The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-26
SCHOOL HOUSES OF BRIDGEPORT
 FAR OVERT AXED
More Pupils on Half Time Session Than Ever Before
 In City History.
NEW BUILDINGS NOT
 ENOUGH FOR RELIEF
Portable Buildings and Short Periods Haven't
 Solved Problem.

More pupils are attending half time sessions of the public schools at pres ent than ever in the history of the city of Bridgeport and it is doubtful if even the recent $3oO.OOO bond issue will be sufficient to build schools enough to meet the situation.
 At a special meeting of the board of education, which will be held this evening arrangements will be made for a school in Wayne street. The committee on school houses, Elmer H. Ravens, William R. Webster, Jr., and Nathaniel w. Bishop, contemplate an eight-room building with an assembly hall. It may be that a 16-room build ing will be erected instead. Eight rooms may be added to Waltersvil1e school, four rooms and an assembly hall to Garfield school, eight rooms to the Normal school in Clinton ave- nue. four rooms and assembly hall to the Hall school in Clermont ave- nue and a new school of eight rooms at least is to be built somewhere in Myrtle avenue. The board of educa- ton has adopted uniform plans for all schools. An eight-room addition will be made to Maplewood avenue school on a site purchased directly across the street from the school house there4
 The total registration of children between 4 and 16 years of age, emu merated to October 1, 1915, shows 29.- 949. Of these 19,950~ are recorded in the public schools. Nearly 5000. were estimated in the parochial schools and there are probably more by this time it is estimated that the number of school children who have come to this city since the school census was made is about 5000. The, parochiaI schools are maintained by various parishes of the Roman Catho-  city. They do not share in the pub lie school funds.
 Seven rooms are on half time at Waltersville school, four rooms at Maplewood school, two rooms at Gar field school and two rooms at Myrtle avenue school. In all it is estimated that 600 pupils can attend half time sessions only. Although there have. been times within the last two years when the number of pupils on half time was a trif1e larger, yet there were not so many schools at that time or so many portable buildings in use.
 At present more than $50 pupils are taught in portable buildings of which three are in use at the Normal school in Clinton avenue, two at Washington school. one at Shelton. one at Lincoln one at McKinley, two at Sheridan, one. at Newfie1d, two at Wheeler, one at Myrtle avenue, one at Longfel1ow and one at Kossuth street schools
 In addition to the new high school, which was opened recently, there is the old high school now being used for the Higher grades and teaching domestic science. There are 30 grammar schools. The teaching force now numbers 5O3 in addition to Su- ,perintendent Samuel J. Slawson.
 It is estimated that another year must eIapse before the additions con temp1ated can be made and the new schools built. In theA meantime the. price of all building materials is stead iIy rising. Also the number of school children for whom educational facil- ities must be provided is increasing, due to the steady influx of working people here.
 Between April 1. 1915. and April 1, 1916. it is estimated that approximately $ESo 900 was spent for new school buildings now completed or under course of construction, but as will be seen by the figures above, even this vast sum was not sufficient to meet the needs for educational facilities. Most of the rooms that are oh half time and the portah1@ buildings in use are occupied by children who are just their education.