Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-22
ALL NIGHT SESSION.
Board Finally Decided to Give Diplo-
 mas to Graduating Class.

mas to Graduating Class.
 5Wallingford, Conn, June 22.-The board of education at 4 o'clock, after an all night session, beginning at o'clock last night, found way to set tie a school controversy which has been exercising the whole town Tor several days. Incidentally the board changed completely it's previously talk en position and decided to grant mgh school diplomas which it had pre- yiously decided at an eleventh hour 10 withhold from the members Of the graduating class. 13 in number.
 As indicated above great excitement and not a little cDnsternation was ocs casioned early in the week when, after the members of the graduating class had made all preparations for the final exercises, the board voted to withhold diplomas because the class had 'falled to pass satisfactory examinations In algebra This declsion was arrived at on the very night and at the very hour when elaborate class day exer- cises were in progress before large audience in the town hall. The deci- sion carried with it in effect an omis- sion of the graduating exercises them selves, scheduled for last night (Fri- day.) Invitations had already been distributed, elaborate toilets had all ready been provided at some expense for the sweet girl' graduates, and disappointment became indignation on the ground that insult had been added to injury and that a crying injustice had been perpetrated
 It was claimed by the members of the graduating class that algebra was not part of the curriculum of the last term of senior year; that the entire class had satisfactorily passed in the subject at a previous final examina- ton; that the principal of the school, bearing in mind the fact that some of the boys contemplated trying college entrance examinations, while some of the girls were to enter other schools in the autumn, decided to occupy an thrilled daily recitation period with a review in algebra; that the pupils were unequivocally given to understand that the review" was optional and would not be marked; that daily marks were not given on the subject, and that without warning an optional sstest'' in algebra was formally mark ed and included in the computations of scholarship standing laid before the board. Of the entire class but three reached the required standard in al- zebra, although everyone of them had passed in every other subject.
 The board held a meeting on Tues day night, classday night, to determine to whom diplomas should be granted. While the happy seniors were enter taining their friends in the town hall the board in q room below voted to withhold the diplomas until the fall term. As soon as the action became known, pupils. parents and friends in- dulged i'll vehement criticism Com mittees of all kinds waited on mem- bers of the board in protest; private house and the street corners rang with discussion;l sides were rapidly taken and yesterday the tempest reached it's height. Accordingly. tie board went into executive session at s o'clock last night. The school officials and teach CTS were summoned. A committee of the .aggrieved class was on hand; ex- amnaton papers were looked over: and for eight long hours the board discuss ed the situation until at o'clock this morning a decision was reached. when 1t was voted to award diplomas to each member of the class on the ground that their term work had been satisfactory and the aigebraic difficulty had resulted from misunderstanding