Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-01

We would call attention TO the IdcL Iuao
the salary of this teacher and of the one
in sewing will not involve any increase IN
the present payroll of the district, mas
much as no teacher of vocal music will be
employed for the coming year.
That we respectfully request the chair
man of the district committee to call a
special meeting of said committee to con-
slider these recommendations as soon as
possible, so that, if approved, good teach
ers may be at once secured for the fall
term.
This report was accepted and steps
were taken to equip room for this pur-
pose in Clay street school Mr. Taylor,
graduate of Cornwell University, in the
school of mechanical and civil engineering
was chosen to take charge of this depart
ment.. In addition to the duties of this
room, where all the male pupils of the
seventh and eighth grades will assemble
for work at stated periods, this gentleman
will also give introduction to other pupils
in mechanical drawing and exercise gen
eral supervision over the elementary
drawing in all the rooms.
SEWING.
AS the female pupils will not ! ad
mitted for the present into the workshop,
it is deemed essential for the general plan
that for them a course of instruction in
sewing should be instituted in our schools
AS this feature is entirely new in our
course of studies, the board has used all
diligence to secure for this department the
services of one who possesses the com
bined qualifications of teacher and seam
stress, and whose past history would be a
pledge of future success in our schools.
Glasses will be established at once in all
the rooms.
In this connection we beg leave to state
that the expense incidental to the intro
duction of manual training and the sal
aries for this year will not materially in
crease the current expenses, as - proper
tionate reduction has been made in
another direction. Anxious to economist
where ever it could be done, without
special detriment to the schools, the
board of education concluded to dispense
with the services Of special teacher in
music. This action it was thought would
not at present involve any serious conse-
quences to the schools, as the majority of
the teachers are proficient in this science,
and have enjoyed many years Of expert
ence as teachers under the careful direc-
ton of Mr. Wolcott. Also the schools will
receive a better graded series of text
bookr, who publishers will, to make
success certain, give special instruction to
our teachers and for the present supervise
the work i'll the various classes
EVENING SCHOOL.
We regret we cannot speak very favor
able i'll this report of the attendance mt the
evening schools. During the past winter
every effort was made to render these
schools both interesting and profitable. IL
| the first place they We're opened in every
district so that they may be easy of access
| to all. Again whtnever the numbers would
even approx mately warrant it, second
teacher was appointed, and retained in
every building in order that the ad
vantage of the class system may be com
| bided with those of individual system
which had hitherto prevailed. In the
Clay street school, provisions were made
for instruction in the branches usually
taught in the High school, but there were
no candidates for this course. The tota
number of pupils registered in the even
| ing schools was 523, of these many
fell away at an early period of the
term, whilst others became exceedingly ir
regular so that at enhance dropped to $50
The progress made by those who attended
punctually was very satisfactory.
This failure to profit by the opportunit
les of It arning presented, a well appointed
evening school seems to indicate a wild
spread Indifference to mental culture
among the youth of our city. This, if true
is by no means, a happy omen for the futur
mere regret from the thoughtful member
of our community. Ia the first place par
ents should not rely upon these schools t.
make amends for an imperfect course i
the day school. Frequently childre1
anxious to be- freed from the discipline O
the schools, ard eager to possess a littl
, money, hold out such hopes to parents AM
thereby secure the I consent to leav
+ school and go to work. But its suggges
| = At ham and
| lies the important question. Ar
the great body of our youth upo
whom the maintenance and spread of GU
civil polity and free institutions mus
, necessarily soon devOlve, failing
2 acquire the learning and knowledge essen
> tial to the performance of these duties
Or which is only slightly less pernicloU
| are we developing distaste for all serlor
study involving much mental labor! If 81
l what ara the seeds that produce sue
e baneful fruits? How may these evils
o remedied? Are we everlasting in farm
: store and shop the energies of the your
: until they are dead to all ambition,
y incapable of the requisite mental activit,
k Or is the younger society fast drifting
Il that goal where pleasure alone is the o.
iect sought in life to the detriment, if NJ
e the entire exclusion of these serio1
It thoughts and noble purposes which f
y the minds OF worthy men! i men Is 1afln
r legislation needed to compel attendance
e eveing school until the required knowledt
II is attained and the immature notions
&c the boy have yielded to the ripper jud
l. ment of the man. Germany, Eng ian
Le and in our country Massachusetts ha7
n sought through legislation to attain tt
l. good.
l. In England the hours of labor a
Is shortened on certain days for this purpof
i, But even though Cd this point wide
N divergent views may exist regarding t
al faithful industrious boy, there can be
n doubt that some Legislation demandi
he course of study for the idle boys W
it wander aimlessly through the streets
an the city for weeks and months would
G. most salutary. Here they are beset wi
a temptations, and often they lay perm
us nently the foundations of worthless Il
ed before they are conscious of the fatal cou
they are pursuing.
Mt OBSTACLES TO PROGRESS IN SCHOOLS.
ly AS all classes of the community
nd deeply interested in the welfare of