Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-13
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mayor Kilduff Thinks There Are Too
 Many School Holidays.


 Interesting meeting last evening. was 2. special meeting, and there were present Mayor Kilduff and Coninls- sioners Kent. Carmody, Russell, Grlgss and Chanman. The object was to draw m proposals for bids for com pleting the third story of the Nalsn school Architect Jackson, who drew up the plans for the building, stated That the work to be done consisted ol plastering. wood finishing and putting up the electric appliances, such as bells, telephones. etc. Commlsslohef Griggs thought it would compllcate matters to let the new contracts to con tractors other than those now at Work on the building, whereas 1t Woulu hasten matters if they could De so au- iusted as to give the contracts to the present contractors. In this view Architect Jackson coincided.e me school should have been finished py April 1, but on account of the blasting that was necessary in the preliminary operations of the contractors the time was extended Mir Jackson thought the present contractors would hnlsn about June l and the new work about three months later. This was a great disappointment to the board, for thls would mean the opening of the 1aIl term without the school being in their possession. MT Jackson and MT Griggs thought the present contractors would finish the whole job as soon and as good as they would finish their present contract. That would mean the hand- ing over of the building to the board about May 1, whereas to give the work to some other contractor would no fIo fNx-n nT three months. It was accordingly voted to advertise for bids to complete the work and the board will meet again on the 26th to open those bids and award the contracts.
 The question of holidays then came up. Mayor Kilduff thought there were already too many holidays, and two holidays in the month of February were altogether too many, Lincoln's and Washington's birthday anniver- saries. There were 200 school days in the year and in the opinion of the mayor the superintendent of the schools ought to utilize them. His honor liked the children to enjoy a holiday as well as anyone. but. in his opinion, there were too many of them. He thought the children could be edu- cated to respect the memories of Lin coin and Washington some other way than by hanging around the streets.
 Superintendent Tinker appeared to hold the mayors views and stated that one year went by without any unusual recognition of Lincoln's birthday Washington's anniversary falls upon Saturday this year, but evidently the board did not appear to know that dur ing the discussion.
 MT Tinker then read the following: '"To the Board of Education:
 "Gentlemen: In accordance with the vote of the board transfers have been given to pupils in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades of the district schools.
 The situation at the Town Plot school was quite involved and before granting transfers l made, during the past week, two visits to this school, in order to be able to act intelligently in the matter This school has grown rapidly and the necessity of providing room for entering classes has crowded four grades into the highest room, and has caused the division of the first grade. It will be very difficult to se- cure good results under these condi- lions. It is q recognized fact among educators that the multiplication of grades in one room, especially in the higher studies. and the consequent in- crease of classes, makes the allotment of time for each class so small that the progress of the pupil is not only very slow, but the resulting scholarship is too bookish and narrow and the power to handle knowledge and to utilize what they may have learned is seldom properly developed. Last year with similar conditions nine pupils were ad- mitte1 to the High school on trial. Ii was found that none were capable of pursuing the High school course and they were returned to the eighth grade. Five entered Bank street and after being several months in this grade the teacher in charge reports that perhaps half of these pupils will be obliged to spend two years in this grade before they can be promoted to the High school. It is not right to subject sensitive children to such Inn. imitation and loss of respect among fnelr classmates. Tn justice to the children some relief should be given It IS recommended that the grades be re-arranged as follows: Sub-primary @o' room l; one ?, and two. r. in room 7; three 20. and four, IA. in room .; i've. b. and six, 15. in room 4.
 would also recommend tbat al1 pupils qualified to enter the seventh ol eighth grades be transferred to tbf Bank street school The princinal 10 ports that the eighth grade contains but two pupils living convenient to tbt Bank street school and the seventh grade, ten pupils, but I am inclined te believe that careful graduation womb reduce this number. This arrange ment would put the school on a work ing basis and good results might h, reasonably expected Of course +b, seventh grade might be retained in tb. building. but it would be very difficul with three grades in the highest room to give all proper attention. If if i, the desire of the board. the pupils il the highest room could be examnef and their grade standing determined md that about twenty children 1iv ing in that section of the Bucks Hil district, which was in 1899 united f, the center district and separated iron 1t in 1901, are in attendance at th, Webster school The Bucks Hil school cannot accommodate these pu pills, and their homes are much neare the Webster school I would recon mend that they be allowed to atten,