The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-05-22

ing in the town hall last night, voic- ed any number of protests against the present school conditions in their
 town and passed. several resolutions
 which they hope will result in reme- dying the situation. These resolutions l have no definite purpose other than to bring before the selectmen and the
 Board of Education of the town, the sentiments of the people, expressed in conclusive form and indicating plainly the great amount of dissatisfaction. One resolution requests the selectmen to call special town meeting not later than June 15 to- consider the ap- prOpriating of more money for teach CTS salaries, and for needed improve ments in the buildings and their equipment Other matters may be brought up. hss
 | This resolution was. characterized by George D. Hill of Bridgeport, who pre- scented it in behalf oft dozen or more men Of Trumbul1 who have been sac- tive in the recent investigation and agitation, as s.the snapper on the. end of the whip.-s It was expected that there wouldS be some opposition, to- tie resolution but, like all others, F it was passed without a dissenting gsvote
 There were about 100 present, includ- ing some women, who have started their intention registering to vote at the special. town meeting.
 |ys 70. B. Burton. town clerk, called the meeting to order at S:20 and an- |.nounced that the first business should Ebe the election of a chairman. Rev. l.. E. Sheffield was noimnated and
 unanimously elected He spoke about the responsibility of being chairman and told what the meeting was for. |s"This is mass meeting of the citi- zens of Trumbull for the purpose of
 considering the conditions of the schools of the town and the advisa-
 bility of petitioning for special town
 meeting to take the matter up," said the chairman.
 1T would suggest a full and free dis
 cussion of the subject which is one
 near to our hearts. It is a subject
 of importance and we should deal
 with it wisely. To do that we need
 we want to arrive at conclusion
 that will be for the best interests of
 the town.''
 5 MT, Burton was elected clerk of the
 meeting. [.
 The Chairman said that Attorney G.
 E. Hill of Bridgeport, was present to
 represent several gentlemen who have
 taken an active interest in the agita- ltion over the school question: and MT.
 Hin was given the first opportunity
 to speak.
 \. Mr. Hill said that the purpose of the chairman in calling on him was
 to place before the, meeting the posi- .tion taken by those gentlemen whom
 he represented. There were a dozen Or 20 who have interested themselves in the Investigations of the school system. It was considered best to
 have one speak for them all. s 'The gentlemen don't come hero with any spirit of antagonism but their sole purpose is to do what they can for the betterment of the schools conditions. They have spent consid- erable money in the investigation they the situation with these gentlemen and the whole trouble with the sys- tenn seems to resolve into the fact that an economy is being exercised that is not altogether wise." The speaker said that not sufficient money sthe town. This is emphasized by the last report of the Board of Education. On page "A there is a table which shows the amount per child paid for education in the state. 'There are 168l towns and cities in the state, includ- 157th down the list, making only il towns that spend as little or less than this town does. Tfumbu1l spends $1367 per year for each child. This really does not represent the exact amount expended. The amount is less than that for transportation and cost for having children educated in outside schools MT. Hill gave comparisons of other towns
 "There is the whole keynote of the situation" continued MT. Hill. You need better schools but you must pay for them. The question is how far do you want to go and that is for the town as a whole to say. The gentle men I represent are willing to go as far as anyone. It is important that these matters be discussed in "a sfriend- 1y spirit and all questions of person. a1ity should be eliminated.'
 MT. Hill said that he had prepared some resolutions which he hoped would be freely discussed and acted upon M. B. Curtis presented the first one which reviewed the action of the mass meeting of March 8, asking the curriculum in the schools so as to conform with that of Bridgeport schools and also a change in the su- pervisor of the schools. The board has voted in favor of the first change and has already made the second and it was resolved that the action of the board be approved and commended. 1t was further resolved that the board take necessary steps to carry, into full effect not later than the com mencement of the fall term, the vote passed to change the curriculum.
 The resolution was debated for some time. A point was raised as to whether it was proper to designate the Board, of Education as such or asl the school board. MT. Hill explainedI that he considered. it proper to .desig- nate it as the Board of Education, now that the schools were under state supervision.
 Lester Shelton inquired as to wheth- CT the course of studies in the Trum- bull schools was the same as in use in Bridgeport Robert c. Deming. the new supervisor of schools, took the opportunity to speak. He said that from his recent investigation he had found that for the most part in the upper grades of the schools the curri- culum was the same as used in Bridgeport, while that in the lower grades was what the state course pro- vided. C. P. Christy made the i1- quiry as to just what the state course is and if there is any book to show what it is. MT. Deming said that he had visited each school three times and made particular investigation of the curriculum. He stated that he was certain that the upper grades fol- lowed the course of study used in Bridgeport and the lower grades with out any exception followed the course prescribed by the state.
 MT. Christy said that he had visited the schools and attempted to find out something about the curriculum. He'l aaid that at the Chestnut Hill school