Putnam patriot., 1916-10-06

Grade 42
 Grade 7 46
 Grade 55
 Kindergarten 40 -S337 smith Street School
 Grades 6 and B
 Grades and S7
 Grades l, , and 3S --9S Sawyer District
 Intermediate room 8
 Primary room 42 -75 East Putnam 21 Putnam Heights F Gary District r
 IA The figures for the corresponding pe- riod of 1915 were s772, with high school enrolment of 1S7. The drop in high school registration this year is more than offset by the gains in the grades.
 Your attention is called to a copdi- ton that calls for remedial action by the board.
 In Grade 1 at the Israel Putnam school there are registered and attend ing, 55 pupils. In Grade there are pupils who belong in Grade 1 for whom no seating arrangements can be made because of lack of room, and in the Kindergarten there are more pu- pills who cannot be provided with seats in Grade room. In other words there are scattered in three rooms in the building because no one room can accommodate them, 65 pupils of Grade l. There is no room in the building large enough for this number and no one teacher can handle so many sue cessfully even with the help of an as. sistant every afternoon.
 At present, Miss McGarry of the Kindergarten is taking all Ithe pupils of single division in Grade each af ternoon. Even with this arrangement, the best we can make as things are at present arranged the work of the grade cannot be done. My recommendation is that second First Grade room be opened in the building.
 On the second floor of the Israel Put nam building there is spare room, well furnished and ready for occu- pancy. Provision for another first grade room can easily be made by end of the lower corridor to the spare room on the second floor; Grade 2 could be moved from their room at the north end of the lower corridor to the south end room that has been used by Grade 8; Grade could be transferred across the hall and what is now the first grade room would be available as an extra room. Such a transfer would require no transfer or removal of furni- ture. This would provide adequate seatings for all pupils with no trouble. This matter should receive attention at the October meeting that this congest- ed condition may be relieved.
 Frequent inquiries come In now about the date of opening the Eve hing Schools. Action needs to be taken at once to permit our beginning work by the middle or last of October.
 Some time since the superintendent was authorized to take up the matter of change of arithmetical texts with the teachers that report might be made to the board as soon as possible. This has been done. The teachers have had chance to examine carefully, with view to use, several of the modern ar- ithmetical texts, and their preference as shown by thHir vote is clearly indi- eated by the following report of their vote. Fourteen teachers voted on this matter; 12 voted in favor of the Hamil- ton arithmetic, ? the Nichols arith- metic, and for the Stone Mills arith- metic. Where the Hamilton is so gen. orally first choice with the teachers, 1 recommend that the board vote the formal adoption of the Hamilton Aithmetics published by the Amen- can Book Co
 The new teachers have taken up their school work with enthusiasm and 1 am pleased to be able to report fayorsbly on them and their organlza- tion work and class work. l believe that we have been fortunate in our se- lection of teachers.
 During the month just passed l have been almost ali the time in the differ. ent school rooms, helping in the work of organization, observing class work in conferences with teachers, and dis cussing work plans. As a resulti Of what have seen, anticipate great CT degree of helpful cooperation De- tween the office and the schools, and the schools and the homes than ever before. I have no fault to find with any of the teachers under my jurisdic- tion, at this time. The pleasant rela- tions now established ought to prove helpful to the schools and to all em- ployed in them.
 Respectfully submitted,
 Harold w. Files,
 SuDerinfendent of S4dOOla.