Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-12-11
THE HALF SESSION PLAN
MT Tinker Gets Opinion From Those Who Have Had Experienced

Who Have Had Experience.
 In view of the fact that some citi- zens are saying that the half-session arrangement at the Crosby school is an excellent plan and worthy of being continued indefinitely and perhaps ex- tended to other sections of the city, the following letter is very instructive:
 Department of Education. / The City of New York. Office of the City Superintendent of
 Schools, Park Avenue, corner Fifty
 Ninth Street. Borough of Manhattan,
 December 9, 1908. IT,. MT B. W. Tinker, Superintendent of
 Schools. Waterbury, Conn.
 My Dear MT Tinker-Your letter of inquiry in reference to the practical workings of halliday sessions in some Of our schools is at hand. In answer will say. it is true that owing to the very rapid increase of school popula- 'tion in this city, 30,O00 or 35,000 addi- tional sfttings are required each year; and because of the long delays often entailed in securing suitable building lots by condemnation proceedings, de lays in erecting buildings, etc, it has been next to impossible to secure am- pie school accommodate in some sections Of our city.
 There are at present nearly 9O.0QO children in this city attending school only one session. These children, however, are almost entirely found in the first and second years of school work, so that the loss is not so vital as it would be later in the school course.
 4% %Ta --to @a very emphatically that it is the prac- tically unanimous opinion of the mem bers of the board of education, the su- perintendents, the principals and teachers, as well as parents, that all children ought to attend school for two sessions each day. We all regret the necessity of being obliged to ask 3 single pupil to be placed on half time We are making strenuous efforts to provide every pupil with a seat for 8 full-day session, and 1t is our earnest hope that we may realize this in the near future. The board of education is calling for the necessary apprepriat ations, and the board of estimate and apportonmen1 are making very liberal provisions tt this end
 In spite of the fact that when we have part day sessions, we have two teachers. one for the morning, and one for the afternoon session, the teachers are unanimous in the opinion that 1t if impossible to do in half day Wha can be done in whole day.
 TYhe halliday session necess1tates great pressure upon pupils as we'll ai upon the teachers, pressure that ii greatly relieved when the children car attend school both morning and after noon sessions.
 Very truly yours,
 ANDREW w. EDISON, Associate City Superintendent
 The present arrang gement is the bes possible under the circumstances, bu cannot be continued long without in jury to pupils. It is question wheth CT the smaller pupils can stand, in tht warmer months, the four hours of con tinuous session, and if it will not have to be shortened
 Even if an appropriation for a new building were made at once 1t would be at.Ieast a full year before the schoo would be ready for use. The few rooms vacant at present will be needed to accommodate the natural Increase next fall in their respective district: in which they are located.