The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-04

Naugatuck, Dec. 4.-Steps to re-
move traffic hazards near local
schools, particularly the Oak street,
Rubber avenue and high schools,
following the December meeting Of
the board Of warden and burgesses
yesterday afternoon in the high
school.
Discussion of the danger Of autos
to students at those schools was
the feature Of the meeting which
lasted only IS minutes.
Superintendent Harold E. Chit
fenden was authorized to confer
with Warden John j. Sheridan and
Chief of Police John A. Adamson
concerning steps to abolish fast
driving In the vicinity Of these
schools.
The main danger to children in
these schools Is at the, time OF
assembly and dismissal, the super
intendent said. There is much fast
driving on High street In the vicin-
ity of the Oak street school and also
on Rubber avenue and around
both sides of the high school he
pointed out.
At the high school, especially at
dismissal time, there are $50 chill
dren released from school who cross
the street almost in a body, the
superintendent explained, and
sometimes autos don't want to even
slow down at this time. think
it Is quite remarkable we have
had no trouble so far" Mr.. Chit
tenden stated.
Several types Of signs to be
placed at points along the road
at or near the schools were Sug-
gested by some board members.
It was explained that the jani-
tors at the local schools go out to
watch the children when they
cross the streets but Supt. Chitten-
den said that there are no police
men at any point in the vicinity
of the public schools. It was
brought out however, that on Main
street and in some other sections
not near the school, the policemen
slow traffic to let the children
cross the street.
Too Much Speeding
Attorney Henry Freeman said he
was of the opinion that the war
dea had the matter in his mind,
having discussed with Mr.. Freeman
recently the matter Of slowing
traffic near the cemetery near Oak
street school. Speed limits have
been imposed on several main
streets, recently, he said.
Although Mr.. Freeman suggested
appointment Of committee to
make a traffic survey Of conditions
near local schools, no definite &C.
ton on this was taken.
1000 Deposits
School savings deposits are hold
ing up well, Supt. Chittenden told
the board. There are about 1000
active accounts that Is 1000 chill
dren deposit money each week.
The National Youth Administra-
ton is still in operation in local
schools, Mr.. Chittenden said. There
are II attending high school en-
rolled in that program. For a GER
tain number Of hours work each
month, each gets So which Is sup
posed to help them In securing an
education.
The total enumeration Of chill
dren In the borough between the
ages of four and is showed that
there was q decline of los since
1885, there being 2,703 this year
and 2,808 last year.
Mr.. Chittenden said the trend
downward has been steady IN the
past few years ond just when 1t will
hit bottom is hard to tell. Oddly
enough although the enumeration
figures are much less, the number
of children In the schools has in
creased.
The situation today is quite a
contrast to that Of IS years ago, the
superintendent asserted. Now there
are as many students Of advanced
years in the school as there are Of
lower years. Formerly the lower
grades totaled many more students
than the high school classes as
more dropped out then.
However the high school enroll
ment has dropped to 1855, decline
Of 20 since last month and Of 80
from the 895 figre when the school
term started. The present figure is
about the same as last year.
Financial Loss
The enumeration drop reduces
somewhat the revenue the school
gets from the state. The state pays
the local school department $2.25
for every one enumerated. With a