Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22
The First Evening School

As early as 1856 there is mention made of an even- ing school in Waterbury. It under the manage ment of the principal of the High school C. F. Dowd, and $1 fee was charged, which, however, went toward purchase of library for the High school.
 It was evidently crude institution, however, ye1 in 1876, the district committee voted to open two more evening schools. A year later an elaborate plan was devised by the committee by which five or six more schools were opened for night study At this time the average attendance was seventy-two though the registration was 23s.
 In 1886 there night schools ill opera tion yet progress extremely doubtful and re suits dscouraging The committed however, did not despair For three years it hoped and hoped and then found it necessary to express ltsel on the matter to the public. statement was ls- sued to the effect that the success of the schools was so small that it is doubtful if it is advisable to continue the schools" The teachers were the best everything done to make the schools successful registration at the opening very large, but the attendance very small in comparison, and steadily growing smaller "We have become fully satisfied said the committee in that statement, ''that free evening schools are appreciated only by very few large class they intended to benefit" The schools were then closed for time.
 evening department of the schools to-day is in Hourishing state It's progress can be seen in the following excerpts from the reports of the board of education. Tn 1897 the board reported:
 NIGHT SCHOOLS.
 The members of the present board have for some time been hoping and planning for reform ip the methods of night school organization The plan of having four five scattered schools pursuing de sultory and ungraded work with attendance de- creasing from the beginning to the end of the year. has eminenty unsatisfactory ill results obtain ed, however satisfactory it may have been to the anitors and teachers who thereby added to their 1n
 
 Superintendent Tinker seconded views this year with enthusiasm, based on successful eXperl- ence along that line in his former held and cen tral graded school has been opened in the Crosby building thereby aboishng four small ana weak schools The results thus far justify the departure and seem to assure permanency of the arrangement
 In 1898 it stated: .E
 A year ago the experiment. made of consolidat- ing several small scattered night schools into one central graded school and the attending tnls change was great that this year the remaining outlying school, that at Bank street. has been aboi ished and the attendance upon the central school is now greater than it formerly was in the aggregate of all the schools A high school department ana courses in mechanical and free-hand drawing nave been added and largely responsible for the m creased attendance and interest We consider we have been markedly successful in improving the ef- fciency of the night school simultaneously making decided saving in its expense
 Last year Superintendent Tinker reported as foi- lows:
 This school has made steady progress along con servative lines.
 It's growth in numbers and in quality of results have been highly gratifying. No doubt it would have been possible by addition of certain so-called popular features to the curriculum to have had even larger numbers, but such course of action has not been deemed wise. The effort has been to provide instruction that would specially be helpful to those who have been able to complete their education in the day schools and for this reason new depart have been disregarded. Two new rooms were opened in October 1900 and this fall special depart ments for Swedes and Italians each under compe- tent instructors. have been opened
 In doing this the legitimate sphere of the schools activity has been greatly enlarged The entire Crosby school is used for the evening classes, Great credit is due to those who attend this school
 Much frmness of purpose and self sacrifice is quired the part of the pupils who, tired with the days toil with but short time between the working hours and the opening of the school session. under the disadvantage of irregular attendance, due to night work in the factories, endeavoring to bet ter their condition by improving their minds The work in drawing is proving very helpful the young mechanics who attend. Some have been able to secure positions draughtsmen many have made such improvement in the ability to understand and to work from drawings that they have been ad-, vanced in wages.
 This year the attendance is larger than any pre- ceding year The demands upon it have become too many for the capacity of the Crosby school and class occupies a room in the High school building A new study has been added each year for the past few years Chemistry included this year. And yet successful! this department has heen it is no more so than the day department. The public school system es the city of Waterbury to-day is the admiration of many of It's sister cities