New Britain herald., 1918-09-14
SCHOOL TEACHERS
 BEING UNDERPAID
Supt. Holmes Annual Report Pre-
 diets Shortage Of Instructors

presented at the fall meeting of the school board yesterday, carried an air of wartime activities. He outlined the work of the school depa rtm ent under present day conditions explained what war work is being done in the schools, declared that the efficient teaching staff of the local schools is underpaid and set forth other pertinent facts that will doubtless receive the serious con- sidera tion of the public and the school committee.
 The complete report, as prepared and read by Superintendent Holmes, is herewith printed:
 Soon after America entered upon the great war in which we have been engaged for a year and a half, Presi- dent Wilson sent forth a message to the people of the nation urging that the schools be kept open and that every effort be made for their inn provement in efficiency as instruments for education and training in democ- racY.
 'In common with the rest of the nation this city responded to the call of the president. The year 1917-1918 was a wonderfully stimulating and profitable year in the schools. The usual and regular school work suf-
 
 the same time the stimulus resulting from common interest in the accom- p1ishment of such extra war service as was laid upon the schools, was of incalcu1abIe value in giving to pupils and teachers an increased sense of na- tionality and of personal obligation for service to the country of their com mon citizenship.
 War Work in Schools.
 "War work in the schools assumed large proportions and was undertaken in varied forms; but to every demand the teachers and pupils successfully re- sponded with a patriotic zeal and en- thusiasm that will continue, not only for%the duration of the war, but after the war Is ended-even as it had exist ed long before the war began-aS a re- suit of that training for patriotic citi- zenship which has always been one of the conscious purposes of the schools.
 ''The following is an incomplete list of some of the many forms of service undertaken. Information service as to war needs and war purposes, food pro- ductioa and food conservation, war savings and war loans, Red Cross work, Liberty chorus service. munition work in the trade school, gas mask work, training for radio operation, assistance of registration and exemption boards, instruction in English and citizenship for forei gn born men and women, the use of the school buildings for war work and patriotic gatherings.
 With all of these many forms of war service which have been rendered by the schools there has also been definite instruction of the children as to the course and progress of the war and the need for unified and unselfish effort to assure a victorious issue for our arms. In this respect the schools are doing their full duty.
 New School Is Opened.
 Among other notable events of the school year was the opening of the Elihu Burritt school. The need for increased school accommodations for elementary grades at the north end of the city had been pressing upon us for several years. This new school pro- vides relief for the Smalley and Bart lett schools and makes it possible, for the present year at least, to use the old Burritt school for special foreign classes, thus giving extra rooms for the use of the Prevocational Grammar school, and also for day nursery and office rooms for the attendance officers d work.
 This building is the finest school structure in the city. It is safe to say that there are few, if any, school buildings in the country better suited in all respects not only for the success full conduct of elementary school work but also for real service as 8 social center for the community.
 'In it's general plan, as well as in it's appointments, it sets a standard for future school houses to be erected in New Britain, and furnishes many inn portant and valua ble suggestions as to much needed improvements in our older school structures. This building makes it plainly evident that no school in any district can adequately serve the people of it's neighborhood unless it is provided with a branch library and an auditorium and gymnasium of ample size. It is only reasonable to urge that it should be a well understood policy of the city to provide these, not only for all new buildings to be erected in the future but also for all existing schools as soon as possible after the close of the war.
 ''The great possibilities of the Elihu Burritt school for service to the pub lie, not only as a school, but as a ncighborhood center, arc limited only by the vision of the principal and teachers and the willingness of the city to provide the means for realizing those possibilities.
 Good Teachers UndcrDaid
 Tt would be very difficult to find a corps of teachers more able intelli- gent efficient and devoted than that of the New Britain school system. AS a whole the teaching force has fully met the demands laid upon it by the school officials and the general public. It is