The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-08-29
WESTPORT IS READY
 FOR SCHOOL OPENING
Vocational Education Branch to Be Added to High SchooI-Teachers
 Appointed For Term
tBy Our Special correspondent.)

Westport, Aug. 29.-Everything is in readiness for the opening of the local schools on next Tuesday, Super intendent Grover c. Bowman this week having completed preparations for the start of another school (semes- ter.
 In the high school a new course, vo- cational guidance, will be started. This branch has found favor in many of the large cities of the country and IS meeting with very favorable results. Westport is really abreast of the times by adopting the new method. It is a known fact that many pupils enter school with no set purpose other than to go to school, anticipating that with in the few years they will have decid- ed what shall sbe their course in life Very many graduate from school without having reached that decision and are at a loss again just what to do though they have about reached the thresho old of life. Again there are many would enter upon a high school course if they could decide up on some vocation. Not having done so they either go to work in some fac tory or take up a. business branch.
 In the high school the commercial course will be gone into stronger than ever. There has been a commercial course at the school for the past year, but this year. additional studies will be added making the, branch the equal ! of any high school commercial de- partment in the state. Miss Elizabeth Chatfeld, who has been an 1nStruc- tress at the Seymour high school has been engaged to take charge of the work.
 The teachers who have been assign ed to the high school are F. c. Bates, principal; Ruth Hall, Irving Town send, Esther Parker and Miss Chat field.
 Other appointments of teachers in town are, East Sangatuck school, Miss Alice LeDan and Miss Elizabeth Me Laugh1in; West Saugatuck school, Harriet Langenberg and Ethel Sniff en; West Long Lots, Rachel Weld; Greens Farms, Ella Holly. Bertha Hannah and Elsie Brennan; Bridge Street school, Mary Cassidy. Dorothy Adams, Merle Wilcox and Rose Coyle; Cross Highway, Maude Green and Mary McNerney; Poplar Plains. Fran ces Scharff; Staples school, 9th grade, Anna Goode, 7th grade Catherine Me Cam; 9th grade, Gown ha1O Ellen Doane Supervisor of music, Pauline Smith and supervisor of drawing, Mary K. Prince.
 It is not expected that with the op- ening of schools there will be any too great crowdfng but conditions in the East and West Saugatuck and the cross E1lgnWdy SchOOlS nave D06A SOCn in the past few years that it is sug- gested by Supt. Bowman that the fifth grade pupils in these schools be transferred to the town hall. If this is brought about what crowded con ditions did exist will be relieved.
 It is the desire of Supt. Bowman and the school committee that the town will allow them to erect a, par tition in the town hall which will make two rooms and will allow the fifth and sixth grades to be taught therein. The eighth grade class which is somewhat smaller in number could thus be removed to the Staples high school building. The removal of the two grades to the town hall and the changing of the 9th grade class to Staples high would greatly relieve what congestion is at the high school.
 The children will be given two half holidays during the first week of school. On Wednesday afternoon they will be let out of school early and will be the guests of the Westport ar lists at the 1atters exhibit at the li- brary. The artists have consented to continue their exhibit for day so that the school children could receive the benefit to be derived from the ex-= hibit. The children will be accom-, panied by their teachers On Thurs day afternoon there will be a full half holiday because of the exhibit of the Women's Town Improvement associa- ton at the town hall. This is the annual feature when the school chf1- dren exhibit vegetables grown during the summer.
 The teachers will not hold their an nual meeting till the following week, gathering Monday Aug. 8 at the town hall. By that time 1t is expected that all the classes will be working smoothly. During the summer vaca- ton the matter of the school furnish ings has not been overlooked. The trustees of the high school have 1n- stalled in the assembly hall 900 dou-| bIe seats which will replace the old long benches which have been in use for so long a time. In the com mercia1 department many new fur nishings have been added. New book keeping desks have been ordered and will be installed before the end of the first month of school.
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