New Britain herald., 1925-05-14
AMERICANS DESIRE DIVORCE OF ARMS CONVENTION FROM
 THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF
 FOUNDING OF N. B. H. s.
Institution Was One of First of Kind in
 State

schools in the state of Connecticut, 1 opened its doors 75 years ago to- morrow. The occasion will not be celebrated by the school department, as high school at the present time is merely an integral part of tho whole school system. but in those days 1t was practically a separate institution, the successor of the old academies, and it's establishment
 meant that not only the children Of
 the rich, but all children. would have an opportunity 10 progress be- yond the grammar grades. At first 1t was mainly feeder for colleges, providing Latin and other such sub jeCts for boys who would later en- ter the legal or medical professions but it gradually broadoned in scope 10 take care Of young men and | women destined for all walks of life. There was not a single public school in this state prior to 1888,
 but about that time movement led by DT. Henry Bernard. began to force the matter of free higher ed uCation. New Britain was a pioneer in the field, and its citizens sub scribed S400Q in 123S-29 for the founding of a county seminary for
 training teachers. Action toward
 starting a high school here was taken In 1S47, but delayed.
 When the state decided 10 found a normal school. New Britain came forward with an offer to provide q suitable building and equipment and place the public schools under the principal of the normal school. Tho leaders in the movement were Major Seth J. North, Professor Ethan A, Andrews, F. T. Stanley,
 George NJ. Landers, and Rev. Sam uGl Rockwell pastor of the South Congregational church. One hun dred and one citizens subscribed $iG,0Q0. Tho old town hall. on the site of the present Central junior high school, was purchased and opened as school building on May ! ,. 1850, with the normal classes on the second floor and the high school and grades on the first This was the first attempt at graded schools in New Britain, New Britain was practically 20 years ahead of the remainder of the state in this line.
 The classes soon outgrcw the
 building and some were lodged tenn porariIy in tho hasemcnts of two . local churches until new wing
 could bo built. The high school room was soon enlarged 10 hold 300 students, over whom there were but , three teachers, including inc first principa', Rev. ]. NJ. Guon.
 The course Of study then consist od Of three R's and history. algebra. astronomy, geometry. Latin and natural philosophy. tntil 1876. when rh" fonr-ycar course vas adopted, the regular course was of
 but three years extent and those
 who wished 10 enter college were forced to do supplementary work.
 Tn" first graduation was held In scr. when seven received their diplomas, two entering Yale.
 Principals came and went rapid
 ly in tho early years until 1865.
 when John 1T. Peek began a 31- year term of great progress during which inc attendance increased from i n 10 2SS. The normal school moved ID lIiilsii" Terrace in 1SS3 and tho state turned the old building over | 10 the city, but even this soon be
 came too small and the school com mitteo set about obtaining q new
 school. Appropriations Of $l2,oG0 for q lot and Sl25.Q00 for the building
 were passed by town meetings in
 1895 and the present yellow brick structure facing Franklin Square
 was completed in April. 1896.
 The golden anniversary was ob- served in 1900 with much pomp.
 pr. Arthur T. Hadlcy. president Of
 Yale university. spoke at ,hc coI"- bration exercises. over which Philip J. Marklay presided. Mayor samuel Bassott Professor David x. Camp, Marcus White, Robert J. Vance, Ralph c. Hubbard, and Superin-
 tendcnt Samuel T. Dutton also spoke.
 Louis r. Slade became principal
 of thc high school in September.
 1913. and has continued to hold that office for the past 12 years. The school was so crowded when he first
 took up his duties that the platoon
 system was used of necessity. the ninth grade pupils coming in the afternoon and the upper classes in
 the morning. Tn the middle Of the school year 19t6-1917 the new yo. cational building on Rass"tt street
 was finished and fuIl-tlme sessions
 were resumed, At the same time
 the city took over the trade school
 and housed it in the vocational
 building.
 The high school then consisted of
 three constituent schools. the aca-
 demic school. tho school of nracti-
 cal arts and the trade school, but
 the last named was tranferred back
 10 the state in November. 1919, for financial reasons. Ii was agreed that tho city should furnish hous- ing, heat, light and power, while the state should provide instruction, equipment and supplies, give what ever mechanical drawing courses
 were desired by the city. and furnish
 halliday instruction 10 students in
 the academic industrial cnrrirula.
 The regular city diploma is auari-