The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-09
HOW MAYOR ATWATER WENT TO SCHOOL
He Tells Why He Believes It Is Wise to Abolish
 the Normal School and Good to Make School Day and School Year


 the longer school day and year" Mayor Atwater said today, fol- lowing areport that the Eighth district Democratic club had passed a resolution conforming the five and one half hour school day, the longer school year and the elimination of the City Normal school.
 The resolution of the Eighth which the mayor by his inter view frowns upon, states that the Eighth district delegation will refuse to support any member of the Board of Educa- ton who seeks renomination on the Democratic ticket who favors the longer school day and year and the abolition of the Normal school.
 The mayor, in a lengthy in- terview indicates that he does not favor the incorporation of a plank into the Democratic party for the elimination of the staggered system in the High school and the restoration of the City Normal school.
 The announcement that this plank is to be added to the Democratic party of the city was made by Town Chairman John A. Cornell, following an executive board meeting Thurs day night.
 ''The change is a mighty good move," the mayor de- clared. 'sThe move that the Board of Education made in cal ling grammar school sessions at quarter to nine in the morning and at 1 :15 for the afternoon session is certainly a wise one and can't see why there should be any complaints.
 NThe extra half hour added to the school day does not incon- venience mothers, as I can see. It allows the children to go home at 3:3O in the afternoon and does not keep them confined to a school building after dark.
 II should think that mothers of the children of school age would be pleased with the opening of school fifteen min- utes earlier each day.
 Most of our people in the city are obliged to be up early in the morning to get their men members off to work.
 Naturally the children are up at the same time and are under the feet of the mother, thus preventing her doing her house. work. With the children off to school earlier, the mother would be able to do her work much easier, I should judge.
 ''The extra half hour added to the school day is certainly put to good use. The physical training under competent in- structors will build up the mind and the body of the school child.
 II should think that one hour and a quarter for dinner would be ample time for all concerned and I shouldn't think that ii would work a hardship on any one.
 "The districts of the city arc not so large that school childrer would be prevented from get ting to and from school within an hour and a half.
 'When I was a boy in Higf school I used to walk iron Colorado avenue way up to tht present Congress High school The only means of tranSpOrta tiOn were the horse cars and never used one of them excep On stormy occasions. We onl! had an hour for lunch in those days.
 "Our teachers are we'll paic and higher paid than teacher in many other of our progres sive cities. People little realiz, that the teachers in the gram mar schools who have received their education from the cit, are better paid than mechanic and tradesmen who have beel forced to work years to lear their trade at greater expense.
 "Our city furnishes the edu cation for girls, first in tn grammar schools, then in tn High school and completes tha education in the City Norma school at no expense outside o time and money. I don't believ the girls are over worked. The have ample time for leisure.
 ''The arrangement made b the board in the distribution c the extra half hour in the ms ority of schools is certainl made from an economice stand. The janitor is not keI over. His time is conserved.
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