New Britain herald., 1925-11-04
Change In Schedule
Adopted By Board Of
Education Meets With
Disapproval And Open
Criticism.
QUESTIONABLE to Be Sent
to Mothers and Fathers
Asking Their Opinion on
Short Noon Recess.

A controversy 5Ier the Aarrange.
ment of hours at the Central Junior
High school arose at meeting OF
the Parents and Teachers associa-
tion Of that school at its first fall
meeting last evening in the school
auditorium.
A record crowd of about 800 par
ents and members of the school fac
ulty were present, and a lively dis
cussion took place.
The debate began with the read
Ing of a resolution by Logan Page
relative to the changing of school
hours so that children will have a
longer noon hour, and recommend
ing that the school return to the ar
rangement Of hours in vogue until
this year. The change vas the result
of the ruling of the school board
this year which shortened the noon
hour so that the morning and after
noon sessions were balanced. I'm
der the old system school opened at
$40 o'clock and closed at 1880
o'clock in the morning. The students
returned to school at 1880 o'clock
and remained until o'clock. Under
the new arrangement students re-
turn to school a half an hour earlier
at noon.
French Advises Against Haste.
After the resolution was read,
Principal French urged the associ-
ation against acting temporarily on
the matter. He asked that the mat
ter be studied by committee, which
will report at the next meeting.
President William Z. Atwood OF
the New Britain Trust Co. spoke in
favor OF the change without delay,
and asked why it was that last years
hours were changed. When the
scliool principal failed to give sat-
isfactory answer Mr.. Atwood asked
that his question not be evaded.
Then Mr.. French explained that the
change was made only for the bene-
At of the students and that the
school board changed the hours be-
cause 1t felt that by so doing the
student would have a balanced day,
three hours in the morning and
the old system the student taking
subjects in the afternoon did not get
as much time as the morning STU
dent since the afternoon periods had
TO be shortened. He said that there
Isn't another school in the state
with over an hour and a half for
lunch.
Holmes Suggests QUESTIONABLE
Supt. Holmes suggested that a
QUESTIONABLE be sent out by either
the school department or the asso-
citation asking the opinion of parents
on the subject. He said he wanted
to know whether this feeling was
general or whether 1t was confined
to a certain few. He declared that
New Britain is no different from any
other city, that 1t cannot have a
short day whe.e g. long day Is re-
autred any more than any other
city. He also said that the afternoon
students would be at disadvantage
If the change were made. He urged
that @ constructive plan be outlined
and that committee be appointed
You cannot decide a question like
this in five minutes" he said, 1.-THE
lilihu Burritt school. a bigger school,
has to be considered"
Principal French made motion
that committee Of seven be ap-
pointed to study the situation, and to
report back its findings at the next
meeting on November II. Mr.. Att
wood opposed the motion declaring
that Mr.. Holmes suggestion was
good one, and that questionnaires be
sent to the parents.
Instructors Favor Change
Instructor G. w. Brewster Of the
physical department of the school
and Ralph B. Lowe of the clvics de-
pertinent, spoke in favor Of the
change. Mr.. Lowe said that at
recent meeting of the teachers o.
the school 1t was their unanimou:
decision that the present system
should be changed.
The controversy came to an enc
with the motion of W. o. Nichol:
of Black Rock avenue that ques
tionnaires be sent out, and that {
committee he appointed from thu
chair to take up this matter, ant
report at the next meeting on Nov
u. It wes passed unanimously.
Supt. Holmes Addresses Association
Superintendent Holmes gave al
interesting talk at meeting Of tn
Parents and Teachers association
at It's meeting last night In whicl
he urged that the association con
fine itself to subjects that properl.
belong to It, and said that II it wer'
managed wisely it would accomplish
great things.
During his talk he brought ou
six distinct points. He urged tha
the association through a commit
fee should study the school, an
obtain clear conception Of VIII
there is a junior high school.
Every school Of any size needs
means of communication betweei
the faculty and parents, and be
tween the parents and school board
hes said. The Parents and Teach
ers' association Is the organization
that supplies this means.
Matters foreign TO the associa
ton aims should not be discussed
he advised. Rather parents shoul
take an active interest In the sur