New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 9, 1916, Page 6

NEW. BRITAIN DAILY HERALD, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, YOUR FRIENDS—w ho came out to “Belvidere Heights,” last Sunday—took home with them some very The sight that presented itself to ¢the the property they had seen opened only a year ago—had been trans- formed into a thriving, industrious (8) homes built or under construction, with graded streets, cement sidewalks, shade trees, city water, gas and useful presents. visitors, was one of absolut electricity. The question heard on all sides was—isn’t it wonder- How has it been accomplished? and answer was—We are New Britain’s pre-eminent develop- ment company and we devote our entire time to this work and have educated the people of this city to the point— where they expect and demand graded streets, sidewalks, ul? etc. e surprise, for the settlement of eight cheerful good fortune. When the integrity of the company was their enthusiasm knew no bounds—until they had lected their Bungalow site, then with an intense feeling of delight, they went home to advise their friends of their Special This Week The special lots which we advertised last week, were both sold, with some others and our special this week, will be a lot 38 feet front x 150 feet deep, on Avenue, where we have all improvements, for only $169. on easy terms of $25.00 down with two weeks in which to make this payment, then $3.00 per month, with no taxes or interest for two years. explained, se- S Hill Crest i Another A lot on Lake Boulevard street, sidewalks, only $310.00. Terms same as above. hts” Special 50x135 feet, with REMEMBER—these specials go as soon as they are een, so try to see them first. There is no reason, if you have some ambition, why you cannot have a home, with our co-operation. Come Onut and see the C hange in Hill Crest Avenue n the ast week. FREE DRAWING of Presents Sunday Afternoon, 404 Wational Bank Building ew fi’riain School System Analyzed From Many Angles buperintendent S. H. Holmes ’ Reviews Many Vital Prob- lems in Tenth Annual Report—Vecational Training; Increasing Attendanc Buperintendent of Schools Stanley Holmes submitted his tenth annual bort at the September meeting of school board yesterday and the ument covering nearly 30 type- fitten pages was received with much lerest as it covers in detail the lo- | school situation from many angles. Irhe growth of the schools caused the rapid increase in the city’s bulation and the need for new fidings to accommodate the con- nt increasing attendance is gone b at length. Considerable space is boted to the new phase in educa- through the introduction of voca- lhal training and many other educa- al problems are exhaustively dis- feed and recommendations offered. fihe report is essentially as follows: the School Committee: entlemen: This report, the tenth hich it has been my privilege to pre- t to your committee, covers the pric of the schools for the year from [ptember 1915 to June 1916. [Your attention is invited to the lowing: Summary of Statistics. [Population of New Britain, 16, estimated at 56,000. luation of all taxable property in city, June, 1916 .$45,609,958.00 hluation all city property, April, 1916. , 6,514,764.41 pluation of all school property, April, 1916. Pupil Ayerage number blic schools, 7472 Average daily attendance in all pub- schools, 6859 Percentage of attendance to num- Br belonging, 91.79. Approximate number of pupils ivate schools, 3326. Whole number of pupils registered all public day schools, 8811. ! Average number of pupils per room | elementary grades exclusive of indergartens and High school, based total number registered, 48. Average number of pupils in each indergarten based on total num- r registered, 68. Average number of pupils to each cher in Kindergarten based on mber belonging, 21. Average number of pupils to teach- r in grades one to six, based on umber belonging, 34. Average number of pupils to teach- r in_grades seven and eight, based on umber belonging, 25. Average number of pupils to teach- r in High school, based on number pelonging, 26. Number of pupils igh school, 1167 s 1 1 June, 1,286,300.00 belonging in all in enrolled in the Schools, Element Grammar schools, XKindergartens, Whole number of buildings, 18. Whole number of school buiidings # use, 13 WWhole number of rooms occupied, mne, 1916, 247, School rooms occupled, June, 1916, 247 gh school Teachers. Principal of High school 1. High school teachers, 39. Iden, 6; women, 3 i Principal of Grammar and Prevo- cational Schools, 1. Teachers of Grammar and Prevo- ecational schools—Men, industrial, women, industrial 4; regular, 28; tal, 39. Principals of Elementary schools— Men, 1; women, 13; total, 14. Teachers of Elementary schools, 137. Teachers of Kindergartens, 18. Supervisor of music, 1 to- Kindergartens, 15, i age of inc e and New Schools. Supervisor of drawing and arts, 2. Teachers of sewing, 2. Director of physical training, 1. Supervisor of primary grades and 1 Total number of teachers in day | chools, June, 1916, 257. Vacation school teachers, principal, ; assistants, 13; total, 14. Evening school teachers, principal, ; assistants, 37; total, 