New Britain herald., 1918-07-13


 Gaint passing through the corridors l and rooms would be detrsnental to the health of the children. Superin- tendent Holmes answered. reminding
 Mr. Pratt who made the objection, that that would be entirely uncallcd
 for as the city had nothing to lose by laying off the men as they were to ! be paid only when at work MT Hatch approved of hiring Mr. John son, stating that by so doing. the city would be sure of getting a good oua1- ity of paint as well as workmanship Under the contract plan, he pointed out that the city would be at the mercy of the contractor who would give whatever kind of work he desired to give. once he got the contract. A vote to purchase 12O books to be used in reference work in connection i with tho English course, was ohicct- cd to by MT. Pcase. and after hearing ! his reasons, it was voted to lay the | matter over.
 Each book was to have cost $40 and to purchase the 120 would cost l $168. Mir. Pease said he did not ia VOr such expenses and it was then voted to lay the matter over. If the city purchases $1, 200 worth of library | | funds slightly over $500. but if the
 total of $1.20O is not reached, the l city will not get the money The 1 adoption of Longs "EngIish and i American Literature" and smiths 1 "Commcrcc and Industry" was voted, 1 and the adoption of F1Otchkiss &, l !nreW's "Business English" was de ! ferred. The finance committee re ! ported the payment of bills amount | ing to $4,297.02, and the djscounting 1 of bills tOtalling $1,OZ5.83, paid since 1 the last meeting.
 The matter Of adopting a sched- ] ule of hours for the High school as ] previously recommended by Princi- 1 pal Louis r. SIade was taken up, and i the recommendation accepted. Under 1 the new schedule. the morning ses- 1 sion will open at S:15 and close at ! l1:45, and the afternoon session, ! opening at 1:20 and closing at 4:15. 1 This provides for a quarter of an 1 hour earlier opening and a like pc 1 riod earlier at closing, The finance ] committee was authorized to take 1 steps to see that the annual school census is taken, and Superintendent 1 <. H. Holmes reported on changes in i regulations for children entering the ] prcVOcatiOnaJ Grammar school Although children completing the 1 first six grades at the elementary l schools may enter the Prevocational i Granlnar school, as before, a change | provides that normal children whose 1 schooling has been deterred may now ! enter also. MT, Holmes explained 1 that often child has been kept from ! advancing as rapidly as it should for 1 several reasons, sickness being the most popular reason. In cases of l that nature, if the child is the proper ! age to enter the PrevocationaI Gram
 mar school, he will be allowed to en- ter just the same. This will provide for him a mechanical training before entering business life, making a. good provision for a child who has had misfortune. The recommendation 1 was adopted.
 A letter read from the state board 1 of education relative to caring for 1 tuition pupils from other towns, was l read. Upon advice of Superintendent 1 HOlmes no action was taken. He
 stated that the city pays more to edu- 1 cate a child at the trade school than l at the High school. Now that the 1 matter has been brought up for dis 1 cussion, he thought it a good time to 1 adjust the rates, and the matter was referred to the finance committee. Action recently taken prohibiting 1 the usc of books in the high schools 1 throughout the state. printed in any 1 other language than the English, un- 1 less the book be sanctioned by the ] state, was made known to the board ] yesterday, through a communication l from the state board of education.
 Advocate English schools. Education of children in schools ! where language other than English is used, the state board reported, is not to be considered similar or equal 1 to an elementary school education. The use of books other than English 1 does not affect the local High school, 1 because the Ioeal school board took i action prohibiting them even before 1 the state board of education met The summer school report showed a total l of 1,519 pupils now taking advantage ! of the course
 l The report of the probation officer i was as follows: Absentees, 1,446; 1 kept home by parents, 536; by sick ness, 636; truant, 193; placed back i in school 127; visits to schools, ASA; 1 prosecutions, 38. Commissioner L.. 1 H. Pease commented on the report, 1 and stated that the number of tru- ! ants is larger than usual, He said something should be done about the
 matter, as 139 is too large a number | of truauts to be reported. Chairman 1 Judge B r. Gaffney commented that ; because the schools are closed noth- : ing can now be done to remedy mat ] ters but agreed that action should i be taken 4
 l Financial Report.
 The financial statement was pre-