New Britain herald., 1928-09-14

sion. 1t 10 true that New Britain u
not obliged to maintain Q high
school. But 1t u also true that every
boy or girl in New Britain or in any
other town In Connecticut who de-
sires q high school education 10 as
sured of such education by the state
board Of education. and the town or
city in which he resides must pay
for it. together with necessary trans
portation to and from school. II the
school is in some town other than
that in which the pupil lives. lin
certain small towns In Connecticut.
the state department Of education 10
responsible for one-half Of the ex-
pense for high school tuition and
transportation. This provision would
not apply to New Brittany
What is the Matter With the Pres
ent Senior High School Plant?
This question may be answered
briefly as follows:
1T is too small. 1t has been 10
inadequate for some time that all
means be used for school room pur-
poses has been converted to that
use. including rooms in Easements
and elsewhere that are entirely UNI
suited for classrooms.
1.-The continued growth Of the
school will within a year make 1t
necessary to divide the school into
two sections, giving onl half day
of schooling to each section.
"All science laboratories, includ-
ing those for general science, BIZ
ology, chemistry and physics need to
be provided with modern furniture
and equipment.
IAN toilets need to be modern
lied and made to conform to the
present plumbing code.
1.-The electric lighting and wiring
needs to be overhauled and improv-
ed in order to make 1t safe and
efficient. 1t Is well known that the
wiring Of the Academic Building 10
not only too light to carry the cur
rent required to adequately light the
building. but also involves = con-
slant risk of fire from overloaded
wires.
"The auditorium. with a present
capacity of approximately 200. Is
too small. In any properly equipped
Senior High school 1t IL vitality nee
essary to have an auditorium which
will permit all of the pupils Of the
school to meet in general assembly
at the same time. to promote mu-
tual understanding and apprecia-
ton, to build up a sound public
opinion in the school, and to insure
fine school spirit. Here in the au-
ditorium is where principal, teach
ers, and natural leaders among the
pupils WELD an influence Of meal
culable value and importance which
goes far beyond the school and af-
fects the life of the community. For
years the inadequate size OF the
present auditorium has made 1t inn
possible to assemble the entire
school, with a consequent loss to the
student body. For years 1t has been
necessary to so curtail admissions to
graduation exercises that friends
and relatives OF the graduating pu-
pills have been barred by hundreds.
The school needs an auditorium
that will accommodate the entire
student body at one time. II the
school is to have class room
space for two thousand pupils, the
auditorium should also accommo-
date two thousand pupils.
Nor should such an auditorium
serve school needs alone. 1t should
be so designed. equipped and man
aged as to serve community needs
and purposes as we'll. Concerts,
conventions. lectures, dramas, should
all be accommodated, and at such a
rental as will make it possible for
New Britain to have the best which
the country has to offer. This would
not only meet real community
need, but would bring to the city
increased patronage for hotels and
merchants, and make New Britain
a city of even larger importance
than it now Is.
1.-The gymnasium facilities are
entirely inadequate. They need to
be increased and improved II We
are to comply with the legal re-
quirement Of two and one-half hours