The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-06-25
Far The Prssa!
AtuirAai ASArinii0a r. II &.

The proposition has been discussed in pri-
vate circles relative to q reconstruction of the
Association OF the Alumni of our Portland
High School. The history of the matter is
this The Latin School was originally estab-
lished in 1921 with Joseph Libby, Esq, who
is still living, as the master. There were but
four Grammar schools existing in Portland
previous TO that time. Master Libby served
the city very faithfully for about thirty years,
resigning in 1850. After long effort to pro-
cure equal educational privileges for girls the
committee established in the year 1850, in the
building then just completed on Chestnut
street, the "Girls' High School," for previous
to that year the female portion of our popula-
ten like the male had previously enjoyed no
school privileges higher than than the Gram
mar school. The system of an exact four years
Classical or English course was then COM
menced under the tuition of Mr. Moses Wool
son. Previous to that time the course in the
old High School was indefinite as to length lit
might have been two or even six years) boy
remaining until he was fitted for college
When the first class was graduated at the
u. II. s. the members formed themselves into
an alumni association. This system went
along until some five or six years since, when
a larger and grander scheme which the SUPER
intending school committee had long favored
was consummated. We alude to the erection
OF the present spacious and suitable building.
and the union Of the Boys and Girls High
School in one, and this is now denominated
the Portland High School"
The classes that have attended four years,
consisting of both young ladies and gentlemen,
stand on an equal footing as far as their rights
and privileges are concerned TO acquire an
equal education, and therefore are both equal
as to rights in the Alumni association. Now
as the conditions are precisely such as did ex-
list in the old Latin School, why might it not
be expedient that reconstruction OF the terms
of membership should take place. There are
many citizens still residing here and else
where who have pursued a classical English
course at the old Latin or Eaglish High
School who might feel willing and DESTROYS to
unite with the present alumni in common
and generous effort to preserve, increase and
dignity the privileges of the High School As
ISOLATION in several ways.
an addition to this association, there is also
"a wheel within wheel, " in that there is an
other association which owns and controls the
present excellent library attached to the High
School. This consists only of such members
as have voluntarily Joined it.
Why, then, we would respectfully ask, might
it not be deemed very advisable to form such
an alumni association as exists in our colleges?
Let there be general association formed of all
the alumni who have ever taken a classical
course previous to the year 1850 equally with
those who have pursued the same either at the
Girls or Boys High School-the offices and
honors to be equally distributed among those
of both sexes-and as one of the objects, let
the care Of the library be assumed, with provi-
siOns for its annual increase in works OF stand
ard character. The auxiliary help, by pecun-
larry means, aud such proper "esprit du corps
as would be secured thereby, would develop
high-toned feeling of honor and literary emu
lation in future years among the coming chill
dren of "our cherished Mother"