The Newtown bee., 1906-11-09
TOWN TOPICS.
 SPLENDID ENDORSEMENT OF THE HIGH sCHOOL.-HIGH PRAISE FOR MIR JEWELL.-SCHOOL APPROVED BY STATE EXAMINER.

New Haven, Conn, October 12, 1906. MT c. D. Hine,
 Sec'y State Board of Education,
 Hartford, Conn.
 My Dear MT Hine,-FollowinR is the town High school made October 6. I. The School. The Newtown High school is the successor of the school maintained, until four or five years ago, by the old Academy Associ- atton. After the discontinuance Of the latter school, the building was rented to the town and a town High school established. The first year there were few pupils and but one teacher; the second year there were two teachers, and now there are three teachers and about 80 pupils Last summer the building was purchased by the town. In organizing the school, in securing the cooperation of various clements Tn the town, and in esta ablish!ng the school upon firm footing, the principal manifestly was an important factor and has managed affairs with much patience, tact and discretion.
 IT. The Building is a wooden struc- ture fairly we'll adapted to school pur- poses. On the first floor are two rooms, viz: 8 large assembly and study room and smaller recitation room; on the second floor there are three rooms, viz two recitation or school rooms and a room now used as girls gymnasium or play room. Of the two school rooms on the second floor, one is occupied by a private school having no official con- nection with the High school but pre- parinR pupils for if. The building is in fair condition, is we'll lighted and is heated by stoves. The ventilation is not good; blackboards, fair.
 III. Scholarship. The scholarship seemed fairly good. The pupils show ed interest in their work and probably had their lessons. Their presentation of their work however, was poor. In their recitations they spoke indistinct- ly and incoherently and I could rarely understand what was said. It seemed to me that the pupils should be train ed to speak more connectedly, more independently and with more conf dence. The spirit of the school was excellent; pupils were usually busy about their work and there was no in- tention by anybody to do disturb or annoy others; there was no meanneSs nor slyness. The teachers, when they spoke, were promptly obeyed. In the general discipline of the school, great freedom was allowed the pupils than seems to me wise. There was not an air of neatness and good house. keeping about the school.
 W. Range of Instruction. The 1n- struction was on a high school plan and was generally clear and definite, showing intelligence and preparation on the part of the teachers. Of the three teachers, the principal is a grad uate of Syracuse, and has done grad uate work at U. F., and has nearly completed his work for Ph D. at Yale. The first assistant spent two years at Syracuse and has taught several years. The second assistant is graduate of | Vassar and has had slight experience has 8 regular four years course O1 study with a sub-freshman year for preparation for the High school prop CT. The course consists of the usual high school studies, e. g., History, English, Latin, Modern languages
 Mathematical, Physics and Chemistry
 Bookkeeping, Geology, Botany, Physi. ology, Physical geography and Astron. omy. These studies are all pursued long enough to leave no doubt that
 the school has regular high schOO course.
 VI. Equipment. The equipment y
 erence library of 25O vols., a few maps
 and charts, and limited apparatus fo
 work in physics and chemistry. Owe lone hundred dollars has recently beel lspent on the latter and another simi lar expenditure will soon be made
 The school has no regular laboratory
 but a sink, tables, and cases are nov
 being constructed in the recitation
 room on the second floor and regula
 experiment work will soon be done. 1 VII. Recommendations. recon
 mend that the school be approved.
 believe that the school is doing homes work, although improvement can b'
 made in the directions indicated. was much impressed with the earnest
 ness of the principal and with his in l telligent interest in the welfare of tn school. He has made it's cause hi
 own and seems to have labored wit
 great devotion for it's improvement 8 The school has worked against man ' obstacles and it's prosperity lbs con
 stantly increased. Without muc doubt the work of the school will COT
 stantly improve.
 recommend that special attentio
 shall be given to science eQuipmer
 and that provision be made for flu
 laboratory courses in Physics an ]. Chemistry. Such courses are practic . and important courses in high scho
 work. If a laboratory could be mac
 from the room now called the girl playroom, should think the work
 this department would greatly prof by such step.
 t Yours truly,
 $l u Examiner.