Norwich bulletin., 1919-06-25
SCHOOL PLAN MEETS SOME OPPOSITION


 ooys, and cooking. sewing. millinery, etc. TOT the girls. The course of study Wltn these trades is related and the problems of the studies grow out of the shopwork. The scholars under this fheLnoo do better work in their studies as they come to see how they can be appiled to shopwork. We must, how ever guard against staying on one suoJects as this does not give the schol- "a chance to find out about the other lnlngs tha he could pursue. By giving him little of everything he finds out what he really wants to do.
 The need of an auditorium is essen tial and should be a prominent part of the Junior high scho1o. The gymnasi- um should also be included by all means The idea that people have against their children going to school centrally located and a good way from nome would soon be dispelled when they saw that an increase of 25 per cent more pupils was made by the centrally located school
 State inspector's Views.
 MT. Bishop. after the conclusion of MT. van Sichie's talk, introduced Mil ton Snyder. state inspector of high schools in Connecticut, who has spoken here several times before. Mir Snyder in his talk told of the schools at Rochester, Trenton and Springfield that he had visited and of their sue cess He also mentioned the fact that New London had voted a bond issue of sevo,000 for a junior high school and mat he hoped Norwich would be the next city to adopt this plan He said that chad looked over the Norwich situation regarding the school system and that it was evident that something must be done to relieve the congestion and the junior high school plan was the most logical The social conditions in Norwich are most complicated, said AIT. Snyder. There is a large number of foreigners here and their children only go to school as far as the sixth or seventh grades. Their idea is to get money but not only should his ener- gies be directed along industrial lines but he should be something else
 The Norwich school buildings are old and they don't owe Norwich any, thing. If you build regional schools they will only serve one locality and several others vii have to be erected, while 8 centrally located school will accommodate all the overflow The need is great here for industrial edu- cation and it is the plan to develop the children along local trades.
 In speaking of the decrease in schol- ars after the fifth grade, MT Snyder said that Norwich showed the great est decrease of any city in the state.
 Of those who enter the fifth grade, one out of eight never enter the sixth. of those who enter the sixth 27 per cent. never enter the seventh grade. of those who enter the seventh grade AZ per cent. never go into the eighth and of those who enter the eighth 72 per cent never go to the high school. This is serious situation which will be overcome as has been done iri other cities where there was a large de- crease.
 The natural question that arises is what will become of the Academy if we have a junior high school. This is simple matter and a question that can be settled locally as/the Academy authorities. are heartily in accord with this new movement and will co-or- porate in any way that seems best. With the Junior High school you will keep at least 50 per cent. of the schol- ars that you are now losing.
 Opposition Speakers.
 Mr. Bishop then called for questions or ideas and Edward Kirby took the hoor and launched into a fiery dis course on how Norwich could not af- ford to have Junior High school and how inc present school system seem ed adequate to him. He said that Norwich had a 35 mill tax and that it was the highest of any city in the United States and that in view of this fact he did not think that Norwich could afford to enter upon an ex- periTental idea. I think we have enough tax and we don't want to pay another 2 mill tax, he said. If you want to keep the scholars in school why not put in moving pictures. MT. Kirby talked along this strain for about fifteen minutes and then sat down. He was applauded by few in the hall.
 Albert Boardman was the next to take the floor and in his opening re- marks stated that he was in favor of such 1d idea, but he thought that a technical high school was the best idea and seemed to be the greatest need in the city. He told of how he had aeitated she question of a tech nical high school for three years but had met with ID response. He was of the opinion that the Academy could not take care of the scholars from the junior high school.
 In answer to MT. Boardraan, MT Snyder said that a technical high school in Norwich was unwarranted and asked MT. Boardman how he knew the Academy couldn't take care of the scholars from the junior school
 Mr. Boardman again took the floor and talked heatedly on the subject which was upnermost in his mind that of a technical high school. In answer to MT Snyder's question he said that the Academy had raised the tuition fees at the school and then asked for Mir. Tirrell.
 MT. Tirrell said that he thought the raising of the tuition fees had noth- ing to do with the matter and that he did not wish to enter into the discus sion. Mir. Boardman then abandoned his argument.
 MT. Bishop then said that if it was best for the town to have :i fu'.ior high school people should forget their personal feeling and show tne,r loyal ty for the city by backing the move ment. He then asked tor aa express sion on the matter and all with the ex- ception of few rose. sign:tying that they were in accord with the move ment The meeting then adjourned at ten o'clock.
 SIX DIV0RGE CASES