New Britain herald., 1918-09-14

an able faculty, the school is render ing to this city a service of inesti- mable value.
 'As a college preparatory institu- ton the Academic High school is maintaining a. comme mendable standard of excellence, as is shown by the rec ord of it's graduates in the various in' stitutions of college grade. For the boy or girl who is seriously seeking a general cultural training the oppor- tunities are unsurpassed. In it's nor- mal preparatory course it gives con- sideration to the needs of young wo- men who aim to enter the teaching profession.
 Tn July of this year a bulletin was sent to the members of the com mittee suggesting an organization for an attendance deparment. The matter is brought to your attention at this time because of it's importance and the real need for it's serious consid- eration. It is unreasonable to expect that matters of school attendance will ever receive adequate attention or be satisfactorily cared for unless a suf- ficient force of able attendance off cers is provided to fully care for the needs of all of the schools of the city,
 
 There are in round numbers 14,- 900 children of school age in the city A fair allotment to single attend ance officer is not over 5000 children, according to the best judgment of those who are familiar with school attendance work. If this is a fair statement it is easy to see that we are undermanned in our attendance department. At least one additional attendance officer should be provided and it is respectfully suggested that action be taken by the committee di- recting that provision be made in the next school budget for such an off cial
 Praises Vocational School.
 ''The Vocational High school pre- sents unususal opportunities to young women for training in the home mak- ing arts and in it's commercial de- partment offers a superior training for clerical or commercial work in addition to this the cooperative trade course makes it possible for any seriously disposed young man to secure a good academic education of high school grade and at the same time to receive that trade training which will enable him to secure a position as an advanced apprentice in one of the skilled trades.
 That the high school is highly ap- preciated by the people of the com munity is amply proven by the in- creasingly large numbers of young men and women who are attracted by the extraordinary opportunities which it offers.
 Tn closing, I desire again to give expression to my sincere appreciation of the cordial cooperation and sup port of the school committee in my service for the schools"
 Others Matters of Business.
 The finance committe reported that a city meeting will probably author ize the issuance of $12,000 worth of school bonds for a fund to complete the work of the Elihu Burritt school. Unpaid bills will be paid, a concrete walk and steps and retaining walls will be built and a fence will be built. M. o. Baker is to be awarded the contract for the concrete work, his bill of $4,1S1.6O having been the lowest. The Iron Post and Fence Co.,, of Hartford, will erect the fence between the school property and that which is adjacent.
 For the text book committee, F. o. Kilbourne advised the purchase of 60 copies of 'Tweleve Centures of En- glish Poetry and Prose-" and & similar number of Three Centuries of Amer ican Poetry and Prose-" These books will be used in the English literature courses. Although l.. H. Pease orig inally opposed the purchase of these books on the ground that it was not imperative and is too costly, since he believes the board will end the year with financial deficit, their pur- chase was voted when Supt. Holmes assured the committee that the books are necessary. Attention of the com mittee was also called to the superin- tendent's letter to the teachers advis- ing strictest economy in the use of paper.
 Referring to the coal supply, MT. Pease said that only about 90 tons of the necessary 2,285 has arrived and the rest is coming in very slowly will probably be made to have the Thanksgiving and Christ mas recesses of two weeks each to ave coal.
 Physical Director Mcdonald will be instructed to promulgate a system of military training for the High school consisting of setting up exercises, hikes, drills, etc. It is proposed to devote an hour a day to this work.
 It was also announced that the school year will extend from Septem- Der 2, 1918 to June 27, 1919. This is a course of 39 weeks ad of 1S9 days, allowing six days for holidays and other omissions. The state requires lSo school days during a year.
 JEWISH SUNDAY SCHOOL.