38. i small, being has grades 1-6 been comparatively 2-10 per cent, but that he increase in average daily attend- ance for the same grades was but 2-10 per cent. This is undoubtedly to be accounted for (1) in the prevalence of measles and the resulting absences due to illness and to the enforcement of quarantine by the health depart- ment and (2) in the fact that the sig- nal of no session of the schools has | comparatively | been sounded only a few times during the year and that the number of absences to be counted has thus been considerably increased. Decreaso in Tardines In the elementary and grammar grades, i. 1-8, very in the relative number of tardiness noted. isfactory increase in and dismissals is to High school. Unusual business conditions and op- satisfactory decrease of be a cases and dismissals is to both tardiness be noted in the Day Schools. Average number belonging, 1914-15 Average number belonging 1915-16 Increase Per cent. of increase.... .. .. Average Daily Attendance 1914-1 Average Daily Attendance 1915-16 In ease Per cent. Tardin, Tardines Tncrease of increase., . s—Number of cases 191 Dismissals—Number of cases 1914-15 Dismissals—Number of cases 1915-16.. Increase *Decrease. —Number of cases 1914-15..... nd. 1-6 5399 116 2.2 4894 4883 bt .2 3312 3463 151 1066 842 224% (l( Gr. 7-8 High Total 934 998 64 6.8 898 950 Evening Schools. Total enrollment, 1914-1 Total enrollment, 1915 Decrease, 354. Average number belonging, 16, 1069. 1914- 15, 636. Average number belonging, 1915- 16, 468. Deccrease 167. Average daily 1914-15, attendance, 541 attendance, 1914-15, Average daily 366. 175. of Decrease, Per cent. 1914-15, attendance, 85.2. Per cent. of attendance, 1915-16, 78.7. Summer Schools. Total enrollment, 1914-15, Total enrollment, 1915-16, Increase, 2. Average number belonging, 381. Average number belonging, 16, 344. Decrease, 37. Average daily 348. Average daily 301. Decrease, Per cent. 91.4. Per cent. 87.3. 9 o. 1914- 1915- atendance, 1914-15, attendance 1915-16, 47, of attendance, 1914-15, of attendance, 1915-16, Special Summer Class, Total enrollment, 191415, 27. Total enrolment, 1915-16, 20. Decrease, 7. Average number belonging, 1914- number belonging, 1915- Decrease, 7 Average daily attendance, 23.54. Average daily attendance, 16. Decrease, 7.54. Per cent. of 94.3. Per cent. of 91.6. 1914~ attendance, 1914-15, attendance, 1915-16, Day School Increase. The foregoing attendanc the day schools show a fair percent- se in both the average number belonging and in the average daily attendance. The most import- ant increases have been made in the seventh and eighth grades (the Pre vocational-Grammar school) and in the High school grades. It will be noted that the increase in the number belonging in the element- ary grades, 1 e, Kindergarten and 1915-16, | figures for | :all the portunity for sponsible for evening schools than that 1914-15 The attendance figures for the va- cation school for the summer of 1916 were only slightly different from those of the summer of 1915 Vocational Iigh School. The completion and occupancy of the new Vocational High school in February 1916 marked the realization of the program of improvement and development for the school which had its beginning more than four vears ago. In August, 1916, the State Trade school was transferred to the control of the city school department and since that time New Britain has had a school system which is com- plete in all departments and which provides for the educational needs of outh of the community. It now remains for those who have the school interests in charge to see to it that all departments of the school s: tem are so managed as to glve a maxi- mum of efficiency at a reasonable ex- pense. The educational opportunities now available for the youth of the should be a source of great tion to the people of New Britain and their continued efficiency should be guaranteed by the same loyal and generous support, financial and other- wise, which has always been given' to the schools. School Attendance. A prime requisite for success in school work is regularity of attend- This is recognized in the re- ment of the stote law which de- wmds that every child between the s of eight and fourteeen shall be in regular attendance upon some day school unless prevented by illness or feeble-mindedness. In spite of the fact that the inter- ests of the children and of the com- munity male it imperative that the le- 1 requirement be respected and lived up to, it is nevertheless true that there employment an attendance were re- in the considerably smaller of the year before, i. e., ! are many parents who are careless as to the attendance of their cai und some who deliberately seck evade the requirements of the 3 The local situation with reference to the enforcement of the attendance law, uch as to make it particularly confusing and troublesome because of | a division of responsibility and author- ity, the city schools being under the control of the school committee, schools employed by the Normal school for practice purposes being un- der the control of the state board of education and each of the five Paroch- e, Kindergarten and Grades | On the other hand an