The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-12
SCHOOL BELLS RINC; i8,0O0
 ANSWER CALL
Enrolment for 1911 Ex- ceeds that of 1910 by Fig
 ure Estimated at 500
Lack of School Facilities in Some Parts of City, But Board Finds Means to Care for Surplusage.

= " VI F Q - School days began again today.
 More than 18,000 boys and girls trudged to school after long vaca- ton, about 14,O00 going to the public schools and 4,00e to the parochial.
 The schools open with greater at- tendance than ever. before. By the end of the week it is estimated that
 many more children will be enrolled as it takes several days before the flower classes can be set agoirg. l Practically every one of the city 8 schools was filled to .overflowing and more than 300 teachers. were on hand to instruct the small army of young sters.
 The boys and girls who dragged or raced their way to school this morn ing have had several more weeks to romp in the open air and grow strong and brown than the children in Euro bean cities. The American child has about the longest summer vacation of any in the world.
 l Until actual figures are compiled the number of pupils registered can only be guessed at. The official reports of school attendance cannot be had until the latter part of the week or perhaps before next week. In the meanwhile the principals and teach CTS are arranging their classes, mak- l ing preparations to reduce part time 1 in some of the schools, and other ! time consuming operations.
 | What the increased attendance over last year is can be but conjectured. l On the first day of last year 13,377 schools and the first week, 13,71S. Tn I19O9, 12,533 registered the first day and 12,977 the first week. In 1908 I the registration the first day was Ill., I112 and the first week, 12,531. Be- tween the registratio of last year lof s44, while between that of 1908 l and 1908 is s1,421. Estimates set the | new attendance at between 400 and | 500.
 It was noticeable that of the chil- dren going to school today those who lattended the parochial schools were laccommodated while not all public Fschool children could be cared for The congestion in the public schools | is generally credited to the fact that the city authorities have not provided funds enough and the school authori- ! ties have thus not been able to erect buildings rapidly enough to keep pace with the increase in the school popu- Ilation. Because of this condition there will be scores of children in the flower grades who will be forced to attend short sessions. This is the only | way at the present time these little ones can be accommodated.
 l The most congested section seems | to be in the western part of the city A few years ago 1t was thes Easi Side
 A difficult situation confronts the authorities in the Longfellow school which is located in Bostwick avenue | s- cf of "a E11Tocr fo n ton. Last year the school was fill ed to its capacity. This year be- sides the regular increase. which is I quite heavy in that district, over 20( children were thrown on the schoo
 because of the closing of St. Stephen
 paroqhial school. Part of this con gestioR will be relieved by portable l school, but not all. Today not al | the children in the locality from which the school draws reported fol l sessions. Until all are enrolled, the
 school authorities will be in fix l The proposed new school at Poplar street and Maplewood avenue is in conditions in the Clinton avenue and l Maplewood schools There will prob
 ably not be much relief in Clinton l avenue, as the change will tend tc take children from the Longfellow l school.
 i. Expected relief in the North End was not forthcoming because the ad- ditfon to the Shelton school has not I been completed and will not be fol
 another month. When new rooms arc opened there, a portable building now I in operation will be freed and remov- l ed to the West End. The opening o1 the Sheridan school in Tesiny avenue
 took all the ehiIdHn from the Nortf l Main street school, which has beer l closed, and part from the Shelton | school, but not enough.
 There may be overcrowded condf- I tfons in other, schools of the city, but as yet they have not appeared. Un- til the end of the week the conditions will not be enown.
 The parochial schools reported big | increases, bringing their total registra-
 lions past the 4.0O0 mark. At all ths schools it was stated that there was sufficient seating capacity.
 | The High school presents another confusing condition to the school of. ficjals. This morning the old build ing was swarming with young mer
 and young ladies seeking admission The three upper classes were frs l tended to, and arrangements made fol the formation of their study and reef | tation periods. It will be another day before they are strengthened out At Il o'clock an army of 350-40t | '.FreShieS invaded the building. They were arranged in groups from tht schools from which they came, ther arranged in classes according to ths courses which they intend to pursue and then again separated into group: Il to be sent to the various Freshman
 rooms, Tomorrow morning will alst present another problem to the Higi
 school faculty, that of seating al
 academic pupils in the assembly hall
 This afternoon the Senior and Junior
 classes of the Commercial course: gathered and were assigned ! thei classes for the first semester. Late in the afternoon the Commercial
 Feshmen> will gather and also be as
 signed. It is expected that the new Iclass will not be as large as it would
 be if the children could attend thu sessions in the morning. Because O. the cramped conditions of the school the commercials are now obliged tt have their sessions in the afternoon the academic courses utilizing all tn, rooms in the morning sessions
 Norwalk-The electors of this cit, favored the Washington bridge ant | park project about 20 to 1 in the yes
 terday referendum. The state will ap