The Portland daily press., 1864-03-22
Our Common Schools.

or city so large rate of interest as that for
common schools, if wisely and judiciously ex-
pended. A good, practical education should
be forced upon every child capable of receiv-
ing it, and the best possible facilities afforded
for obtaining it. To turn boy or girl out
upon society without knowledge of the es-
sential branches OF education, is to throw an
increased burden upon police officers, and I'LL
our reform schools, jails and penitentiaries,
with the victims of idleness and vice.
1t should be the first business of town or
city to provide an opportunity for all to OBJ
tain aprdcticdt education, by which we mean,
more particularly, a knowledge of reading,
writing, arithmetic and a special knowledge
OF such other branches as may be of value in
the particular business in which the boy may
intend to engage. If circumstances render it
impossible for boy to attend school more
than three or four months in year, and that
for only five or six years, it would be.
| unwise to devote that time to the study of
Algebra or French. The studies to be perused
should depend, somewhat, upon the business
TO be entered upon, and the time to be allowed
in attendance at school.
There are several ways in which wise ex-
penltiures for common schools bring back a
liberal return. A man with money, who is
looking around for place to spend his days,
if he has children, will enquire what facilities
are afforded for their education, before he in
vests his money in house, or lot on which
to erect one, and his decision will depend,
Wh 4ho OH
of the schools in the district where everything
else invites him to locate. Education also
affords an increased security against vice and
crime of all kinds, diminishing thereby the
public expenses and enhancing the public
safety. The boy who cannot find amuse-
ment and employment for his leisure hours in
reading will seek it in the street or the place
where those like himself most do congregate
to corrupt each others morals.
Within few years past special attention
has been paid TO the wants of the rising gen.
Grafton in this city. Commodous and attrac-
tive school houses have been erected, not ex-
ccedsd in architectural arrangement and in
beauty of finish by any in New England.
This is wise economy. The days of by
school houses have passed away, and times Of
well-ventilated, beautifully constructed and
well finished edifices entered upon. The close
listed, childless miser may complain of and
| groan under the burden imposed upon him,
but the far-seeing man who understands how
much good society depends upon good schools,
invites taxation for their support. The work
so nobly entered upon, we trust will not be
allowed to stop until every district has
school house equal in all important particu-
lars with, Or as well adapted to its wants as
that on Cumberland street.
The next consideration, perhaps the first in
| point of Importance, is suitable teachers. A
diploma from college is no evidence of quail
| ifcations to teach a school. A man may have
graduated with the highest honors from the
best college or seminary in the world and still
be incompetent to teach the young. A par
TALLY educated man, with aptness to teach,
with faculty to impart knowledge and call
out the thought and latent powers OF the
young, is more successful than highly edu-
Gated man without these qualifications.
In this particular, SO far as we have the
means of knowing, the school committee of
this city, have exercised much care and pru-
dence. They are only trammeled by the
limited and insufficient salaries appropriated
by the city authorities. To have good arti-
Gle, a good price must be paid. Teachers who
are well qualified for their places, either male
or female, win not long remain in places where
their labor is not appreciated and fair CON-
pensaton paid for it. 1t is evidently the
wisest economy to secure the best teachers by
paying good wages.
The number of children in this state between
the ages of four and twenty-one years is 1884,,
775. The number of school-houses, 1897.
The number built during the past year 70, at
cost of $4,000, of which amount $50, 900 was
expended for one school-house in this city.
The estimated value of all the school-houses
in the State is 81 100000. The number of
teachers employed is 1892 The average rate
of wages besides board for male teachers,
is S24.l0; for female teachers 81. "a which rates
cannot obtain first class teachers of either
sex. The amount of school money raised by
taxation is S4l6,6 $50 69-tlie amount of public
school fund S16l ,250.16-Bank tax distributed
to schools $T9, $50.
A liberal policy has been adopted by the
Legislature in providing for the establishment
of two Normal schools, the necessity for
which has been long understood by those who
have been connected with the educational in
terests of the state. But whatever may be
the hardness of the state policy, We trust this
city, with its immense capital and enlarged
and constantly enlarging public spirit, will not
suffer for the want of any reasonable expen-
diture for the education of those who are in
few years to take control of our municipal
affairs, and on whom will depend the moral
and commercial condition Of our prosperous
and promising city.
From the annual report of the School Com
mittee, just issued, for the year ending April
1864, we gather some facts that cannot fail to
interest many of our readers. The whole
number of scholars connected with all the
schools in this city, including the Islands, is
5427-the average attendance 1901. To ac-
commodate them there are twenty five schools.
The High School of which Mr.. w. P. Tucker
is Principal, with seven assistants, has con-
nected with it 2S6 scholars, male and female,
with an average attendance of 260. There is
also school for girls, intermediate between
the Grammar and High school called the
Willis school, with 81 scholars. There are