Putnam patriot., 1925-04-17
WHAT THE EVENING
 SCHOOL IS DOING

learned to point out on the map the fifteen towns in windham county, the eight counties and the five eon- greasional districts of Connecticut. the forty-eight states of tbs union, the various territorial acquisitions. and the inxgIsr possessions of our country.
 What bearing does the instruction given here have upon the individuals and upon the community
 Among the early days was a man who could not read word but he spoke good English Inside of two years he was voter and today he is constant and intelligent reader of the local nepspSpefx. -s.
 Another map could not read. He came two or three years and got s good start. He has always kept up his reading. Today he reads the daily papers underssandingly and with interest. The other day he call ed At his brothers home, stayed about fifteen minutes and then sai1. "i think 1 will go home. l am read ing library book and want to see how the hero comes out"
 Txo young men were taking a course with the International Cor respondence people. They found that they could not do the numerical work required to complete the course. They came to evening school and made good progress in arithmetic. They finished their correspondence course. One became a boss weaver and the other received quick promotion above his fellow workmen.
 No less than twenty-five men in this town have become citizens through the training they received inl the evening school.
 The Aesdemie Department
 The pupils in the academic depart ment are for the most part young peo- pie of American birth who have re- eeived more or less training in our day school. Some have been forced to leave the day school and have gone to work before they have finished the grades Some have completed the work of the grammar school but their command of English and arithmetic ls slipping away from them threngh disuse. Some are longing for the time when they may leave the mill and launch out into some vocation which will be more satisfying to their lsfe's ambition. Some want to be prepared to meet the educational re- quirements of school which they ex- peet Co enter Immediately after the 1 war the State Trade school had dis ablea soldiers sent to it Co retrain for i life's work. These men were not pre- i pared to take up the work of their I chosen trades understandingly. They came tc the evening school for that drill in arithmetic which would en- able them to take up their shop mathe- maticg, without hindrance and em- l barrassment Co the teachers of the | trades. During the year just past there are people who have come to the evening school for more eduea- ton because. they see positions in their lines of work passing by them into the hands of other men not be- cause these other men have a better practical knowledge of the work bat because these men have q better edu- cation and a better technical train ing Several young ladies are look ing forward with hope Co training as nurses. But the requirements of the hospitals are advancing. They come te the evening school asking to be giy- en instruction which will help them realize their hopes.
 During the present year this de- partment has given instruction in | literature. language and arithmetic. ' The arithmetic has covered fractions and percentage. In literature the pupils have studied the lives and read some of the works of Hawthorne. Coo per. Bryant, and Longfellow. They have gained a new appreciation of style and a more inspiring aequain- tance with these American authors.
 The Commercial Department
 The registers in the commercial l department disclose the information that. of the pupils who attended that branch. eleven were high school graduates. twenty-five had had few weeks Co three years work in the high school. twenty had finished the eighth grade. eight had finished the seventh grade. two had finished the sixth grade and two had finished the fifth grade
 Some of them came because in their High school years they took English or a classical course. Now they find themselves offered an office position for which they have no technical equipment They feel that fl they expect promotion it Is best to acquire commercial training. They come to get the theory of bookkeeping or a correct handling of the typewriter.
 Others who pursued a comlner- cial course in high seheol are work ing in an office where some of their requirements are not called for They feel that they are getting rusty ir rersafrs branrhe4 They come fa hruNh