Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1903-08-04
OF INTEREST TO SCHOOLS.
Board Discusses Old Home Week and
Bucks Hill school


There is at least one man of promi-
hence In this city who is opposed to q
celebration of the semi-centennial an
niversary of the city's incorporation or
to an, old home week celebration. He
is Charles s. Chapman Of Highland
mark. a commissioner Of the board OF
education. Commissioner Chapman
expressed himself as being opposed to
the celebration when the matter was
brought up for discussion by Vice
Chairman Kent at a meeting of the
board of education last night. He said
In part:
''I don't favor the idea at all. don't
think the city is in proper shape to
have it, but If it is decided to hold the
celebration, we ought to do our share
to make it success. It is becoming
quite a fad to have these old home
celebrations In the east just the same
as they have street fairs in the west.
It means more for the merchants than
any one else. I don't think the time is
Just right to have it, but will not OBJ
ject."
Commissioner Chapman is the first
man of any prominence who has ex-
pressed himself publicly as not favor
Ing the proposed celebration.
Commissioner Carmody kept silent
on the matter, while Commissioners
Kent and Chase were heartily In favor
Of it. Commissioner Chase said that
It was a good plan and would benefit
the city much. Commissioner Kent
thought that it would be very pleasing
to the school children to take part In
parade. He also said that be had
been Informed that the celebration
would not be In the nature of an old
home week, but would be celebration
Of the semi-centennial anniversary OF
the city's Incorporation and would
probably last not more than two days.
Ali the commissioners were agreed
that IL a celebration was decided upon
the board OF education would do it's
share.
Messrs Miller, Wright, williams and
Foster, members OF the Bucks Hill
school district, were present at the
meeting to see what could be done in
regard to having new school built In
that section. Several meetings ago
the board Of education voted to furnish
two school teachers to the above dis
trict provided a new two-room school
building was erected. That was the
beginning of the trouble. AS Mr.
Wright said: 'HThe majority of the
residents of the Bucks Hill district
want new school, but the minority
has succeeded so far in blocking the
movement. A two-thirds vote is re-
Quired and 1t is hard to muster that
number. Eight of us will vote for
something and six will vote against it
and thus the majority lose owing to
the rule about a two-thirds vote. The
opposition consists mostly OF Mr. Tyler
Mr. Storey, who's crazy, Mr. Bunnell,
who has no children, and Mr. Hotch-
kiss. A committee on sight has been
appointed by the meeting but we arc
tempered on all sides. The opposition
has persuaded the owners OF lots, suit
able for site, to boost the prices be-
yond any reasonable amount. What I
want to know is, has this board the
right to have new school erected In
that district and charge 1t to the dis
trict? IL 1t has I wish it would go
ahead and do 1t. If this board hasn't
has the state boaPd?"
Commissioners Kent said that the
present school building was the worst
in the city and was a blight on the
school system of Waterbury. He
couldn't understand the attitude of the
Bucks ELL residents In regard to the
matter. Commissioners Chapman
thought that It was a matter for the
state board and the city attorney and
in his motion It wah voted to instruct
the clerk of the board to correspond
with the state board OF education to as
certain If similar case has been
brought to the notice of the board and
what was done in regard to it. and
also ii ask the city attorneys opinion
on the matter.
Charles e. Miller of the Bucks Hill
school district wanted to know If the
board was willing to stand by its vote
10 furnish two teachers. He said that
probably 30 or 85 pupils would attend
the school and this number could be In
creased to 90 provided the children In
two Italian settlements near Mrs
PearsalPs and behind Lakewood would
attend. The board said that they had
no intention of resembling the vote.
A communication was received from
Mr. Schovaneck OF Cleveland, o.. ask
Ing for the appointment of instructor
or Writing In the public schools.
school Inspector Smith said the
Muulcahy school would not be finished
before October.
HE vote passed at previous meet
ing granting Miss Jennie o'Neill. prin-
cipal OF the Lincoln school, leave OF alb
sence In order that she may attend the
normal school at North Adams, was re-
famed. Miss DWELL will stiu be prin-
cipaI OF the school while she Is pursuing
the course OF study at the normal
school and VIII receive her regular sal
ary. She will be In Waterbury for two
ana one7half days every week during
the school term.
The monthly bills and payrolls were
approved.