New Britain herald., 1927-11-25

large type and scattering them broadcast. There now need be no more doubt as to what the city has expended in its efforts to bring the educational plant up-to-date.
 The cost Of the new schools. and what the city has obtained for it's money, can he given in succinct paragraphs,
 The new Lincoln school cost S55G,noo l. contains IS rooms, a Kindergarten. gymnasium, two playrooms, and al auditorium. The capacity is 500 pupils. The play ground contains five acres.
 The Roosevelt school cost s350,- ooo, contains 12 rooms. an audi torium and a gymnasium, can accommodate Goo pupils. and the playground around it contains seven acres. The school has been built with q view Of turning it into a junior high school if necessary.
 The Vance school cost s30o,oo0, contains IS rooms, a Kindergarten, gymnasium and an auditorium. The capacity ie 500 pupils and the play ground contains 3-a acres.
 
 The Benjamin Franklin school cost S2SG,d0o. contains fl rooms, a Kindergarten. gymnasium and audi torium has capacity for GSo pu- pills, and the playground embrace, three acres.
 The Nathan Hale Junior high annex cost s235,ooo, contains 20 rooms, shop rooms, two gymnasiums and has playground of seven acres.
 From the foregoing it can be de- tcrmined that the Lincoln school, in addition to accommodating a maxi mum Of pupils, contains one feature not q part Of any Of the others-two play rooms. These are in connection with the kindergarten and the first graders, and parents who have in vcstlgatcd speak highly of this in novation. Tots nowadays are increas- lnsly being taught the rudiments of their early learning through play, so that the importance of the play rooms can be easily determined. The youngsters do not "wrestlc" with the abstruse beginnings Of their educa- ton any more, they play into their | highly commendable method. The needs for the future are given as follows: An addition providing % more classrooms 10 the senior high school, and the modernizng of the present building. Relief" Of some kind for he junior high schools. and If this relief is not provided quickly q part-time arrangement is the out look for September, 1928. The Northend school needs enlargement and modernizing.
 This program doesn't seem 10 be | very radical considering the growing demands being made upon the school system. That nothing will be done without due consideration can be taken for granted; but that some thing substantial will be done in or der 10 avoid q recurrence of the diff flculties of the past can be regarded as within the realms of certainty. Progress needs to be made, and there is little incentive 10 stop in | progressive and growing community. ] In addition 10 the aforementioned buildings needing improvement there are some others in the school plant which are classified as second class buildings. These arc the Cham- ! hcrlain, Smith, Rockwell, Bartlett and Old Burritt schools, the latter due 10 be disposed of in due time, although now in uso temporarily after having been discarded This latter incident shows that there is no possibility of being too sure thcschool situation is conquered. Few last year | thought the old Burritt school would again be in use. The cost Of maintaining the schools mounts with the population; thus the total during 192G-o7 was S1,011,95o The per pupil costs, il is gratifying to note, have been well under the average. this city being fifth in q list Of inc seven leading cities Of the state. The cost per pupil in New Britain is s79.3G. The cost in Hartford is slo5.Sl, in Meriden s104.5G. Stamford and Waterbury | are likewise higher in per pupil , costs than New Britain. When it is considered that the per pupil costs represent the infallible yardstick of measurement the record in New Britain cannot he regarded iu any other light than gratifying.
 Pride in the schools is an Amer ican instinct, In order to be proud Of : fNrm thoN rnMSt be of q natmrn to