Waterbury Democrat., 1901-11-07
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Work on Housekeeping Lessons Will
 Begin November IS.

BGSln NONeUDef 10.
 The meeting held by the board of ed ucation last evening was brief and full of business. There were present Com missioners Hayes. Mcdonald. Chap man. Russell and Kilmartin Commis- sioner Hayes presided. Superintendent Tinker reported that he had prepared the classes for housekeeping lessons, which will be held at the rooms of the Friendly league. Work will begin No yember IS ill this order:
 Washington school. Monday, 9 2. m.
 Crosby. Monday. 2 D. m.
 High, Wednesday, 2 p. m.
 Bank. Friday. 9 p. m.
 Webster, Friday. ? D.. m.
 The lessons will last two and half hours each day. For the present ninety-one pupils will take lessons.
 Superintendent Tinker reported that Zenas P. Candee was appointed to the mechanical drawing class i'll the eyen- ing to assist the regular teacher, Mir Weeks. The appointment was ap- proved.
 MT Tinker also reported that the lists of the school enumerators have all been handed in and the figures show a total attendance of II .S65 pu- pills. an increase of 121 over last. year. It was thought that the increase would be more than this. but 1t was recalled by some members of the board that some of the enumerators duplicated their figures last year and gave a wrong appearance to conditions there for. This attendance. according to Mir Tinker, means about $27,0 from the state to the city.
 Probably the most important matter taken up by the board came from Truant Officer Hurley He reported that some parties who have children in the schools defied him to make them keep the children at school every day. This matter caused the department much bother, because while they are aware that nothing but beautiful ig norance prompts any parent to take such q stand, it is necessary to teach that parent lesson. but still it is hard to have one arrested.
 Explaining the matter, Mir Hurley said that it is common for some par ents to send an excuse exactly like the following to the schools: Please ex- cuse - from school this after noon. The law recognizes only three causes for keeping children of age from school; they are. destitute of clothing, illness and imbecility. The first the local authorities must see to. so that only two are left. and the law is imperative on this matter of keep ing children at school.
 Mir Tinker said that some parents imagine the law has nothing to, say in the matter; that they, the parents. are superior to the law. He said that a number of children were kept home the day of the Wolcott fair, and when he spoke to q well known man about it, the latter asked him what the deuce the law had to say about it? Had not parent more to say regarding his child than the law? Tn vain Mir Tinker tried to inform him that in ref erence to attending school the law was above the parent. The parent was sur prised to hear this and evidently would not believe it, and Mir Tinker had to let the matter go by suggesting to the parent that he confer with his lawyer on the school laws.
 The members of the board discussed the matter and it was finally decided to have the superintendent have a cir cular distributed among the teachers and principals with the law regarding the consequences of keeping children from school printed on it, and when q parent or guardian sends an excuse like the above to school the teacher shall send one of the circulars to the parent. If this has no effect the par ent shall be arrested.
 The regular bills and pay rolls were then approved and the board ad- jOurned to Friday evening. when q special meeting shall be held to con- sider the estimates for next year.