unsat- | | serve all of the schools of whether they are a part of the pub- the | al schools being under a separate con- trol. In the case of transf public schools to other ‘schools or from the Parochial schools to the public schools, it is now next to im- possible to be assured that a with- drawal may not be followed by sever- al days or weeks of absence from school hefore the absentee is ac- counted for and made to return to school. From observation, extending over several years, it is difficult to escape the conviction that there is now alto- gether too much laxity in the enforce- ment of the attendance laws and that a remedy should be sought for the present situation. It would be a hasty conclusion to say that the truant officer should see to the enforcement of the law, for the services of the single truant officer employed by the school department are entlrely taken up with his public school duties, an occasional call being received and answered for his services at certain of the Parochial schools. It would Iso be unreasonable to as- rs from the itself about the attendance upon any lic school system, for it is the duty of the city to see to it that every child of school age is in school unless pre- vented by ill health or feeble-minded- ness. A failure to secure the full en- forcement of the school attendance laws is a matter of vital interest to the future welfare of the city and the state and we are all concerned to se- cure regular and full attendance upon all the schools whether they be public schools or other than public schools. eration is needed on the part of the city, state and parochial school au- thorities and that one or more addi- tional truant officers should be em- ployed whose duty it should be to the city lic school system or not. In view of the cordial and whole- some relations now existing between { the city, state and parochial school authorities, it should not be difficult to secure such co-operation through a conference to be invited by the school cominittee. The Teaching Force. One of the factors essential for suc- cess in the school work is a teaching force large enough to do the required work, professionally prepared and professionally alive, contented, and reasonably stable. Tt is understcod to be required by the teaching staff of the High school must have had at least one year of successful teaching experience in ad- dition to graduation from an institu- tion of college grade or the cquival- ent of such a training. In the gram- mar and eclementary grades only such teachers may be appointed as have the diploma of a recognized normal school or college or the equivalent of such professional training, no experience in a matter of fact it has been the cu tom for some time to employ only ex- perienced teachers in the grammar { grade: Tor the elementary grades and for kindergartens, appointments have for the most part been confined to inexperienced graduates of the New Britain State Normal school who are local residents. On the whole this policy has werked with satisfaction. be the only reasonable policy to fol- . To the iligh and Grammare Is in particular, teachers of prov- nd good education have been attracted in large numbers. In the schools of all srades, how- ever, the problem of zreatest difficulty that confronts us at all timesis to se- cure such stability in the teaching force as is necessary to secure contin- { ued progress and improvement in the work of the schools. In other words, the problem is this: a. To secure and to retain the ser- vices of able teachers. b. To improve the teaclters in ser- vice, particularly the inexperienced ang ineflicient. c. To eliminate from the teaching force those tedchers who are hopeless- | 1y inefficient or temperamentally unfit for the work of teaching, and so— d. To protect the teaching staff from depletion of its efficient teachers and overloading with inefficient teachers. Because we believe it to be the | the t sert that the city should not concern | of the schools not included in the pub- | most important problem of school ad- ministration this subject of the sta- bility of the teaching force is brought forward at this time for the consider- ation of the school committee. The schools must be officered by efficient teachers and the ervice. of these teachers must be retained in order to secure efficiency in the schools. a disastrous policy to permit condi- tions to arise or to continue that en- courage instability in the teaching staff and that result in short terms of ser- vice for the ineflicient. The following statement covering a period of seven years from 1909 to 1916 is submitted for your consideration. In the fall of 1909, there were nine- teen teachers in the High school staff; six years since that time, in order to keep the staff filled and to provide for additional teachers need- | ed because the growth of the school, seventy-three teachers have bees ap- pointd. Of theése twenty-one were be- cause of the growth of the school and fifty-two were to replace teachers who had withdrawn from the staff. Of hing force of the High school numbering forty in June 1916, sixteen or forty per cent. had been in the school but one year, seven or seven- teen