New Britain herald., 1922-12-02
COMMUNICATED.

Use the School Gymnasiums at Nigh
 To the Editor of the New Britain Herald:
 I have been long of the belief tha
 there was in New Britain, movemen
 on foot to make New Britain schools l not only institutions of learning bu
 centers of the activities of the com munity.
 Whether the idea is true, is for the
 New Britain public to decide. There has been a great deal of talk about such a movement, but very little or nc
 action taken.
 We have given the school officials chance to start the school and com munity spirit, but they turned it down. because they see no reason why they should start something that might present some difficulties.
 The school authorities say that they let one team use gym they will have to let all the other teams in the city use one, and they will not be able to Accommodate them. Our solution of the problem seemed to them insuffi- cient. We believe that school boys should be given the preference to in- dependent and factory basketball teams. As we represent the Elihu Burrit Junior High and the Senior High, we see no reason why we should not be given the privilege of practicing a few nights week, instead of leaving the gyms unused.
 The officials maintain furthermore that if they allow the use of the gyms at night, the cost of keeping the jan itors there would add to the expense account of the city, they also claim that outsiders would interfere with the activities of the school.
 think that these difficulties can be overcome very easily with little system. A team composed of school boys, equipped with uniforms and a basketball should be allowed to use floor, in preference to outside or 
 There are many gymns in New1 Britain, most of which are not used in the evenings except by some fac tory teams once in while. Why let l the gyms stay useless when by little 1 work we could make them yield | profitable returns.
 The Berlin town hall is used by the | ooys of Berlin who had very little .rouble in securing it. The people Of Berlin had to spoil the appearance of heir hall by disfguring the stage with a blackboard and a basket, but hey did not begrudge anything for hey know that what Berlin will be in ! few years depends upon what it's ,oung men will be in few years.
 If the people of Berlin can sacrifice heir town hall why can't we let ome of the teams of the city use the unused gyms.
 We are not gaining anything finan- tally by practicing in the gyms; in act. every one of us has used all his honey for equipment. We are will ng to give up our evenings and our honey, and I think the city officials hould be willing to do their part by flowing us to use gym two or three mes a week.
 We appeal to the business men, : oters women too, and school off { Ials who can see the advantages to 1 e gained from this plan to help us ut in this case. The benefits which would be de- we'd from the use of the floors would e twofold: First, to the boys them ,lves and who would benefit by being hysically fit and by developing the anhood in them; and, second, to the ty which would have some young lergetic ambitious people in the city ho will be an asset instead of striment. It would also keep the oung men out of mischief, develop a .oup of young men who would take I interest in the city, and try to ing Up the standard of the com unity and last but not least it ould furnish in case of emergency a cup of men that with little training ould be. able to do their part toward fending their country
 Respectfully,
 JOSEPH REGULA, anager of the Redwings Basketball lb.