New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-18

THE school rooms were furnish
ed with rough wood benches an
shelves attached to the wall to b
used for desks.
THE curriculum consisted @
reading, spelling. writing an
arithmetlc, Arithmetic was no
stressed as It was felt to interior
with the learning OF the othe
more important subjects and wa
not considered so necessary. TIL
aim set forth for these school
was the Increase OF knowledge anC
religion and good manners,
"fhe school system continued I,
keep step with the modest need
OF the community, and in 1885,
when the population was Jus
slightly over 1000. We find New
Britain concerning itself with tn,
establishment of high school anG
a normal school.
The two schools were estab.
Iished In conjunction with a towr
hall In what was the old high
school building, standing upon the
site Of the present Central Junior
High school.
1T was n truly ambitious pro-
gram. In proportion TO the re-
sources OF the community, II was
beyond anything that we have at
tempted in recent years and as a
consequence OF 1t, we lost our fam
lily connection with our neighbor
kensington, the residents OF which
were not disposed to be burdened
with the expense entailed.
This eager search FOR educa-
ton which was bred In the very
soul OF the community. has con-
tinued up to the present day, and
at no TIME have the people shown
"a disposition to shirk the RESPONSE
bility of providing ample and good
facilities for educating our youth.
To-day the registration of our
junior and senior high schools is
well in excess of the entire popu-
lation Of the town when the high
school was established.
Il do not wish to burden you
with statistics: In the first place,
because they are tiresome, but
principally because they will be
available this week in pamphlet
form and will give you a more
concise picture of the school sys-
tenn than l could possibly give in
the short time at my disposal.
IF you will supplement the facts
and figures contained in these book
Its which will be distributed through
the schools children this week, by a
visit 10 at least one OF our schools
! am very certain that the foresight
and wisdom Of the founders Of New
Britain In early concerning them
selves with the problems of educa-
ton, will be impressed upon you,
II should recommend above all
else that you pay visit to one OF
our kindergartens. See q group of
these little ones four and one half
and five years old. little flowers al
most fresh from the hands Of their
Maker. See their bright smiles and
lively interest in the subjects and
games which are presented so in
tercstingly by highly trained kin
dcrgartcn teachers.
$50 in kindcrgartens.
These little one arc having their
first community experience outside
he home and when you see them,
I care not what district you may
},sit, you will conclude that they arc
ntitIed 10 be surrounded by COM
'ort and beauty and all that makes
interest in the higher things OF
life. You cannot visit Il kindergarten
md not come away a better man.
We have $50 Of these little citizens
Of tn, future America.
after a year in the kindergarten,
these little men and women have
been Introduced to the methods OF
class work and are prepared to take
what used TO appear to children to
bc--thc long long trail through the
grades.
Those Of YOU who have children
TT school, | believe, will agree that
fnis attitude toward school work has
Ua-n to a large extent overcome.
H.hool work has been made much
llore interesting.
YOU have probably maryelltd at
he rapidity with which the children
acquire the ability 10 read. Text
books are more scientifically adapted
70 The needs Of the respective grades
AMI teachers have been trained TO
present their subjects more inter-
ratiDgy.
In the larger schools whore the
platoon system Is in use. the mon
otony OF school work has been much
reduced. Pupils do not sit all day in
a single room. They move about
each period and 60 for instruction
in a particular subject to n teacher
who has specialized in that subject
and Who has set up in her room
many aids 10 the teaching Of that
particular auhject. which could not
be provided in every room.
In this wav. moving about the
building tno contacts of the children