New Britain herald., 1919-10-07
GRAMMAR SCHOOL
 ONE OF THE BEST
During Past Decade Its Growth
 Has Been Remarkable

The complete report of W. C. French, principal of the Grammar school, showing the remarkable growth of that institution during the past 20 years, and more especially in the last decade. and outlining the opportunities offered here for the completion of the elementary courses, is herewith printed as presentd to the school board:
 The present organization of the Prevocational-G Grammar school is the result of a development of more than twenty years, the most rapid progress having been made during the last nine years. In September. 1897, the upper grammar grades were first centralized in the Grammar school building. Departmental teach ing was at once introduced and la ter classes were organized in wood work and cooking.
 A small, low posted room in the attic was used for cooking. The meager equipment consisted of a coal range, and individual benches, which were piped for gas burners, with a wire screen above the flame. A room in the basement was parti- toned off for manual training, in " i11Sll "CI S plS1CSd CWOhly -1Oul benches, each supplied with a few simple tools. The instruction at first was given by regular teachers.
 The school of 1897, and that of 1919 differ widely in size and equip ment. The former had about two hundred pupils, four regular teach CTS, and occupied five rooms. Today the school has more than one thou Sa nl1T1ilS toaoharS buildings, with a total of fifty three rooms, which are used for recitations and other purposes and an auditor ium. From 1897 to 1910 it was sim ply a departmental Grammar school. Tn 1910 differentiated courses of study were introduced, and in Octo- Der, 1914, the prevocational training was first adopted.
 In order to meet the varying inter- ests and aptitudes of children four distinct courses of study are now of fered. The general course is de- signed to prepare for any course in the Academic High school. The en- tire time in this course is devoted to the regular school schedule, with the exception of two hours of domestic science each week for the girls, two hours of manual training for the boys, and two hours of physical edu- cation for both boys and girls This course is the regular Grammar school course which prevails in most schools. It emphasizes English, arith- metic literature, history and civics.
 The practical arts course for boys provides experiences which enable boy to make an intelligent choice of the courses offered in the Vocational school, and also fits him better than any other course to enter industrial life at the end of the eighth grade, in case circumstances make it impossi- ble for him to continue his education in the High school. This course gives an insight into the industries, prac- tica1 experience being provided in six lines of shop work-machine shop practice, printing, mechanical draw ing, wood work, electrical work and repair work.
 In the seventh grade each boy re- ceives six weeks continuous training of nine hours a week in each shop. In the eighth grade the same work is repeated from a more mature point of view.
 The practical arts course for girls is designed to prepare for the duties of home making and housekeeping. It also leads to the making course In the Vocational school. The girls receive nine hours industrial work each week, three hours of which are given to household arts, three hours to sewing and dressmak- ing, and three hours to speciality work, which includes box making, picture mounting, rug weaving, inter- for decoration, drawing, design, etc. The girls show marked interest in the work, and some excellent results are secured.
 The business and English course places stress upon commercial sub jects, such as bookkeeping, conner cial arithmetic, typewriting, office practice, comm mercial geography, so- cial and business correspondence. The pupils of this course who leave school upon graduation have had valuable training to fit them for their chosen work, and those who continue to the High school are we'll prepared to take up the work in the comme ercial course. A school bank is conducted in connection with this course. The system employed is duplicate of that used in the most
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