Connecticut western news., 1907-11-07
THE SCHOOL MEETING
WAS ADJOURNED TO IAN. 4, 1908

Majority of Canaanites Seem to Favor
 Four-Room Addition Committee
 Will Have Definite Information and
 Plans at Next Meeting.
 The special town meeting to consider the question of providing increased school facilities in Canaan was held ln Town Hall Saturday afternoon and was attended by about 40 persons. ...
 J. B. Reed was chosen moderator.
 Rev. E. 0. Gillette was the only mem Der of the school board present and he presented for the consideration of those present., various plans for additions to the present school building by E. R. Lorraine MT. Gillette stated that the attendance is rapidly increasing, that there is imperative need of larger quarters and that there are many things radically wrong in the present building that should at once be corrected. lie exhibited plan of two-room addition to cost S22OO and one to cost $31O0, in cluding basement rooms to be used as playrooms but aside from the cost of heating, plumbing and ventllatlng. Another plan for a four-room addition called for an expenditure of $56O0. Another plan was made for four room addition to the present building with a view of its being the unit of a larger building in future years and with rooms 23 30 feet. The cost for such an addition is estimated at $S3oo. It was further suggested that four-room brick addition be considered at cost of $96Oo aside from heating and plumbing. This was also planned so that it would form a unit of larger brick building later.
 In brief, the plans provided for ad- ditions as above mentioned and 1t was not found feasible to erect two-room addition for enlargement later. The subsequent enlargement plan applies only to four rooms
 MT. Gillette said, in speaking of the increase in attendance that the law says all children shall attend school un- til they are IA years and if they have not made the required progress they can be made to attend until they are Is years old If this law was rigidly en- forced, as it should be, the demand on school facilities would be still greater He said the nonresident attendance is not disturbing factor as only one such pupil is student in 8 crowded room- The others are distributed throughout the building.
 The sentiment of the meeting seemed to be that it would be an unwise move to erect a two room addition. On this subject R. D. Peirce said: "It seems to me to be unwise to invest $4000 in two room addition. if this same condition is to be staring us in the face in a year or two.'
 J. B. Reed suggested that to get the matter formally before the meeting, someone move that two-room addition be built.
 R. D. Peirce: "Why not make it four rooms?'
 D. l.. Peirce: "I was one of the build ing committee when the present build ing was erected. We took 8 good deal of pains to get what we thought was a good plan but it IS out of date now. We dld not have such buildings then as we have now. In this building there is no proper ventilation, there are no sanitary arrangements that are up to date. We cannot afford to have poor school. We must take care of our school or the future of our town is not going to amount to much. We must take care of the child ren. They want good facilities in every way The fact has been mentioned that the number of Italians in the school is increasing. That is so and in some of the Italian families are found good citi- nens They pay their debts. They are interested in their children and want to educate them. In proof of this I saw something last winter that touched me in tender spot. One of these Italians brought his crippled boy to school on his back every morning and came for him at night. Don't that show an interest in education and had we not ought to en- courage things of that kind? Let us help them. Suppose we do have to dip down into our pockets some. We had better build something good. would build brick building and there is room enough on the present lot to build all that is necessary. We can get along for a while with comfortable addition something that can be built onto here- after. Do let us have interest enough in the children of this village to give them all the school facilities they need. There is hardly anyone in town but has better ventilated rooms than in the school building, The children should have just as good rooms as we have. We ,,,o,15 ebou iptaroct apouuh in ba