Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-02
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
The Distribution of Free Books Ia
Led to Abuses. Il.

The Distribution of Free Books Has
Led to Abuses. q
Chairman J. A. Mulcahy presided at the
meeting of the board of education Hast
night. There were present Messrs Cowell,
HAYES, Mcdonald and Superintendent
Crosby. The chairman reported some
minor matters in reference to change of
teachers, which were approved. AT meet
ing to be held later the committee ap-
pointed to relieve the pressure at the
Washington school will recommend an
addition of two rooms. The committee on
change Of study and site for new High
school will also report.
It was reported that the parents of some
of the children attending the Washington
school are dissatisfied because their
children have not been promoted. 1t was
explained that the children have been pro-
NOTED, although not sent out of the same
room because there was no place to send
them.
DR. Hayes introduced the matter of the
abuse of the free school book system. He
had examined into some cases within the
past few days and found that the children
of well-to-do families were being supplied
with free books, while those of very meagre
circumstances were making personal sacri-
fees to purchase the necessary school sup
plies, rather than apply to the district for
books for their children. One man whom
the doctor know, 70 be earning SO or 81
day and has other resources, has been re-
ceiving school supplies for his children.
Several other cases were cited all of which
went to show that the books were being
supplied to the children of parents for
whom they never were intended. The
doctor thought school supplies should be
given free to all, else some means should
be devised whereby the district could not
be imposed upon in this manner. Fifty
per cent of the people asking for :. free
books, he said, could we'll afford to buy
them.
Mr. Crosby said he had always followed
out the direction of the district committee
in this matter. When a teacher reports
the name of child who cannot afford to
purchase books the matter is given to the
| truant officer for investigation and the
superintendent acts on his report. A long
discussion then followed, in which all the
members took part, and what puzzled the
| whole board was how to properly define
the word poverty.
Judge Cowell said that Sunset Cox once
gave SIS, 900 to his father and offered as a
reason for doing SO that the man was an
orphan. The judge then told of Water
bury man who was worth about half
million dollars and this same mans wife
fell out with the butcher one day because
he refused to cut little chicken in halves
in order to sell her one-half of it. He
said that man lived all his life time believ-
ing he was one of the poorest men in
town.
Finally the board decided that Judge
Cowell should consult with the chairman
of the district committee on the matter
and see what could be done to guard
against such impositions.
At this juncture Captain Wolff entered
the meeting and Chairman Mulcahy ex-
planned the whole situation and asked his
opinion on the subject. Mr. Wolff said it
was very difficult to determine who was
and who was not in needy circumstances
these times.
Judge Cowell then drew up the follow
ing list of questions, which he thought
should be asked of the parents or guar
dams of children applying for free
books: "Plaee of employment of father;
number in family; number at work;
weekly income of family This matter
will be brought before the district commit
tee at its next meeting and on effort made
to correct the abuse.
During the discussion it was shown that
some teachers in the same school and
teaching the same class of children would
ask for large number of books while
others under similar conditions would
make the request but seldom. Judge
Cowell said there was nothing strange
about that. A kind-hearted woman like a
good lawyer or doctor was sure to
be imposed upon.