Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-03-16
Miscellaneous.
Report Of County Supervisor for 1870,

Report of County Supervisor for 1870,
II \. W,ERr> Jom>>o>. >iaf >sp,r4-
tsad,af.
Dear Sir. herewith submit .ny
first annual report as Supervisor Of
schools Tor Hancock county.
/. The duties of this otlise in the
beginning were cstrus;ed ip Hon.
Clarlcs j. Abbot Of Cast;nc The we'll
known interest OF Nj. ABBOT IN thc
public schools and the marked success,
with which for many wears hc filled the
Office OF school committee in his native
town, caused those who knew his quali-
hcatIons 10 urge and secure his an
pointment. The office which sought
the man was constant interference
with other professional engagements.
Besides. the locality OF Castinc at the
extreme part of tie county instead ur
IA the center. made il very difficult IN
make school visits and hold meetings.
Nj. Abbot resigned The oiiicc IN .Jauu-
AIRY.
| first engaged in the work. unex-
peci.d.y placed in my hands, in the
latter par; Of January.
>. >Hrc,y oftie field. The closing
oi nearly al of the winter school, ia
February gave me very little oppor-
tuniiy TO make visits. lnthe month of
March | sought through the Ellsworth
-iHseric0a (the local paper) to intro
duce The subject Of school supcrvi sion
and inspection. directed attention
10 the election Of school officers about
TO take place in All the towns. urset
the necessity of more care in the selec-
ton OF school committees. Some OF
the towns give very little attention 10
the work which school officers are re-
qulred To perform and these towns are
ready 10 dispute all bills brought in by
the committee. Only the most lmptr-
feet plan of inspection IS engaged IN
where tins spun; prevails. The iow.
unproiitablc kind of instruction which
marks some parts Of the county, is due
- this neglect, or TO the scant; scrv-
ices of school agents and committees
Soon after the March town meetings,
| prepared and sent to all the newly
elected school committees circular
on the subject of supervision OF schools
and the employment of teachers
urged more attention TO the matter OF
school inspection explained the new
law in regard TO hiring teachers rec
ommended higher wages where skilled
labor Is given.
The condition of tie roads at the eni
of April allowed me To begin visiting
the towns 10 find school committees, 10
Introduce myself, and to offer all the
assistance IN my power. la those
towns which were reached 10y this in
troductory visit | found the most cor
representing Surry, Bluehill, Sedgwick,
Bronklln, Brooksville, Deer Isle, Cas-
tine and Pcnebscot, received me first
III a visit TO the southern part of the
county. Then l introduced myself 10
the eastern and southeastern parts,
comforting with the committees of Han
cock. Franklin, Sullivan and Gouids-
5oro. Tie towns of Mt. Desert, Eden
and fremont, were reached i'll May.
In all the towns l found complaints OF
bad school-houses and small school
districts. Many districts are very
wretchedly supplied with buildings and
conyeniences. But on Mt. Desert Is
land found number of new school
houses tastefIlly constructed and
finished with the improved benches and
chairs. The spirit which forced the
first district up to an advance has been
caught by the others. And it is mani
fest that in u few years at the most,
all the school sites and huts that are
allowed TO mock at New England
thrift and enterprise, will be burned or
torn down. Early in June, introduced
myself TO the committees of Bucksport,
Orland and Dedham, in a most hurried
visit. The towns in the north, Otis,
Mariaville, Waltham, Amherst and
Aurora, have not yet received attention
for the want of suitable opportunity.
School Visitation. During the spring
and summer, visited upwards Of
seventy schools in nineteen different
towns, making observations and taking
notes in the "Field Book" In many
cases, some one of the committee was
able to accompany me.
found school-houses in Franklin,
Ellsworth, Surry and Hancock, in
some instances, with hardly an ap
proach to decency. In all the towns
are some districts which supply kind
Of coop or hut for the children, rather