New Britain herald., 1930-09-12

The loss in school attendance in the section accommodated by the Rockwell and Camp schools is plain ly due to the increased number of retail stores in the section and its lessened use for residence purposes.
 The losses in the districts cov- cred by the (a) Elihu Burritt and Smalley schools; (b) the Washing ton and Bartlett schools; (c) the Cham berlain, Smith and Roosevelt schools are probably due to a de- creased demand for new residence buildings and a consequent slacken- ing of building operations.
 ''The many new homes erected in the Lincoln district should have a tendency to increase the attendance in the Lincoln school.
 The increases in attendance in the districts covered by {a) the North end school; (b) the Vance school; (c) the Stanley school. and (d) the Israel Putnam school indicates q steadya increase in the number of homes in the vicinity of these schools.
 The large increase in the Frank lin school has already resulted in the erection of an eight room addi- ton to that building.
 Tt is evident that additional school room for elementary grades will be needed in the Nbrthend and Stanley districts. With careful plan ming it will probably be possible to defer building in these districts for another year. In no other districts is the need for additional school room indicated or in prospect at this time.
 The Senior High school needs have been satisfactorily met by the new addition and the renovation of the older parts of the school plant. For some years, or until such time as the attendance of the Senior High school exceeds 1000 pupils, the present plant should be adequate.
 T do not believe it advisable at the present time to urge any in creased accommodation for Junior High schools. The fact that there has been no increase in the total at tendance in elementary schools since 1928 will be reflected in the Junior High schools within the next two years, and unless much larger per cent than usual of the classes rn Ia nf q al r,t VI, schools enters the Junior High schools, there will be no extraor- dinary increase in the Junior High schools that will call for enlarged Junior High school capacity.
 Rockwell Vocational School
 The marked decrease in the at tendance in Grades I to VI inclusive at the Camp and Rockwell schools together with the discontinuance of the classes for Grades VII and VIII at the Camp school beginning with the opening of the school year in September 1880, has made it seem advisable to combine the elementary grades of these two schools in the Camp school alone, and to discon- tlnue the use of the Rockwell school as regular elementary school. The vote of the school committee au, | thorizing this action has made il possible 10 make use of the Rock well building as a special vocationa, school for boys and girls who are now in Grades III, ", V. VI of the elementary schools, but who are from three to four years above the normal age for these grades. Ac- cording to a survey made in May last, 174 boys and girls over thir, teen years of age were then ir Grades III, ", V, and VI. The regular school work of these grades which challenges and arouses the effort of the children of normal age and capacity has little in it to inter. est the minds of these boys and girls who are too old for the gra des ir which they are. and too mature physically to be classified with chil. dren three or more years younger They cannot qualify for working certificates, and are, therefore obliged by law 10 remain in some school until they have passed thei sixteenth birthday
 They cannot secure entrance tt the Trade school because Of the re | qulrement now in force for the com ! pletlon of the eighth grade, The, have neither the interest nor thu capacity for academic studies tC enable them to ever complete thu ! eighth grade. They need to contin | ne in school The law demands tha l they continue in school
 But the school should be on l which meets their needs and satisfe 1 their interests and ambitions l school which will continue the regu | lar school studies for a portion O 1 each day and at the same time vii i give attention to occupational in strUction and practice which will f 1 them better for competent service il i scmi-sl5illed occupations This achoo