Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-30
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
Crowded Condition of Some of the
Schools in the Center District.

schools in the Center District.
The members OF the district committee
held a special meeting in their rooms in
Irving block last night. There were pres
ent Chairman Wolff, Clerk Moran, Messrs
Begnal, Chapman and Hart The chair
man and Mr. Hart, who had been APP
pointed at a previous meeting to look up
the matter of increasing accommodation in
some of the public schools, reported that
having visited the various schools and also
having been in consultation with a COM
mittee they deemed it prudent to recon-
mend that the Hillside avenue school, so
called, be leased to relieve the pressure at
the Sperry street school; also that two
recitation rooms or two additional school
rooms, or both recitation and school
rooms, as the whole committee might
decide, be built at the West Side hill
school. The committee also reported that
they had visited the Washington school,
and informed the meeting of the need of
better accommodations as soon as practi-
cable. The report was accepted and placed
on file. The Hillside avenue school will
accommodate 125 scholars and Mr. Chap
man thought it would be a good idea if the
district should buy the property. Mr.
Wolff thought that this would be likely to
put back the proposed new High school
for some time.
The Hillside avenue school property is
owned by the Waterbury Savings bank
and is worth about $4,000. The bank
submitted the following conditions on
which the school can be leased: The
building to be taken as it is without any
expense to the bank and to be returned in
as good condition as when taken. If only
the school rooms are used the rent is to be
$40 per month, payments monthly. If the
remainder is taken So per month is to be
added. Tenant to quit on sixty days no
tice, but so given as not to require the re-
-moval in term time. Possession to be
given as soon as the tenant now in can re-
move. 1t was voted to lease the school ac-
cordlng to terms submitted by the bank.
The chairman was instructed to equip the
school with the necessary outfit and have
it in readiness for use for the beginning of
the spring term, April L. 1894.
The committee was instructed to put up
two recitation rooms at the West Side Hill
school and also to put in a new Parsons
system of water closets.
1t was voted that the chairman be au-
thorized to pay the interest on all loans
according as it becomes due up to October
l, 1894.
The committee was instructed to pro-
cure plans and estimates for Il duplicate
addition to the Washington school
That the additional rooms recommended
by the district committee are greatly
needed a visit to some of the school rooms
in the center school district will suffice to
convince the most incredulous. A re-
porter of the DEMoCRAT has been looking
up the condition of things in the public
schools and has learned things that may
surprise people. The crowded condl-
ton of some rooms visited is
almost incredible, and in making an
effort to procure increased accommodation
the district committee deserve we'll of the
parents of children. As proof of the need
of better accommodations in some of the
schools we cite the condition of things at
the Washington school. In Miss Bossidy's
room there are 50 pupils with a seating
accommodation for so. Miss Bossidy an
tcipateS an increase of 10 scholars ut the
commencement of the April term. Miss
Mary c. Coughlan manages to accOmmo-
date 80 scholars with seating capacity for
-, and expects gain of about thirty at
the opening of the spring term. Miss
Elizabeth Mccarthy has 63 children in a
room with only 81 sittings. This teacher
anticipates an increase of 81 as soon as the
April term begins Miss Bowen has ZIG
children huddled together in Il room with
only IL sittings. The crowded condition
of this room can hardly be imagined, and
when it is known that this is the primary
grade and that large number of little ones
will surely apply for admission as soon as
the spring term opens, people can form
some idea of the need of making some pro-
vision to meet the demand for more room.
In many cases three children occupy two
seats and the teacher has often been
obliged TO arrange to have the children sit
in turn.