The Portland daily press., 1870-12-10
Education in Maine.

Mr.. johnson, the State Superintendent of
Common Schools, in his exhibit of q partial
educational summary, drawn from the school
returns for 1870, and compared with those of
1s69-published in the Maine Journal of Edu-
cation for December-states that the returns
required by law have been received from all
except ten towns and thirty-fve plantations.
The plantations are a small element in the
total result. The following are the ten delin-
quent towns:-North Yarmouth, Prownfied,
Grafton, Alton, GIeenville, Sebec, Swanville,
Lubec, Deblois and Crawford; tie smallest
number of delinquencies that have occurred
for years. Allowing the foregoing the same
number of scholars as last returned, we have
the following totals
No. OF scholars between and 81. .22s'167 22G 143
No. registered in summer schools 12o2oa
asssered in Sn s1s So
Average attendance " ....106,402 los ,434
The total number of scholars-the raw ma
terial to be manufactured into intelligent citi-
zens-has increased; the average summer at
tendance slightly increased; the winter aver
age has diminished. The average attendance
for the year remains the same as in 1869, name
ly, 30 per cent. on the census number and 70
per cent on the registered pupils. Mr..
johnson thinks the voluntary plan has not yet
public school satisfactory proportion of the
school population. In some towns the nor
centage has been largely above the average: in
others much less. For instance, in Cape Eli
abeth the average attendance by the last re-
turn is So; Portland, adjoining, only "a per
cent. A few of the lowest and highest per
centage are as foIlows:-Argyle, 81; Bangor
40; Bath, S. Glenburn, 6: Dover, 73; East
port, q; Saco, 35; Biddeford, Al; Lewiston,
"a; Auburn, 49; Augusta, 40; Halloween, 40;
Gardiner, 46; Pittston, 49, These averages
vary remarkably, and while few come above
the expected and possible State average name
ly, rs per cent, the great majority fall below.
This partial exhibit indicates an alarming
waste in school economies. A close inspection
of the tables discloses the fact that this great
loss is confined mostly to the large towns,
where hundreds and thousands of the lowest
and poorest classes either waste their time
around the wharves, in the streets, and in cor
pened to lose their youth in cheap service in
mus and manufacturing establishments, in
popoaee TO the avaricious demands of parents
worse than taskmasters. What positive cor
receive, MT r. johnson asks have we for all this
zenship to the State? None but in comnni
sorry attendance, supported and ENCOURAGED Inv
strong enlightened public opinion. ~
The amount of schooling, or length of scboo,
in 1870, is a slight increase on that of 1869. az
shown by the following:
Summer School, 1870. .9w., Sd 1869. 9w., I'd.
Winter ......10w., Id e 9w., Sd.
This is certainly straw in the right direc-
tion, especially if the quality of teaching in
creases with the quantity. This Increase in
length of school was hardly to be expected,
considering the fact that teachers salaries
have been increased, but no more money raised
than last year. 1t must arise from a reduction
of the number of districts and schools, adding
to the length of those actually kept. This in
a oiHa is also favorable, affording good
The number Of school-houses has diminished,