Putnam patriot., 1914-12-18
SUPERINTENDENT'S
 REPORT
New Pupils Admitted. One Session Rec
 commended
Israel Putnam School Needs Artificial
 Light

average membership for November, e47, k four less than Was reported for October. The average atiendanee is ell. 4 decrease of six Tom October is figures. 547 1z days absence Of fpa- pils are reported, z99 less than for Iast month The number Of eases Of tafdi- ness is decreased from Il0 to s5. se9 pupils have been perfect in attendance. The present school mem bership Is eaI
 The smith Street school. which was closed through the illness with dipb theha Of one Of the teachers, WIS re- opened November 1B. The entire building had been thoroughly fumi- gated in the meantime. l am pleased 10 report that there have been no fur- ther cases of diphiheria in this build ing.
 Arrangements were perfected for manual training work for the boys of the upper grammar grades at lhe Stale Trade School so that classes were staft. cd there November l6. These classes
 
 and eighth grade schools in the city, each boy having an hour and three. quarter period each week for this work, Much interest lis manifested by the majority Of the boys, although few have been excused, on their request or that Of their parents, as the classes are held in the wood working department of the school, where the pupils come in contact with running machinery.
 During the past month the gymns sium apparatus donated to the High school by MT. Olmsted, master of the Pomfret School, through Rev. MT. Hartman, has been brought to cur building. 1t includes a considerable amount of very sefviceable material, equipment. Some expense will be necessary to attach the ropes swing. ing rings and ladders to the gymnasi um ceiling, which, l trust, the proper committee will authorize.
 have reported to most Of you indi vidually that the israel Putnam school was entered during the night of Nov. 23, and the High school during the Thanksgiving recess Thefts were committed In each case. The matter was reported to the police department and such evidence as was available was placed in their hands
 meeting for all teachers below the High school grades was held Nov. 20. At this meeting were discussed several matters of general interest in eonnee- ton with the work of the schools, in. cluding methods Of discipline and the course Of study.
 The short days of this season of the year have brought to my attention the lack of suitable artificial lighting in the majority Of our schools. The High school is the only building which seems adequately equipped. l am surprised to find that, in modern and well.furnished school like the Israel Putnam, no arrangement has ben made for artificial lights in the school rooms. Such lighting is essential for nil school rooms. IL Is needed during The sessions on short, dark days to les. sen the strain upon the eyes of the pu nils. The discipline of the school and The proper progress of many pupils makes certain amount of after school work imperative. The teachers, too, need 10 devote some after school time in their rooms in preparation for the work of the next day. l feel 1t Is i'm. portant that you give this matter care ful consideration. During the past two or three weeks, with my sanction, The length of the mid-session recesses al the Israel Putnam school has been reduced and the schools closed fifteen to twenty minutes earlier than the usual closing time. l trust that this arrangement has your approval, that il may be extended 10 other schools fl necessary, and continued in force dur ing the winter months until such time as the rooms may De equipped with artificial lighting.
 An effort to establish satisfactory hours for the High school has demand. ed considerable attention upon the part of the school officials since the opening of .lhe fall term in September. The present arrangement is a result of the demands of the new Cooperative course. The pupils who elected this course must devote their entire after noon 10 work al the Trade School \ six-period session is necessary al tht High school in the forenoon 10 enable them to cover their required scademi' work. After careful consideration O the matter in all its phases, you adopt ed the present plan of lsng forenoon session of l.2 hours followed by short afternoon session of 45 minutes as the only feasible two session ar rangement which would meet the Te quirements of the tnew course. Thi arrangement was not pleasing to you and. after three months .trial, hs not proven satisfactory 10 the grea majority of the parents and pupils, t' The teachers or to me. The short noof hour does ot give sufficient time io pupils who live al some distance iron school 10 20 home for lunch without
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