The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-01
City's Educational
 Bill Growing
Donovan's Report Proves Cost Rising Despite Att
 tempts at Economy

The board of education met yes terday afternoon and listened to a report from Supt. M. c. Donovan which showed that no matter what some may say about economy, Wa terbury will have to continue add ing to it's educational facilities. The report made it clear that the city Is lucky that it does not have to educate all the children else the expense would be much higher.
 Bills to the amount of $22,305.44 were approved and recommended for payment. A communication was received from D. T. Earring ton offering for sale the house and lot adjoining the property bought some time ago in Fairlawn. The communication was placed on file.
 The following recommendations of the committee on activities were read and approved:
 Emerald Juniors, b a k etball team, Maloney gymnasium, Tues day evenings; Bearcat Aces. bas- ketball team, Maloney gymnasium, Friday evenings; Fulton A. c. bas- ketball team, Columbia gymnasium, Monday evenings; the Washington Hills basketball team, Washington gymnasium, Saturday afternoons; the Sacred Heart Jrs basketball team Croft gymnasium, Monday evenings the Sacred Heart paro- chial school basketball team, Croft gymnasium, Tuesday evenings.
 To the principal of Slocum school, Miss Pagan, permission has been granted to use the school gym nasium some afternoon during the early part of December for an en- tertainment, charging admission the proceeds to be used for school purposes.
 To the Waterbury branch of the American Electro-Platers society, permission has been granted to use the chemical laboratory at Will by high school one night a week to give a course in the analysis of electro-plating solutions. They will furnish their own instructors and the pupils will be under the gen. eral discipline of Prin. Joseph P. Kennedy, the principal of Wilby high school.
 To Miss Ida Fucito and group of girls, permission has been grant ed to use the Duggan gymnasium on the evening of Dec 5 for a so- cial.
 To the Hopeville Crescents bas- ketball team permission has been granted to use the Hopeville school gymnasium one Friday eve- ming for a basketball game, charg- ing admission, the proceeds to be given to the Milk fund.
 The Crosby basketball game schedule for 1931-32 and a finan- cial report received from the Cros- by Athletic association have been received and approved.
 The board exchanged opinions on the advisability of a closer study of the history of Waterbury in the grammar grades and at the High schools. It was stated that committee consisting of the su- perintendent. Principal Gilmartin and Mrs Webster should be asked to prepare a short history of Wa terbury for use in the schools. No vote was passed, but the superin- tendant promised to give the mat ter consideration.
 The following communication was read by Superintendent M. C. Donovan and ordered recorded:
 November 30, 1881. To the Board of Education,
 City of Waterbury.
 Gentlemen:- .t -
 I report the registration in grades and high. schools, as cor rected November 16, as follows: Grades and kindergartens.. 13,677 High schools ............. $50 , Total in all public schools. 17,640
 Some additional data will be Of interest:
 Total in grades this year. 13,677 Total in grades in ESQ.,. 13,97S Decrease in grades and kin
 dergartenS ............. %0o
 year s.sss
 wear .......... s.56s Increase in high schools
 over last year .......... 4Oo Total in grades this year. 13,677 Total in grades in 1929.... 14,124 Decrease since 1929 ...... 447
 wear sn - s,s6s Total in high schools in 1928 2,994
 1923 ...,.. 96s Total in grades this year. 13,667 Total in grades in 1927..... 14, 46 Decrease since 1927 ...... 4!e Total in grades this year,. 13'6SI Total in grades in 1926.... l4,osS Decrease since 1928 ...... Azs Total in high schools this ..
 year ......s...... o'oooo Total in high schools in ls21 z's<e Gain in high schools since ,.s
 1HZI Ae4oo
 The key to this apparent anomaly is this. In 1923, the new immigration law went into effect Most of the large families of the city are those of the most recent corners to America. By 1925. the effects of the new law began to show. In 1928. we had in our first grade 2,112 pupils. this year we have in first grade 1,661, making loss ln first grade of .445. The first grade Is the key grade, but . simillar decrease took place in grades 2. q, A and 6. on the con trary, the eighth grade this year as compared with the eighth grade Az AAaa