Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-03-25

in good condition 2,234 number built last
year 119; cost of the same $117 364. The
value of all school property is 81, 4SS, 1928.
The number of teachers who were grad
yates of normal schools was 26i Aver
age wages of. male teachers per month,
excluding board, was $50, "A; of female
teachers, per week, excluding board was
S3,43. The amount of money raised by
direct taxation for current expenses was
S743. 1926; this was an excess above the
amount required by law of 1882, 2l3; the
amount raised per scholar was 1929.
The aggregate sum expended was
81, 043,9SS. ....... ......--
There are many other important statis-
tics in the report necessary to a good
understanding of our school affairs. Some
of these are encouraging, some the oppo-
site. 1t is encouraging to learn that the
character of our schools is improving, that
more money is given to their support
than formerly, but not pleasant to know
that the number of scholars is less than
ten years ago, that truancy or absentee
ism prevails largely, and that in compari
son with other States we rank among the
lowest in aid of public instruction. We
are of the opinion, both from what we
find in this report and learn in other ways,
that our normal schools are doing excel
lent work. They have had difficulties to
al. L.. cd 1n,,r
enough to show by their fruits what they
can do. In 1869, there were 1856 gradu-
ates from these schools employed as
teachers; in 1870 the number was 1913;
and in 1871 it was 264. And these grad
yates have been successful as teachers.
The Teachers Institutes have also been
profitable. More than forty county insti-
tutes were held during the year, and
were attended by nearly 1000 teachers.
The influence of these reached into every
district in the State, introducing better
modes of teaching in all the schools and
greater harmony in the system. The Su-
perintendent mentions that while for the
first two years he was obliged to 60
abroad to find instructors for the ipsti-
tutes, the last year they were managed
and taught entirely by home talent which
had been developed since they were first
put in operation.
The reports from the county supervisors
Incorporated in the Superintendents re-
port are rather mournful reading since
the act of the legislature disseminating
county supervisors. They tell, however,
of sincerity of purpose, and many of them
of difficult tasks well performed. Some of
the advantages accruing from county SUI
pervisors are, an increase of interest
among the people in relation to their
schools better system on the part of ed
ucators and school officers; improvement
in teachers; better supervision by town
committees; and the establishment of a
board of education that was in close con-
tact with the people and practically knew
the schools and their needs.
The principal recommendations of Su-
perintendent johnson in his report were
An increase of the present school revenue
by the assessment of a mill tax on the en-
tire State valuation. An abatement OF
the per capita tax from one dollar to eighty
cents. Distribution of school moneys ac-
cording to average school attendance,
and not, as at present, according to total
number of scholars. The establishment
of system of Free High Schools. State
uniformity of~text books. Compulsory
attendance.
The first and second recommendations
were adopted by the legislature, and laws
enacted in accordance with them. The
third was not adopted; the distribution of
school money is to be made according to
the total number of scholars. The other
recommendations above noticed are not
adopted. The mill-tax operates as a tax
upon the larger and weather. towns for the
benefit of the smaller and poorer towns.
Its constitutionality has been questioned,
but the Superintendent does not discuss
that point in his report, evidently having
no doubt that the measure is clearly con-
stitutional.
There are man other matters in this
valuable report which we have not time
to notice in this article. 1t has neatly il
Illustrated plans for schoolhouses. The
appendix contains full tables Of education
al statistics by counties and towns, copi-
Gus and instructive extracts from the re-
ports of town committees, an important
article in relation to "our schoolhouses, !"
a course of study for graded schools, dis
cussion of the town system against the
district system, table showing the rate of
taxation in every town under existing leg
islation, statement of facts concerning
academies and other chartered institutions
of learning, and closing with an article
upon State uniformity of text books. We
commend the report to candid eXamin-