Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-26
degree of thoroughness in all the branches taught marks the different classes.
 HIGH SCHOOL.

delivery evinced much careful training, | and deservediy won unstinted praise from 1 the large audience that had assembled to greet the graduates that evening" The l subjects chosen, the choice being entirely 1 their own, and the manner in which they were treated. showed moreover that these young men and women had already learned to think, and acquired a determination to self-activity which is an essential prin- ciple of education.
 The following were graduated
 IN THE CLASSICAL COURSE.
 Francis Patrick Brett,
 James Joseph MacAvoy,
 John Joseph McGivney.
 IN THE BUSINESS COURSE.
 Charles Engelke,
 Edward RutledSe French,
 Walter Levi Frisbie.
 Fred Hastings Partridge,
 Margaret Teresa Breen,
 Nellie Anna Brown,
 Alice Bertha Carr,
 Nellie Elizabeth Carroll,
 Mary Elizabeth Fitzpatrick,
 Clara Tousey.
 PHYSIOLOGY.
 In accordance with the instructions of the State, the study of Physiology was in troLuced last year into the advanced, inter mediate, and grammar rooms. In some of the classes this subject did not, perhaps, receive the attention that it merits. This arose, to a great extent, from the fact that the study was pressed into an already well crowded course, and also that, in its present form, it was new to many of the teachers. When, by special reading, and other means which their intelligence and zeal will suggest, our teachers shall have acquired a more thorough knowledge of this science. and shall have become better l acquainted with the terms in which it is | conveyed to the minds of the pupils, they 1 will show here that degree of excellence ! which characterizes their other works. | The interest manifested in this science, and the results already obtained, render evident its usefulness, and the wisdom of the State in requiring for the young a more definite knowledge of this subject than that which they had hitherto received. ! It is destined to promote the cause of temperance in it's widest and best sense, and to show, perhaps more fully than any other branch of secular education, that goodness is wisdom in it's highest form
 NIGHT SCHOOLS.
 ! The Boards of Education earnestly desires to call the attention of the citizens to our night schools. If we give to them due con- sderation we shall find that they are justly entitled to a largeer share of publicinterest tildll IS USudllS uCNObSu IO IC W lS- don of opening such schools, and providing for them thoroughly competent teachers, is universally admitted. But the very per ceptible decrease in the attendance atthem in the Centre District during the last term, leads us to fear that the young men and women of our city do not share in this un- iversal appreciation.
 The attendance during the year just end ed comprising 1SST-SS was: Total 232, aver age l03. This shows decrease of 50 from the proceeding year. During the term comprised in the year 1S7S-79 when the number of children in the day schools was little more than one-half what it is at pre- sent, the attendance at night school was 23S, a slight increase over even the present day. May it not be that the full import of these schools and the advantages to be de-
 rived from them are not completely under stood by all
 Public opinion, aS at present constituted, seems to determine these evening classes
 for the sole benefit of those who, in their
 youth, have had no opportunity of learning
 how to read and write; or. at best, to supply the deficiencies consequent on
 habitua1 truancy, or other circumstances
 tending to render unfruitful the years
 usually devoted to school. It is indeed
 desirable, just and highly conducive to the
 welfare of society to provide for the wants
 of these persons. But why should they
 monopolize the evening school? Or what
 is worse still, why should they determine
 its tone and purport and thereby naturally associate with it positive deficiency or crim- inal neglect Why not take away from the
 evening schools this stigma and give them
 a wider scope, larger field for cultivation? Were our boys and girls to continue their studies for a reasonable time each year up to the age of Is, the night school may
 not be necessary, although even then,
 it would be useful; but a large number
 of the young sever all connection with : school just as they become capable of understanding orsaigesting wha1s taught. The state takes a deep, active and abiding
 interest in the education of children, chiefly because the child is father to the man. It is the future citizen rather than the present child that the State cOntem s plates in what it ordains on education. But the education, or rather the capa- blities of education acquired at the age o1 twelve or thirteen years, will, if not sup plemented by some farther well directed course of study, vanish, leaving little else behind than the conceit of having ac uuired it. The intention of the State is thus frustrated, because it is only at this age that the influences of education upor the young commence to assume that per ! manent abiding character which immedi = ately and positively determine the course of the future citizen.
 Only now can good methods of study
 be imparted, correct habits of though r formed, and the faculty of applying tht : mind to any given subject acquired. As D l. South justly remarks, powers act weakl! d and rregularly until they are brightene, 0 and perfected by habit. But for all this 1T teacher is very requisite. Yet it is at thi V very critical moment that society casts tn n boy adrift. If we enlarge and reconstruc l. the course of instruction in the evening o school, modify it's discipline, adapt it t.
 the wants and habits of thought, an'
 aspirations of the intelligent, industriou
 and successful working boys and girls le giving to them every advantage that 't conceded to the truant and drone, W 'i shall, we venture to say, have made ste u forward in true progress.
 TRUANCY.
 e It gives us much pleasure to be able t r. state that the evil of truancy is steadily de l. creasing amongst us. Although the mum Il Der of children was greatly increased las y year, the cases of truancy were absolutel