New Britain herald., 1927-05-28
SCHOOL system
DATES FROM l754
First Building Was Of One Room
is Feet Square

One hundred and seventy-four
years ago. or more than 20 years be-
fore the Revolution, New Britain es-
tablished its first school. 1t was a
simple, one-room building. IS feet
square, with a fireplace at one end.
Reading, writing. arithmetic and
spelling were the only subjects in
the curriculum, the main aim being
to- prepare pupils to read the Scrip
ture and to read and understand the
laws OF the colony.
At that time there were less than
800 people in New Britain, which
consisted of three separate hamlets,
Stanley Quarter, Hart Quarter and
East street. The largest hamlet,
where the school was located, was
on East street.
From this school came the present
school system with its modern build
ings and splendid equipment and the
unusual educational opportunities for
all, children and adults.
For 100 years. or until 1874, each
elementary school belonged to a sep
arate school district whose affairs
were settled in a meeting of the
voters of the district and managed
by a separate district committee.
This same system is now used in
Hartford and although it still has its
supporters it Is not considered as
efficient as the modern consolidated
system under which the school de-
partment Of this city is now conduct
ed.
All OF New Britain's separate dis
tricts were consolidated into a single
district and a general school COM
mittee of Il members was elected
to manage school matters for the
entire town and city. A review of the
school committe records OF the
years since 1850 discloses many in
teresting items.
In 1850 the population of the town
was 3,O29. In the II years that have
elapsed since then, the population
has increased to approximately S0,-
| 600. 1t was in 1850 that the high
school was esta blished and the State
| Normal school opened, the first il
this country. 1t has been found that
serious complaints of overcrowdina
in the schools were,made as early az
1869.
In 1870, New Britain became {
city with a population of 9,S40. II
| this same year the teaching Of music
was introduced into the public
schools. One year later drawing was
taken UP.
Probably the greatest building
year Of the 10Th century was in 1881
when the present Academic building
of the Senior High school was con
structed as well as the original por
! ton of the Central Junior High
school on Main street and the ole
Lincoln school. The latter school wa.
abandoned a few weeks ago and i:
/ on the market.
| With the building program there
| has gone an expansion ana extension
of the school program and school &C
tivities. In common with the schools
of all other progressive cities, thu
/ New Britain schools have undertaken
those newer developments ant
changes that the rapidlychangint
social and Industrial life CT the time
(, has thrust upon the educational sys
i tenn.
| Following are some OF the i'm
provements: Introduction Of com
mercial studies, special class 10
subnormal. immigrant and physical
ly handicapped children in the opel
air schools; junior high school will
pre-trade training in shops, healtl
service in the schools, thorough
organization for physical education
in all schools. an adequate organiGa
ton to care for attendance problem
in a scientific way, a method OF sal
Of milk in school as an aid to bette
nutrition. nutrition work and nutri
ton classes. and adult education de
par'ment for Amcricanization ant
general evening school work.
The school department will con
tinue to progress, it is expected. 70
1t is under the management of
progressive superintendent, Stanie
IL Holmes. who is constantly study
ing in an end"ayor to keep in ste,
with the times.
Special Notice