the undertaking a success. His final gift, the most important one of all, was the gift of the High School building, equipped with all the m.odern conveniences, well furnished, and all ready for use. Tlie completion of the public buildings seemed to arouse other people into the spirit of Improvements for the public good. A piano for the use of the high school, was given by Mrs. Mary E. Gorham. Improvements in churches, streets, parks, and roadsides were made possible by kind remembrances. Even our comoterlos became plcasant-looking places v lth their well- kept ots and v ater supply. Some of the benefactors, v hose names appear on our perma- nent tov n records are; Lucius P. Billings, Samuel B. Gates, Edvjin Woods, George Brovai, M. D. , William M. Hastings, Nelson Hawes, Mrs. Lyman Sibley, Eunice K. Briggs, Abigail V.lieolcr, Lucy H. B. Harding, S. A. Kinsman, Emory Rice, Dr. E. A. Bassett, Matthew Walker, Elizabeth Heald ’Walker, Seth Caldwell, Mrs. Jason Gorham, Charles W. Heald, William L. Russell, John Felton, Charles E. Felton, Mrs. Harriet Sibley, John Wadsworth, J. Addison Morriam, Jane Proctor Gray. As the years pass by, more and more names have been added to this list as improvements to our public institutions, parks, highvirays, and streets have been made. Among them is that of Arthur P. Felton, v;ho has given us the public amuse- ment park, Felton Field. Barre, v;Gll-knovm for its loyal citizens, will never become a largo business center never- theless its advantages and attractions continually bring new residents and drav; old friends back to its tranquil and alert” atmosphere . Ruth Taylor ' ' 38 W