New Britain herald., 1916-04-15
SCHOOL HALL IS A
 POSSIBLE FIRE TRAP
School Board Will Not Allow Pic
 ture Machine Installed There

mar school might not be the safest 1 place in case of fire was brought to 1 the attention of the school board yes- l terday from two sources. pr. Water 1 man Lyon, one of the medical in 1 spectors reported incidentally on the 1 matter in connection with his month 1 ly report as given by Dr. Anderson, l chairman of the health committee, and Dr. J. l.. Kelly, reporting for the l committee appointed to investigate the l question of allowing a moving picture l to be installed in the auditorium, 1 spoke of the fire risk and the possi- l bility of disaster in the event of an 1 outbreak. pr. Lyon thought the fire 1 exits not sufficient to provide for a crowded assembly. It was decided to accept the report of the Investigating committee and not permit the ma chine.
 Get Cheap Light. A report of the finance committed 1 made by MT. Pease on the lighting question brought cut the information that the sch oOls are getting electric lighting for practically less than cost That was the report made by the lighting company following a special investigation to see if any of the new optional rates would save the city
 money. Except in two instances it
 was found that the present system, could not be improved on. For motor current at the Prevocationa1 and High schools the company figured a total saving of about s2O0 a year might be affected. At present the schools are using about S21OO worth of electricity and the rate is only $19 as compared With 23.o7 paid by the factories. The proposed contracts were read and the finance board au- thorized to sign them
 Bills Paid.
 MT. Pease reported for the finance committee current bills totaling $6,e7S.13. The committee was au- thorized to pay them following the city meeting. The action of the com mittee in buying two cars of coal was ratified. Leonard Kurtz bid S21O for rem owing ashes at the schools and the committee was empowered to let the contract to him. It was voted to pay $l60 for last years work. Pay ment by the committee of S35734 was ratified. The finance committee
 
 grading at the High school and Open Air school at a cost not to exceed $500.
 Plans For New School. Chairman Traut of the committee
 on school accommodation reported
 that program for the new school
 on the Farrell lot had been worked
 out by Superintendent Holmes The
 plans call for 25 rooms, gymnasium and auditorium with separate heating plant. The committee was author 1zed to invite architects to draw plans and to offer $50 each as recOmpense to unsuccessful bidders. Those asked to submit plans are: Walter P. Crao- tree, Unkelbach & Perry, Davis &, Brooks of Hartford, Smith & Bassett of Hartford, John Simpson of Newark. N. J., Samuel N. Green & Co.,, of Springfield and Brown & Van Buren
 of New Haven.
 Dr. Arvid Anderson of the health
 committee reported conditions in the
 schools during February and March.
 The sanitary condition of the schools was good but attendance in many of the buildings was weakened owing to measles and grip with some cases of
 h. tinued good work in the open air school. F. o. kilbourne of the Hiph school lunchroOm committee said the committee would report at a later
 m eeting.
 At the suggestion of Judge Gafr ney the finance and teachers commit tee were named to adjust salaries of teachers for the coming year. Mir. Carney also suggested the appoint ment of a new committee to be known as the committee on trade and in- dustrial education. This is an im- portant department of the school sys- tenn now. Notice of a change in the
 bylaws to permit this action was given. The matter will come up at the next meeting.
 New Curriculum.
 A new curriculum for the High schools was adopted after Superin- tendent Holmes had explained the system proposed. With the aid of Principal l.. P. Slade the curriculum had been worked out. It provides two courses, one for the trade school and one for the academic school The chief change in the course for the academic school is for the benefit of girls preparing to enter the State Normal school. This course is de- signed to give the girls who are to become teachers special High school preparation for the work before en- tering the Normal. The other courses; in the academic school are as before and give preparation for the college academic and technical courses.
 The courses in the Vocational High school provide for training for the girls in household arts, the scientific study of home-n1 aIzing. The course includes four years of English and