Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-03
EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.
Commissioners LarKin in Favor ef
 Slant Writing. .fiiII Plain TrouhIe.


 Slant Writing. -FiiIl Plain Trouble. The most important item of business discussed by the board of education last evening was the matter of school accommodations in the Mill Plain dis trict. 1t seems that the people of that district will neither do anything to re- ueve the present unsatisfactory condi- ton of affairs there, and the board of education, though 1t has Jurisdiction over it, cannot make the people do Wnat it wants done The people aD- pear to be under the influence of Mark Warmer and John F. Gallagher accord ing to statement to the board last evening by MT Miller, and they will neither add to the school. build an- other school, paint or clean the pre- ent or do anything at all.
 There are about IA pupils in the dis trict, but the children of the opposition to the needed Improvements attend schools in the city. The standard of education Is way behind the times and the class that graduated there last year was not up to the standard required in the city schools. Tn word, the situn- ton is deplorable Last Saturday even Ing the taxpayers held a meeting, but they voted down every proposition tended to improve matters, even the suggestion to appoint committe to in- quire into the advisability of building or adding to the school. However, those who favor the proposed improve mentS have not given up hope.
 Mayor Elton was at the neIm at the meeting last evening and all hands were on deck except Commissioner Wooster. The board was informed Dy communication from the city clerk that Janitors Lonergan and Claffey of the Lincoln and Clay street schools, re- spectively, nave been appointed special constables without pay.
 Regarding the use of telephones in the schools, 8 rule was adopted which provides that only for school purposes only shall the telephones be used. That teachers and pupils shall not be called from their work to respond to telephone calls and only by permission of the principal may message be sent to 8 teacher or pupil.
 Robert E. Platt was appointed pr1n- cipal of DTiggs school and Thomas J. CondOn promoted from teacher in the High school to MT Platt's post as prin- cipal of Barnard school
 Applications for teacherships were received from Miss Bertha Corrigan and Miss auary Maloney in the grades: Miss Amelia Swift and May E. Byrne in kindergarten. Miss Elizabeth Clark, assistant principal of Porter street school, was appointed principal in place of Miss Anna Carter, resigned. Frank Scott. William Gardiner. Harold Klumo and Lillian HoIbrook filed ap- plications for appointments as teachers and Mrs Ella Schneider for telephone exchange in the schools All were filed.
 On the recommendation of the com mittee on school houses and hygiene. two fire escapes will be placed on Washington school
 Commissioner Larxin moved for the resurrection of the slant style of writ ing by providing the sixth, seventh and eighth grades with copy books in that style and also e supervisor of hand writing. His reasons for this motion, he said, were that there is supervisur of music, a supervisor Of drawing and other supervisors, and he thought there ought to be supervisor of writ ing directing the writing of pupils in the last three grades, because that is the period when the pupils character and Individuality ought to be devei- oped in it's handwriting.
 Commissioner Griggs thought the matter too important to be decided without some thought and said 1t ought to be tabled for at least two months.
 Commissioner Chapman moved to table 1t indefinitely. and everybody laughed. Commissioner PheIan sue ceeded in having it shelved flor the present.
 Commissioner Lawlor then brought up the matter of sanitation in the Croft school, a matter which has the board by the right ear for some. He said if the boards idea is carried out it will cost the city about $700, as well as being highly unsatisfactory. Commis- sioner Griggs said that two plans of ventilation had been suggested and one of them recommended, but aside from that the matter was taken from the board for the present because the con- tract for that work had been sub-let to responsible party. The subject evoked quite a discussion and it was decided to let it be disposed of by the committee on schools and hygiene.
 A resolution on the death of the late Miss Niver was read and adopted. A copy of 1t shall be presented Miss Myers relatives.
 Examination for admission to the city normal school shall take place on May 22, 24 and 25.
 The committee on graduation exer- cises shall be the same as last year. the mayor. MT Tinker, vice-president of the board and the usual officials, but the matter of making the customary speech has not been decided Usually it is made by the mayor, but Mayor Elton thinks Commissioner Phelan is better equipped in that respect and said last night that he ought to make the speech Commissioner PheIan 1aughingly and respectfully declined. but he may have to accept the "honor" yet.
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