and one-half pér cent. four years, two or five per cent. for five years, one or two and one-half per cent. for years and one or two and one-half per cent. for seven years. The were sixteen teache in the school staff in the fall of that time G 1909 provide for tions to the facul replacements and Of these twenty- | seven were additions and thirty-eight It seems plainly evident tat co-op- | wero replacements, Of the forty-two school in June, 1916, thirteen thirty per cent. had been in the school only one year, fourteen or thirty-three per cent .for two year: six or fourteen and one-half per cent. for three years, two or four and three- | to the elementary situation that is far from satisfactory. quarters per cent. for four years, two | or four ana three-quarters per cent. i for five 3 the committee that all appointecs to | teaching being required, although as | In fact it seems to | g | | i | i fie | i and seven ar three-fourths = ind five or eleven per cent. for It is safe to say that the average length of service for the individual teacher in the High scheol is approxi- mately 2 1-10 vears and that for the teacher in the Grammar school it is two and one-half yeax These facts rve to show how stable the teaching staff in both the Grammar and High schools and par- ticularly in the High school. The ef- ficiency of these schools must of nec- ssity be seriously impaired by this continual change in the teaching force. No college or private school yhich conditions were so unstable could long succeed in doing a high or even satisfactory ade of school work. To expect the impossible is not fair to the High or Grammar school. roer | A sudy of the approximate stability elemen- of of the teaching force in the ary grades covering a like period time from 1909 to 1916 has recently been made by Miss Fallon, per’ or of instruction in elementary grades. The following statement is a presen- tation of the important facts set forth in Miss Fallon’s report “The highest possible degree of st bility in the teaching force is nece: sary in order to secure to th chools— Adequate familiarity with the rstem and the course of study. v degree of maturity. tion of established angd ideals. Without all of these no amount of effort on the part of the supervisory officers will permanently avail. In 1909 there were ninety-one ele- mentary teachers. In 1916 (June) there were 110 ele- mentary teachers. With the above additions made the highest possible degree of that could have heen maint the elomentary grades would been 91-100 of the force in June, 1916, 82 7-10 per cent As a matter of however, the positive stability of the teaching rce was but fourteen and one-half cent. The following percentages of insta- bility aro significant: e ined in have fact, per Number. ability caused by lures (@) In 31 caused by of wealk (b) Instability transfer It is | mmar Since xty-five teachers have been appointeq in thé Grammar school to addi- teachers in the or un- | " | cations. teachers .......... Total instability caused by wealk teaching Instability caused by with- drawals to marry or to give up teaching. .. Instability caused by the transfer of able teachers Appointed since 1909 and now in the same school Remaining in the same grade as in 1909 321 Totals .. 5 o5 5 rther invited to these Attention is fu important fact Of the 110 teachers employed in the elementary grades in June, 1916, only 40 or 36 3-10 per cent. were of the | force of elementary teachers employed in 1909 and only sixteen teachers, or 14 1-4 per cent of the teaching force in June, 1916, were in the same schools and doing the same grade of work as in 1909. During the seven years from 1909 to 1916, 213 different teachers were employed to fill a maximum of 110 positions, so that the teaching forco of the elementary schools changed approximately 1 9-10 times in the seven years. In order to avert strength where it was most needed, and place weakness where it would do the least harm, teachers have fre- quently be transferred (some be- cause of their strength and others be- failure, place ' 1 total number of gnments ap- preciably larger than the number of | different teachers employed, namely 321 or 29-10 times the maximum number of positions existing. The foregoing statement with ref- erence to the changes in the teaching force of the High and Grammar ! schools and the interesting and im- ! portant facts gathered from Miss Fal- {lon’s valuable report with reference grades, reveals a | It is undoubtedly true that the ef- { ficiency of the schools is Dbeing af- | fected by the lack of stability in the teaching much more riously !and to a greater degree than is safe or should be necessary and that the ,lack of stability is on the increase since the schools are ! perienced and efficient teachers faster | than they are supplying them. A problem of serious importance is thus presented for consideration. i How are the schools to be kept sup- plied with a due proportion of ex- | perienced teachers and how are effi- cient teachers to be retained in the schools? 