The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-26
CHILD STUDY ASSOCIATION TAKES EXCEPTION TO THE GRIFFENHA0EN
 SCHOOL REPORT.
Waterbury, Conn.,.
 Al An aaaa

Editor of The Democrat:
 The city of Waterbury has ate tained world. fame built on re- finement in the mass production of useful articles. Thus far the prac- tice has been confined to its legiti- mate field of pins, eyelets, buckles, timepieces and other inaminate things. If, however, the recom- mendations of the 0riffenhagen Report 90 far as it concerns our school system, were to be carried out or even approached, we should have the unique distinction of hav- ing extended this policy to the edu- cation of our children; and we might expect "puneh-press" uni- formity and sameness In the re- suits.
 The juggling of teachers and cliil- dren aS there proposed resembles nothing so much as the shaking down of little metal punchings in c box, and where necessary, leveling of the top. The suggested shifting about of teachers and principals is little short of ridiculous, and could only result in both groups spending, along with their pupils, c much greater time than now, on the streets of Waterbury. Opportunity for individual work between teach- CTS and children would be lost, and an immediate reaction would be ape parent in added expense due to the increase of retarded pupils. We doubt that the proprietor of Q pros gressive wayside kennel would show such disregard for his puppies.
 We gravely question that the rec- commended overcrowding of classes, particularly in the kindergarten, is based on data emanating from pro- gressive or authoritative sources; and We cannot feel that the individ- uals responsible for the compilation of the report would care to have their offspring so herded together. Any teacher confronted with such classes would find so much of her time occupied with disciplinary acc tivities that her efforts at teaching could be but c gesture.
 Tn making comparisons between Waterbury and other communities, both as to expenditures in general and as to teachers salaries, the oompilers of the report have select- cd among American cities those which best suited their purposes. While they have been more astute than to go to the admittedly Hitter. ate districts for their data, yet they have included c number of commu- nities. like the so-called textile cities" which have lately suffered depreSsive conditions not found in places where the manufacture of metal articles predominated. Had the object of the report been to prove the exact opposite of the con. clusions here arrived at, we have no doubt 1t would have been equally easy to select among the cities of north- eastern United States those whose records would serve to con. firm the desired points. Tn any event, 1t seems to have been aSsuln- cd that c high education expendi- ture per pupil is . matter to be de- plored.
 We, on the other hand, feel 1t c matter to boast about. So long as the citizenry can be assured that those moneys are not being sur- reptitiously diverted into illigitimate channels, the education budget is about the wisest investment that can be made of municipal funds. Considering the unsought fame which has been Waterburys in re- cent months, rather than drag our school system dcwn to c consistent level, we might well strive to retain for 1t the reputation 1t has justly won In equipping our young people for the practical walks of life or for higher education.
 This section of the report deals with that part of the city's activ. ities wherein there are probably the fewest opportunities for misappro- priation and diversion of funds, and the least question as to the wisdom of generous expenditures. Thus far the school report is the only one made available to the taxpayers, and we wait with interest the publica-