Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-31

The report summarizes the events of the
 past year. It alludes to the course of lec-
 lures given by educators, the organization of
 a normal class. the series of grade meetings
 by which teachers of 8 certain grade ex.
 change views concerning their special work,
 the reformation in methods of primary
 teaching and the partial development of
 somewhat broader plan for the training of
 teachers.
 Mir. Dutton devotes considerable space to
 the consideration of the sanitary condition of
 the schools and makes many wise sugges-
 tions.
 In regard to school buildings the most i'm.
 portant undertaking of the year has been the
 erection of new building on the corner of
 Congress avenue and Vernon street,
 for the purposes of a Training school,
 and to provide for contingencies in that
 part of the district. The following state
 ment by Mir. l.. W. Robinson, the architect, will explain the design of the building and the system of ventilation employed:
 'sThis building, situated on the west cor ner of Congress avenue and Vernon street, is rectangular in plan, having a frontage of sixty-seven feet and six inches on Congress avenue and eighty-nine feet and six inches on Vernon street, and contains three stories and basement. Each story is divided into two nearly equal parts by 8 hall twelve feet wide, running across the building from Oh6b bO HSebs At 0dCA 0AO LII bAObC Ad11S IS a staircase. broad, strong and ample, running from the basement to the third story. The entrances to the building are situa- ted at each end of the first story hall-one being located on Vernon street and the other on the opposite or west side. The greater ing and ventilating apparatus, store- rooms, etc., but two rooms, each twenty-five by thirty feet and eleven feet high, are reserved in front on Congress avenue for night school purposes, or even may be used for day school in case of necessity, as they are light, dry, and will be as well heated and ventilated as any rooms in the building The first and second stories are on essentially the same plan, each thirteen feet high in the clear, and containing four school rooms twenty-five by thirty-one feet. with dressing room attached in each case. In ad- dition to these rooms there is also g room in each story twelve by sixteen feet-that in the first story being used for a reception room, and in the second story for the prin- cipal's office. The rear half of the third story is devoted to 8 lecture room thirty two feet wide by sixty-three feet long and fifteen feet high. The remainder of the third story Is divided into rooms of about the same size as those in the story below.
 The building is built in the most substan. tial manner, having brick walls and parti. Hons throughout. On the exterior the base ment is built of rock-faced East Haven stone, and the superstructure of selected North Ha- ven brick, laid in black mortar, with North Haven sandstone trimmings, and the whole is surmounted by steep roof slated. The inside wood finish will be of white pine, fin ished in natural wood with varnish, and as simple and plain as possible, so as to facii- Late cleaning and keeping in good and clean ly condition.
 In planning the building it has been the aim of the committee to embody all the latest and features that experience and experts have shown to be of value in school architecture, and especial attention has been given to convenience of plan, light ing, heating and ventilation, sanitary ar- and facility of exit.
 Certain changes in the Webster school building are strenuously urged. It is recon- mended that the eastern portion should be taken down and changes made in the west wing.
 In regard to methods of instruction MT. Dutton says that effort has been made to use fresh devices in teaching, with view to giY- ing the children increased mental power. Arithmetic is now thoroughly and logically taught and new methods are introduced into the teaching of geography, which give the scholar increased interest in the study. The reports of MT. J. R. Frsneh,M MT. G. R. Burton, MT. Mark Pitman and Professor Jepson are quoted from to show what ad- is being made in their depart ments. In regard to the important subject of industrial education and the kindergarten .he report says:
 The Carriage Builders National associa- ion of the United. States, having opened school in New York city for the advance nent of technical knowledge, in a circular issued, declares that ssthe advance AIready made in the mechanical arts in this country calls for higher standard of taste and skill than heretofore, and there is every evidence that 8 still greater demand for killed workman will arise from year l io year, in order that in 1 our rapidly increasing productions we may i world with the manufacturers of other ceun- Eries. At present we are dependent in great I measure upon artizans educated in their | trades abroad, but the number of this class | Ieeking our shores for employment is lessen ng every year. and has almost entirely ceased l ? many trades calling for the higher akili. We deem it highly important to | .einforce the ranks of mechanics by | system of public school instrue- ion which shall earlier fit boys to enter into | Eades with some assurance that their pre- ,aratory studies are likely to assist in mak- ng them intelligent and skillful workmen.
 This is fair specimen of the opinions ex- F ,ressed on every hand. It will hardly do at present. to talk about manual schools SUD- aorted at public expense. Our system costs nough already. believe, however, that few 'ears will develop plan whereby one or nore industrial departments can be opened, vith teachers trained in the best technical chools, and that the plan need cost nothing dditional, for boys and girls enrolled in
 ese departments would be entirely with rawn from others Through. the enterprise f Messrs Camp and French experiments re to be. tried in the Dwight nd Skinner schools during the oming year which will awaken ,uoh interest and will deserve hearty en- auraeement, I would recommend that a 1 mail appropriation be made in order that ae experiment. may be fairly made and the ssuIt honestly estimated.
 In introducing this subject am not seek