Morning journal and courier., 1885-07-28
COMMUNICATIONS.

The Robbins School at Norfolk. To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Being somewhat familiar with the work of the Robbins school, located in the old and well known town of Norfolk, Conn.,, I have thought a brief notice of the institution might be of interest to the readers of your valuable paper.
 It is private boarding school for boys, which also receives day scholars from Nor folk and is under the care of the Rev. J. Wickliffe Beach, who is a graduate of the class of 1864 of Yale. The home and school connected herewith are new, commodious and provided with all the modern improve ments. They are situated on high ground heated by steam and provided with an abundant supply of pure water and the best appliances for the comfort and health of the pupils. Besides, Norfolk is said to be the highest settled town in this State. It is fourteen hundred feet above sea level, sur rounded by magnificent hills and scenery, and absolutely free from malarial complaints. It is also easy of access, being located directly up- on the Connecticut Western railroad The grade of the school covers all the ad vanced English studies and the most thor ough preparation for college, being thus equivalent to our best high schools, though there is no examination for admission, each pupil being taken at his present rank, and advanced according to his progress. It is a special aim to make the course so flexible that it can be adapted to the needs and pe- culiarities of each pupil, rather than to force him into the requirements of pre-arranged system. Thus, health and other personal considerations are permitted, if necessary, to make exceptions in the curriculum. Parents are kept informed of the progress and stand ing of their children by means of monthly reports.-
 The moral care and training of the board ing pupils is amply provided for, a thing of equal, if not greater, importance than snpf their mental training To this end they are of we'll regulated Christian home, in the family of the principal. The fact that he has had eight years of e1- perience as teacher and ten years of suc- cessful work in the Congregational ministry, is guarantee that the moral as we'll as the mental training of the pupils will be zealous- ly guarded. The good order and established school is located are an additional guarantee that they will be exempt from many of the temptations which exist in larger towns and cities.
 The school IS named in memory of the Rev. A. R. Robbins, who was pastor of the Congregational church in that place from 1761 to 1913. His house stood where the school now is, and, as was then the custom, he had many pupils in his own house whom he fitted for college.
 The expenses for boarding pupils are mod crate. So marked success has been already attained that MT. Beach has found it neces- sary to employ another graduate of Yale as instructor of mathematics and sciences, while a lady graduate of Smith college has charge of modern languages and instrumental mus ic.
 It is due to the munifcence of MT. Rob- bins Ratten and his sister that this school has been located in Norfolk, and among the many benefits they have conferred upon this towns people none has called out deeper gratitude than this which brings the higher education within their reach without the trouble and expense of going out of town. The school deserves success, and will doubt less become feeder of Yale, as it's origin would suggest. Old MT. Robbins was a Yale graduate of 176O, and his grandson, MT. Rob- bins Battell, graduated in 1889, and his sis ter, Mrs. Professor Larned, is well remem- bered for her devotion to the college and sub- stantial gifts in many of it's departments, while another brother gave the Battell chap el The teachers being also Yale men will make this school inevitably Yalensian in its aims and methods. T.