Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-19
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Retiring Members Give Last Shot to | Finance Board.

The board of finance received some hard knocks last night from the board of education for chopping down the appropriation for text books. The meeting was short, but it was full of important business and must have warmed the ears of the members of the board of finance. There were pres ent only Commissioners Hayes, KiI- martin and Mcdonald, and Commis- sfoner Hayes presided.
 It was long after the meeting hour when business was started. Things went along all right until Superintep- dent of Schools Tinker read a report in which he stated that the board of finance had chopped the appropriation for text books about $500. The board. he said, first cut it $1,000. but after q Struggle $500 was returned.
 Commissioner Mcdonald said that this was the "meanest' and ..cheesi- est way Of trying to save money for the city that he had ever heard of. Tbe idea, he said. of the city getting S2.25 for each pupil that attends school. and that 2,600 children do not attend fhe public schools. He thought that the parents of each of these 2,600 chill dren should receive this money, or else the parochial school which they at tend. He thought the parents of these children had enough to do to pay their taxes or at least maintain one school. yet here is the city of Water bury actually making money on these 2,600 children. Officials who would cut an appropriation for school books , ought to be ashamed of themselves. said Commissioner McDOnald. Such stinginess and meanness he had never f heard of before. The city is paid $26,- 900 q year for educating its children. Twenty-siX hundred of these children do not attend the public schools, yet the city is paid for educating them. If this is not a pretty state of affairs the commissioner would. like to know ayhat is.
 It was remarked in reply that the money from the state is not received for educational purposes solely; it is received for school purposes in gen. eral. Commissioner Mcdonald said that he supposed if the parish of St Francis Xavier intended building a school the board of finance would have further cut the appropriations. As it was, because the parish of St Thomas had started q parochial school the board of finance had cut a school ap- propriation. This matter then blew over and Superintendent Tinker read the. following report:
 "Gentlemen: I desire to call the at fention of the board to a matter that Is, 1 believe, very essential to the health and we'll being of the pupils in the schools; it is in regard to the prop CT warming of the various school rooms Different principals have re- ported from time to time that some of the school rooms upon the opening of the morning session have not been heated to a temperature suitable for the pupils to work in. I have also re- ceiyed communications, both oral and written. from parents complaining about the low temperature in the schools where their children attended. This is an important matter and the proper solution of it has a direct bear ing not only on the pupils health but also upon his progress in his studies.
 s'EOr if a school room is so cold as to render study impossible. much val uable time is lost, and if pupils are de fained fin such rooms there is great dan- ger of their taking colds. which are likely to compel their absence from school. perhaps for long periods. IT.
 
 the greatest hindrance to promotion. It is just as necessary that the school rooms be properly heated as that they have suitable light and ventilation. When children have come in cold weather. many times through the snow, to the school building, rooms at comfortable temperature should be ready for their accommodation. Most of the children are probably cold when they reach the school, very many lack rubbers and in this condition they should not be compelled to sit for hours sn cold rooms.
 elf the board should deem it wise to fix upon a temperature at which q school could be dismissed, and if, as a result, certain rooms should be i'll the future dismissed, it would then be in order to determine just where the fault lay I recommend this matter for your consideration. Respectfully,
 ..B. ". TINKER"
 The report was approved. and in con- nection with 1t MT Tinker. always watchful for the betterment of the en- Sironments Of the children while at school, made the following reeom- mendations:
 That the mean temperature of the school room should be seventy degrees. When the temperature is below sixty five degrees at the opening of ses- sion. the teacher must see that the children keep on their wraps.
 sWhen the temperature is below six fy degrees in any room. the pupils Of such room should be taken into some other room i'll the building having the proper temperature.
 "When the temperature is below six fy degrees in so many of the rooms in the building that consolidation of pu- pils in rooms sufficiently warm cannot be made, and there is not prospect of securing sufficient heat very early in fhe session, the school must be dis missed.
 'sWhen a school is thus closed notice should be sent at once to the inspector of buildings and a report made to the board of education at it's next meeting, giving the temperatures in the room and outside the building at the time when such room was closed"
 The recommendation were adopted after the 5anitors in some of the school buildings had received some hard Knocks for alleged indifference to their .urr7r Tho customary bills were then