THE TOWN GETS A NEW NAME
most important branches of learning. In the records of the Third District are found the specifications for their school house. On June 9, 1829, they voted to build a house twenty-four feet long and sixteen feet wide, covered with pine boards on the sides and ends with good shingles on the roof . It was to have an oak floor, the inside sealed with pine boards, and the house was to be well lighted. Also they favored an open stove in preference to a chimney.
The custom followed in the districts was to have a winter school beginning the middle of November, to run for four months, and to employ a man teacher; and a summer school beginning the middle of April and continuing for six months, with a woman as teacher. Also, the teacher was supposed to board around with the inhabitants of the district. Anyone who refused to board his proportion was taxed at the rate of $1.25 per week. In 1837 the Third District voted ''to engage Charles Wheeler to teach the winter school at $30 or less per month." From all accounts, Mr. Wheeler's outstanding proficiency was his use of the rod. The matter of discipline came up for consideration, too. The district voted: ''In case a scholar becomes disobedient, the teacher shall use the rod, if he thinks proper, once or twice. If that does not succeed, the scholar shall be expelled, and not permitted to rejoin until they shall have made suitable acknowledgement in the presence of the school and the teacher, and that this be read to the school." The scope of the business which was considered by the School Society was very varied. For instance, in the call for the Annual Meeting of the School Society to be held October 3, 18 36, it was ''to transact the regular business of the society, also to take into consideration the expediency of repairing the fence to the burying ground, and to purchase a hearse for the School Society." This action was passed in the affirmative, after which it was voted "to tax ourselves 1 1/2 cents on the dollar on the list of 1835 to pay for it."
Some controversy arose about the boundary lines or the district tax in the Second District. The distance to the school was rather long for some pupils, so at a School
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