Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-07
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.

Judge Cowell Suggests That the Recita-
tom Rooms at the West Side Hill
SCHOOL Be Rented to Chicken Raiser
For Incubators. 2et
:; School Clerk Thomas J. Moran called
the meeting of the board of education to
order last night. There were present
Messrs Webster, Hayes, Cowell, Melon
aid, Goss, Pratt and Superintendent
Crosby. In the absence of Chairman j.
A. Mulcahy Judge Webster presided.
Superindent Crosby said he had several
things he wished to bring before the meet
ing. which had been talked of among the
teachers. The High school graduating
class of '94, the largest ever graduated
from the school, would like to have the
Choristers double quartette sing at the
graduating exercises. 1t is composed of
male singers, under the leadership of Pro-
lessor Bartlett. and is the most available
music in the city. The board voted that
the district committee be recommended to
secure the services of the quartette for the
occasion.
Mr. Crosby then brought up the matter
of distributing tickets for the graduating
exercises. If the usual number of tickets
should be given to the graduates City hall
could not accommodate all. He thought it
better to give ten or twelve tickets to each
graduate and a few among the town. city
and school officials. The rest might be
sold and the proceeds devoted to paying
expenses. The hall accommodates about
l POO 1t will take about 500 for the
graduates and officials. The rest might be
sold at ten cents each and twenty cents for
reserved seats
Judge Webster said the place was always
over-crowded, anyway.
Judge Cowell liked the idea of the big
crowd. 1t gave enthusiasm and eclat to
the affair.
The matter of flowers was then dis
cussed and it was the opinion of the meet
ing that no flowers should be used. 1t
put heavy burden on the parents of the
children, many of whom could not we'll
afford the outlay.
Mr. Crosby also talked on matters which
the committee on teachers had been con-
sidering. The results above the primary
grades, he said, are not satisfactory. Some
time ago the course of study was shortened
from nine to eight years. The bad effect
of this change has been apparent from the
beginning. Children are Laundering with
studies which are in advance of them.
The teachers committee decided that it
was time to inaugurate strict system in
| regard to promotions to the High school
and in grades 8, and 6, Mr. Crosby said,
he had found an average of fifteen in each
room Of these grades who were not able to
60 ahead and he considered it much better
for the children and the schools if they
| could go over the work again.
Judge Cowell thought the cause of the
crowding forward was due to the fact that
there was not enough accommodation in
| the primary grades and something had to
| be done to make room for the ones that
are constantly coming in.
The superintendent stated that those in
these grades who will not be promoted
this year are now aware of it. Including
the graduating class, about fifty will leave
| the High school at the close of the term
and it is expected that 100 will enter.
Most of those entering the High school re-
main for the first year and then commence
to drop off. The first year is hard one
| because the studies are so much different
to what they have been accustomed to.
The average age of promotion in the Wa
terbury schools is two years younger than
| the average in other New England towns.
Mr. Crosby also spoke of the ACCESSIBILITY
| of renting the Hillside avenue school. 1t
would relieve the overcrowded condition
of affairs at the Sperry street and West
Side hill schools. The matter re-
| ferred to the committee on teachers.
The Report of the Committee of Ten
was then presented to the board. MI
| Crosby said he had enough free copies to
| supply the public schools. The matter OF
| purchasing twenty copies of DR. Rlce's
work on"The Public Schools" was referred
to the committee on text books with in.
structions to report. The report of the
| night schools was then read. 1t is as fol
| lows, the registration coming first and the
average attendance last week following
| "a, q. y
Bishop street, 91-21; Washington 1924
Ridge street, 1918; East Main street
CLOSED February 81, 55-1S; Mechanical
drawing 1912; total REGISTRATION, S04; total
| average attendance last week, 172; number
of teachers dropped by committee, II.
| Mr. Goss brought up the matter of pro.
motions again. Mr. Crosby explained that
the standard for promotion to the High
school last year was seventy, and that in
| history, grammar, geography and arlthme-
| tic a minimum of forty-fve must be
reached, also that reading and drawing
should be averaged by themselves, so as
not to carry pupil through when he was
deficient in the fundamental studies
Messrs Cowell and Goss thought the mini
mum too low.
A recommendation that 725 pairs OF
scissors be bought for use by the pupils in
| MI lay . was lueA Ac-
ceived. The scissors cost eight cents
apiece, and are made here in Waterbury.
Mr. Goss asked if the board could arrange
80 as to have them sharpened by the COM
pany. He thought they would need sharp
| ening often. Mr. Webster said if some
| thing was not done in that line, some fell
low, who would come along hollerine
Scissors to grind would reap rich har-
vest. 1t was recommended that the dis
trict committee purchase the scissors and
that Mr. Taylor appear before them and
| explain their use.
The crowded condition of Sperry street,
West Side hill and Washington street
schools was next taken up. DR. Hayes
made an eloquent plea for better accom-
modations in the West Side hill schools.
He dwelt particularly on the recitation
rooms, which are only ten by four feet,
and thought it an outrage to keep children
| in them for half an hour at time. Judge
Cowell agreed with the doctor and didn't
know what they were thinking of when
they were building them. He thought
| when the district committee decided to
build new rooms there they could dispose
| of the present recitation rooms to some
enterprising fowl raiser to be used as in
cubators. The board voted to recommend
to the district committee that two rooms
| be added to the West Side hill school with
suitable recitation room and that the reci-
tation room in the Sperry street sch DOL be
enlarged.