Norwich bulletin., 1914-10-06
REPORT ON VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
School Committee Finds Them nadvisable Now For Norwich -Gves Facts and Figures From Experiences of Other Cities-Suggests Continuation Course and Some Pre- vocational Training.

tuition. At present careful vocational guidance, part-time and cooperative schools and evening classes are the most effective and economically em- cient agents for vocational education Costs of Maintenance.
 In Yonkers. \. T.. the cost of main taining the regular high school for the year 1912 was ss6,s1194. The trade agement cost s2s.2S2.64. The high school has an enrolment of 49 regu- lar trade school pupils. The total cost per capita for the high schools was SI4.32. The exact cost per capita for the trade school could not be ascer- tained, but it was estimated between s40t and $500. The school has large attendance in the evening and con mutation courses, but only small number Of regular trade school pupils. In New Britain the cost of the trade schools was nine cents per student hour where tho product was sold, fourteen cents per student hour where the product was not sold. This amounts to $216 per year per student where the product is sold and $336 per year per student where the product is not Sold. A town of this size could not run a trade school at as low cost per pupil as could be done in a large city be- cause the attendance would be small CT and smaller necessarily because this town could use annually an output of only a few carpenters, plumbers, ma chinists, draftsmen, etc.
 Recommendations.
 In view of the above facts and af- | ter making a study of the different kinds of vocational educations as ap- piled to our town we are not ready to recommend the establishment of a | trade school here.
 The Manual Training school in New London, which might be called a tech nical high school was mentioned in | the able report presented at the town meeting last year as having an enroll | ment of 300 pupils and maintenance cost of sl5,0o0 annually. This school | course in the Norwich Academy by | giving less of the academic work and more of the manual arts. The Acad- eny already offers vocational and in- dustrial courses in printing, woodwork I and cabinet making, metal work, pot tery, typewriting, stenography and | bookkeeping.
 | Under present conditions in Norwich the school committee does not consider | it wise for the town to start such a technical school as above, which would
 in part duplicate the work already being done.
 | PrevooationaI Work.
 During the past year, after seeing what is being done in other places
 and after much deliberation, the town
 school committee under its general au- l thority decided to establish in the | grammar. grades some prevocationa, | work. This work is distinct and sep.
 arate from what was intended under | the vote referring this trade sohoo matter to this committee and yet fol your information we can say that dur 1 ing this year the boys in the seventh and eighth grades will have the oppor tunity of taking a manual arts course
 in woodwork, with applied nechanica l drawing and industrial arithmetic, anC | the girls household arts course, cook. l ing, sewing and housekeeping.g For the pupils who by necessity ol | otherwise leave our schools betweeI
 the ages of fourteen and eighteen 2 continuation school course might bt | established. Such a source would em
 body practical English with writer l forms and exercises, business ant
 arithmetic, applied to home, store ant office; merchandising and office prac
 tice, with clements of successful ser l vice. a household arts course.
 These continuation schools may bt
 evening or day. may include course | of study as embracing as that of the preparatory trade school or it may bt limited simply to a library instruction
 Since there is no law i'll this statt
 
 between the ages of fourteen and eigh. teen who have completed the work il the grammar grades, the success of {
 continuation school would depend upo1
 the cooperation of the employers O. all boys and girls who wish to tak'
 such a course. In most places wher' the continuation course is established
 there is an agreement form betwee1
 the employer and the school authori ties which allows the pupil to attend continuation classes from two to fou,
 hours on full pay each week. Whef'
 these continuation classes have beer established they have proven to b' profitable to the employer as well al to the pupil.
 If the town wishes to start anything for the boy or girl over fourteen wht does not enter the Academy this com
 mittee believes that the continuation course is the right start. $2,0O0 woult probably cover the necessary expenses
 for a year and a portion of this would
 be cared for by the state provided thu
 courses were approved by the stat