Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-03-02
STREET CAR FARES.
High School Scholars to Have a
Special Rate
OF ABOUT 8 CENTS A RIDE.
More Room Needed for the Two
High Schools.
The School Committee Forced to Adopt
Makeshift for Next Years Freshmen
Class Branch Schools to Be Estab-
Ilshed-Opposition to New
Truancy Law


Temporary accommodations for the
first year pupils of the high school, next
September, and reduced street car fares
for the pupils of the high schools, were
by the school committee at its meeting
Tuesday evening, but there were other
questions that were of interest to par
ticular sections of the city. The ques-
ton of reduced street car fares is per-
haps the most interesting to G. majority
Of the parents, and they will be glad
to read that Superintendent Carroll has
succeeded in getting a concession from
the Consolidated Street Railway Com
pany, so that high school pupils may
purchase 80 tickets for 81, the special
tickets to be used in the hours imme-
diately preceding and following the ses-
sions of the high school
The question of providing accommo-
dations for the large number of pupils
who are to enter the high schools next
September, is one that has bothered the
school committee considerably on ac-
count of the refusal of the city council
according to the plan adopted Tuesday
evening, the first year pupils of next
September will be distributed through
out the city in the grammar schools that
can best accommodate them. The mat
ter was brought up in a report from a
special committee, consisting of the
members of the committee on school
houses and hygiene and the committee
on high school and the committee on
high school accommodations, as follows:
The committee recommends that from
l4O to It's of the pupils entering the
high school in September be located at
the Woodland street building; and that
from 140 to 175 pupils be located in the
third story of the Ledge street build
ing; that 100 pupils be located at the
Belmont street building, If transfers can
be made to give the necessary rooms.
1t is further recommended that the
grammar school principals Of the three
buildings named shall have the general
management Of these pupils, and that
they shall be instructed by teachers as
signed by the high school committee.
1t is assumed by this committee that,
so far as it is practicable, the principals
Of the high schools shall exercise super
vision over the instruction of these pu-
pills, and that the supervising princi-
pals shall, acting under the direction of
the high school principals, cooperate
with them in all respects in preserving
harmony between the different parts
Of the high school system.
1t is also understood that at the end
of the first year these pupils shall be
transferred to the central high schools
1t is further assumed that the sessions
OF these schools shall correspond to the
session of the buildings where they are
located; also that the school rooms pro
posed for the use of the high school pu-
PITS Will be abundantly supplied with
light and such conveniences as may be
thought necessary by the high schoo
committee.
The balance of the pupils of the frs
year, probably about 300, can be accom-.
modated at the central high schoo
buildings.
After the report had been read bv Mr.
BROOKS, Mr.. Forsstedt said he signed tht
report under protest because he felt tina,
the city council had not done its duty
IN providing the necessary high schoo
accommodations, and he hoped that the
school committee would take strictel
measures in the future to maintain its
rights in this matter. This compromising
Will lead to more trouble in the future
and he hoped the board would have
more backbone to insist on what wa.
needed.
Mr. Johnson said he was sorry to see
such school legislation needed in this
city, but as the time was now too short
to provide suitable high school build
ing before next September, the present
move was the best that could be made
under the circumstances, as the com.
mittee will have ali it can do to make
ready the school houses mentioned fol
the accommodation of the pupils.
Mr. White asked how the high school
course or study was to be carried out
under such conditions-if it was intend
ed to use more than one room or to use
one large room and have the work done
similar to the methods in vogue in the
old district schools? He also asked how
the pupils were to do their laboratory
work.
Mr.. Brooks replied that there was NO
laboratory work in the first year at the
high school, and in reply to the other
question, he said it was proposed to have
80 pupils in each room with a competent
teacher to conduct the full course for
the first year.
Mr.. White said this.,was a poor plan,
as it will not give the children chance
to do their library work until late in the
day. He thought two sessions at the
high school would accomplish the de-
sired result in better way.
There was no further discussion, and
the recommendations were adopted, and
the matter was referred to the commit
tee on high schools to carry out the
plan.
In order to help carry out the plan,
Mr. Brooks offered the following recon-
mendation, which was adopted:
The committee on school houses and
hygiene recommended that the city
council be requested to have the hall in
the Ledge street building partitioned
so as to make two school rooms, with
necessary dressing rooms and halls; also
to put in sufficient windows to make the
rooms we'll lighted, and to properly
warm and ventilate them.
Another matter that brought out some
discussion was a report from the COM
mittee on private schools and truancy,
indorsing certain amendments proposed
by the Truant Officers Association of
the state to the bill before the state leg
islature, providing a change in the pres
ent methods of dealing with truants. In
short, the bill, on which there is to be
a hearing before the legislative commit
tee on education today, provides for the
establishment of a number of truant
schools throughout the state, which shall
be under the control of a board of
trustees to be appointed by the govern
or. The bill provides for state mainte-
nance of these schools. Truant officer
Michael j. English explained at
length the provisions Of the bill and the
amendments proposed by the Truant
Officers Association, and then Mr.. Co