The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-12
COMMISSIONERS AND SLAWS0N THRESH OUT DIFFERENCES AT
 MEETING OF EDUCATION BOARD
Slawson Carries His Point That No Outsiders Be Admitted
 to Enrolment in Normal School -Sawson Also Vindi-
 cates His Assistant Whose Purchases Had Been Questioned.

The meeting of the board of edu- cation last evening was marked by differences of opinion between Sam uel J. Slawson, superintendent of schools and the members of the board. The first occurred over the question of barring all but Bridge port pupils from the new Normal school which is to be established in Shelton school.
 Commissioners Hurley and Bell said they did not think it fair to those who had made preparations to enter the school to find they would be denied admission at this time. Six who do not live in Bridgeport have made ap- plication to be allowed to take up studies when the schools open this month. Both Commissioners Hurley and Bell said it had been the custom to admit those who did not reside here and they felt the policy should not be changed.
 s Supt. 'Slawson said the admission of pupils from out of town made the problem of selecting teachers more perplexing. Commissioner Bell sug- gested that it would be a good thing to select teachers according to their ability.
 Supt. Slawson replied that teachers had to be selected according to their fitness for certain work and that some were fitted for certain work only, al- though their averages and ratings were the highest Commissioner Bells suggestion that outside pupils be charged tuition was not considered and the board finally voted in favor of Supt. Slawson's suggestion that no outside students be admitted to the training school here.
 The second difference between the superintendent and members of the board came when Commissioner Chal- lenStr questioned the right of prin- cjpals of schools to incur bills in connection with their schools without the consent or knowledge of members of committees of the board selected for the purpose. Commissioner Chal- 1enger cited the action of Frederick O. Smith, recently appointed assistant superintendent of schools and prin- cipal of the pre-vocational school, in having a number of gas cocks chang ed in the old high school Commits sioner Challenger. chairhaan of the committee on schools said MT. Smith had no right to contract the bills without permission of the commit tee.
 Supt. Slawson supported the action of his assistant. saying that MT. Smith had been within his right and then MT Snith was called into the meet ing and presented an order signed by Commissioners Webster, Bell and G a,1p xuo hn h. a de the purchase.
 The schools will reopen on Tues day, September 26. Supt. Slatson there will be 182 school days as against 1S3 days last year. The East CT vacation has been cut, giving Thursday and Friday only. instead of the full week as formerly. The June 29 next. The teachers will re- ceive two weeks pay when they re- port for duty on September 26.
 The letter of Dr. Abraham Sophian. the medical expert called here to com bat the infantile paralysis plague. was received. His recommendation that the public schools be kept closed un- til that date already had been adopt ed.
 supt. slawson Reported that pupils at Hall school near Remington City and Garfield school in Stillman street would go on half time as there Is not room for all to have the regular daily sessions of two periods.
 Douglas brothers were permitted to amend their bid of S1,469 for the painting on the Junior High school to S1,S0O. although Commissioners Bell and Goddard opposed the measure. The next lowest bidder was George Douglas, who bid $2,45S. Architect