The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-14
School Teachers
Suffered Loss of $4,000

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let things drop and assume you can't
DO anything more. That was large
ty what happened. Instead of max
Ing more intensive use of plant, We
let down in work, cut down in the
very important time factor in educa-
! tloA, and got into a ragged situation.
Mr.. Cortright, when he took charge
as acting superintendent, found some
sixteen rooms where the teaching
day, found some rooms in which the
regular fve-hour day was being
Taught, but in which an additional
compensation was being paid. That
Is one of the conditions the present
administration is trying to remedy.
In the high school, for reasons con-
nected with the building, very unfor-
tunate conditions arose. We had to
go on two schools a day, we estab-
lished a bigger unit than We ought to
have. We didn't get any money to
build new high schools with until
now.
When we went on to the two
schoo1-a-day system, we put the
teaching force on the same system,
SO that We accumulated more ex-
tended personnel than we really need
ed and added unnecessarily to the
cost of doing that work. One of the
first things our acting superintendent
schedule, a staggered schedule, not
new except in Bridgeport, in which
the teaching force of the school will
go back onto the old day of seven
will be a tremendous Improvement,
and it has this additional advantage,
that in the operation alone we will
save in the administration of the
school next year somewhere between
$4,000 and $50, 10000; probably near
err 100000.
condition of the high school, certain
minor evils arose. They take in that
school something like $4,000 a year
in sports and Iunchroom and that sort
of thing. Those accounts had been
managed in a most unbusiness like
way. There had been no regular
audits until just recently when this
revolution occurred in Bridgeport.
From that carelessness, not very
vicious, certain evils arose which were
more vicious, that is to say, we had
in one of our accounts a defa1catfOn,
which was subsequently made good, |
and which was followed by the re-
moval of the teacher responsible, a
matter of some five or six thousand |
dollars. Following upon that in |
cident the same individual went |
nearly the head of the school and took |
away-largely from the women-a |
small amount here and a large amount |
there-amounting to about $4,000, |
that they could i'll spare.
Again money was missing and |
members of our teaching force were |
subjected to the ignominy of being |
scrutinized by the police. No guilty |
moral guilt could be placed. That |
wasn't good for the morale of the
school.
Out of this teaching day which was
constantly diminishing another evil
arose. At intervals we got payrolls
for overtime, another saving which |
will be effected.
In addition to that, we had for
fI101n nj 0fy- nT nTat
their hands, so far as our right to cali
upon teachers was concerned, an en-
tirely inadequate method of instruc-
ton for retarded and failed pupils
mand on parents to pay sums for
of their children. We hope
to correct that particular evil.
The school isn't a bad school, con- |
all the difficulties it labors
under. Nevertheless these more or
less disturbing things did creep in
and they have to be corrected and are
being corrected. In the grammar
schools we are, under the direction of
Mr.. Cortright, making a more inten-
sive use of these schoolhouses, in
the platoon plan, which gives
US about 20%o additional use of the
school. We can adequately care for
bout 20fo more people, save 20%o of
the appropriation for building. The
additions which we are about to make
to four schools are planned for the
use of the schools, and has the very
purpose of taking up these half-time
children, who haven't adequate space
and seating.
We are trying to install further re-
forms in the way of intensive use of
The schools. Sometimes I wish
hadn't embarked upon the paths. I
was educated by teachers of the sex.
needed to be disciplined when I was
L boy. I have never forgotten my
Early training. I never now go into
he presence of a school teacher with
out certain trembling. Now that I
by the mischance of an unkind fate
am in the position of disciplining
school teachers, feel timid.
There are 500 or 600 girls in the
system. 1t is pleasure to know tn enl1. |
They are splendid women. But when
We say to them, You ought to do five
md half hours a day instead of five.
hey say, Mr. Wilson, for the first |
line in our lives, we have run into an
Inkind and untender board. and we
STATES DISTRICT COURT,
District of Connecticut.
Bankruptcy
Not HgoP Is fS tTaSR fGT char
Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, has
fled his application dated April IS 1922,
and that all his creditors
and other persons interested, objecting
John Keogh. Referee ay in t Bankrn ppFeg
acting as Special Master. at the County
Court House, Bridgeport, Conn, on July
4, 1922, at a. m, then and there to
examine the bankrupt and to show
sause, If any they have, why such dis
charge should not be granted and to
determine whether or not to authorize
the trustee to interpose objections to
such discharge.
JOHN KEOGH,
Referee in Bankruptcy and Special
Master.
Bridgeport, Conn, June Il, 1922 as |