Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-11


 School Superintendent B. J. Graham calls to the citizens attention tho crowded condition of Norwich schools in making his annual report to the town school committee and embodies with it his plea for favorable action for the junior high school as one Of the towns educational needs.
 In his report he says on this point;
 Again I wish to call the attention of the town school committee and the citizens of Norwich to the imperative need for increased school accommoda- tions to relieve the crowded conditions in certain sections of the town. And again I wish to make a plea for the junior high school organization rather than a continuation of our old organ izatfon, with additions to the old buildings.
 relieve crowded conditions. but would add nothing educationa1ly to our school organization. The expense or the additions would be nearly as great while the old plan would embody none of the advantages to. the pupils that the new plan embodies.
 Crowded Conditions.
 Crowded conditions exist in Mt. Pleasant, High street. Bridge school and Broadway.
 In Mt Pleasant six of the eight rooms in the building have two teach CTS with an average attendance of over 60 pupils in a room. Small rooms con- structed for cloak rooms are being used as class rooms. These rooms are poorly lighted. poorly ventilated and so crowded that good results in teach ing cannot be expected.
 With the junior high school organ ization, the pupils of the seventh and eight grades, about 150 in all. would be taken out of this building, thus releaS- ing the upper floor for grade rooms This would give separate room for each grade in the building and large room for Kindergarten.
 By the elimination of the seventh and eighth grades in Broadway space would be available in this school to relieve the crowded conditions in the other -congested centers.
 The -juunior high school would give to the seventh and eighth grade pupils and the first year of the Academy the following advantages:
 school life.
 2 Departmental teaching.
 3. Promotion by subject rather than by grade
 For boys-(a) woodworking (b) printing. Gel painting. (d) electrical work (el machine work
 For girls-(a) home economies, Cb) cooking, (c) sewing, (d) millinery.
 5. Commercial education-(a) busi-
 
 
 G. More pupils retained in school through the grammar grades.
 '. More pupils, better prepared, 1 would enter high school.
 8. Increased attention given to phy | sical training.
 g. Better musical advantages offered i to all.
 10. Civic training and broader school ! life.
 It is conceded that Norwich needs l an auditorium and recreational gym nasium for public use. In many cities these two parts of a school, s well a s :, the shops and kitchens. have become l real community ccnterS through which ! the life of the city has flowed with it's !, countless interests. personal, political, | sivic, philanthropfc and patriotic.
 The auditorium as planned would | accommodate from 12o0 to 1.5O0 peo- i pie, with a stage large enough for school theatricals and choruses. mnsi- ,als. lectures. etc. The auditorium could also be used for conventions and naov other civic purposes.
 Th's auditorium can be dedica ted as | ! fittine memorial to the men of Nor Hich who played their significant part l in winning the world war.
 Universal popular education has l proved to be Americas greatest safe i rlIard in times of crisis. What is more l 1ttins than that Norwich should com her soldiers deeds in a form hat will perpetuate and develop this deal?
 What Building Would Contain.
 In speaking of the desirability of ncorpora ting the junior high school n the Norwich school system, Super ntendent Graham said on Friday that the junior high soeroo1 building, in lddition to the regular grammar and class rooms, would contain ! group of rooms for the manual arts Or the boys, a group of rooms for the