smith vocational and agricultural high school
Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School was established as a result of a
bequest in the will of Oliver Smith. Mr. Smith was born in Hatfield,
Massachusetts in 1766. He engaged in farming at an early age, and acquired large
wealth by stock-raising. He was a magistrate for forty years; twice he was a
representative to the legislature; and in 1820, he was a member of the State
constitutional convention. He never married and may have been considered
eccentric by his neighbors, but he amassed a large fortune, which he bequeathed
to establish the "Smith Charities," a unique system of benevolence. At his death
in 1845, his estate was valued at nearly $400,000; and the will was contested by
his family. Legendary lawyer and legislator Daniel Webster successfully defended
the will for the city of Northampton. The fund for the Agricultural School
became available for use in 1905, and the amount of $50,000 was turned over to
the City of Northampton for the purchase of land on which to build Smith School.
The school opened for students in 1908 as the first vocational school in
Massachusetts. Since 1845, when the fund to develop an agricultural school was
established, Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School has been at the
forefront of a movement toward excellence in vocational training. Today, Smith
Vocational and Agricultural High School is a public high school for residents of
Northampton and tuition students from all of Hampshire County on a "space
available" basis. Students spend alternating weeks in shop and academic programs
as they prepare for both a high school diploma and a Certificate of Occupational
Proficiency. Graduates of Smith School are expected to meet academic standards,
achieve occupational competency, develop ready-to-go work skills, and prepare
for continuing education. Integration of technology in course work is
encouraged, and students have access to state-of-the-art computer labs with
Internet capability. A focus on the acquisition of key life skills-good work
habits, reliability, self-confidence, resilience, problem-solving-serves to
guide students in their personal growth.