1 So far schoo ¢ concerned, the problem is that of the retention of the efficient teachers and two things seem to offer at least partial solution of problem To, ) ible, s possible appoint as ot so far as po: » proportion tea s in these schools who are re | dents of Connecticut provided are able to offer the ne v q It is true that it is not al- iways pc ble to carry out this polic but nevertheless the policy should be recogn d as it will undoubtedly have some considerable effect upon i the stability of the teac z force. | To readjust the salary schedules in ]Ulr schools so that they may be iplaced upon a fair basis for compe- [titlon with other schools in this sec- | tion. | The leave are, as jru ble rvices are | | considered by other schools of a high- | er value than the New Britain schools | | have been able to offer. ! | so long the present differences exist between our own salary schedules and those of other towns and citles around us our own schoois must continue to suffer the constant loss of able teachers So far as the elementary schools are concerned, it would secm that qer- tain changes in our present plan of filling vacancies in the teaching force should be given careful consideration. Since instability is increased by the present custom of filling nearly ail va- | cancies in the elementary grades with | inexperienced graduates of the local | Normal school, preferably those who are residents of New Britain, taken | Afrom the list in the order of rank, | the only requirement for clig&blhlyi teachers who teachers whose as cause of their weakness) making the | < to appointment being graduation from the Normal school, it seems necessary for the proper protection of the schools to establish more definite and exacting standards of eligibility for the appointment of inexperienced teachers and for their re-election aft- er a reasonable trial in the schools as follow By requiring of inexperienced can- didates that they shall hav tained a given per cent. of excellence in their Normal school cou theréby providing for a maximum of security against failure. By choosing teachers not in the or- der of their rank on a waiting list but with reference to the grade of work to be done, thus avoiding a chain of transfers to make room for teachers who are unfitted for existing vacancies. By securing for the schools the ser- vices of a fair proportion of able teachers of experience who should be distributed throughout the elementary grades. § By establishing a limit to the length of time in which a teacher whe continues to do unsatisfactory work may be considered as a candic for re-election. It is hoped that the foegoing sug- gestion may be given the serious con- sideration of the committee. School Equipment. So far as the material equipment of existing schools is concerned, it is a | pleasure to report that they are all | well equipped with practically all" things necessary for the satisfactory | accomplishment of the school work. A wisely liberal policy has beer followed in furnishing books and apparatus, so that conditions ¢ good at the present time. The buildings are in 1 safe and sanitary as constant attention can make them. School Accommodations, supyx S re are and c ! the opening of the new losing the ex- | i th i High schools i the High and Grammar | the | inf | Hill The relief of the overcrowded con- | ditions at the High school secured by Vocational *hool in February is much Adjustment of the pro to the change w quickly and the school is now able to g full d work for all of it The increase in attendance h rapid, however, since the erecti the new building was decided the limit of the capacity already nearly reached thus making it n ry to recom- mend that the copmittee take under consideration, in the ne: future, »l for the provision of High school accommodations Like consideration will also need to be given at no distant day to the pro- vision of more room for the Grammar and Prevocational schools. The solution of the vexing situation overcrowding at the Burritt and Bartlett schools which will be afford ed by the erection of new school at the north end of the ci promises a welcome relief. Tt to be honed that this building may be pushed for- ward to completion as rapidly as pos- sible in order to do ¢ 1 ith the half attendance which will be nece for many pupils until the new buildin ready for use The enlargement « ty Os “hool made necessary by the creased attendance in that district will iated by parents pupils and teac in that district The schools in all other tricts of the city have bec ably filled during the recommendation for incres commod ons seem to bhe necessary at this time. althou probahly t that bnildnig ¢ ment in the south end of make the provision of m rooms in that side of the sary within a short time t ime n od by in- also be ais- comfort- and the n ve: no ac- tively it is velop will hool neces- . city s and Surveys. st committee management to of ach- the - the wppointed from the te of school conditions efficiency of the school 1 different lines have undertaken during the year. surveys undertaken arc Reading, penmanship, arith- echool attendance, the school plant. Those in reading and penman- ship have already been completed. The others are still in progress The results in reading and penman- It know co ing fc and te T been The lows: metic, will that fol- dditional *