Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-04-09

Number of Female Teachers employed .
in Summer, 4,09A
| Number of Female Teachers EMPLOYED
| in Winter, 1927
Average wages of Male Teachers per
| month, excluding board $34 Is
Average wages OF Female Teachers per
| week, excluding board, ~
| Average cost of Teachers board per ~
| week, IL
Amount paid for tuition in private schools ,o
! academies or colleges Ia the state, o!S9
| Amount paid for the same ont of the
! Stale, 249
Aggregate amount expended for Schools, 81, l47 242
| The number of scholars reported in the
| State in 1868, was 239, o29, against 225,l79 in
1873 the return for 1873 appears to be the
smallest for the last decade. That there has
been decrease in the school population of
Maine for the past ten years is undoubtedly
true, but the above figures cannot be relied
| upon as correct, discrepancies having been
found in many Of the returns from towns.
The diminution has been chiefly in the rural
portions and the villages, while the increase
has been only in the manufacturing centres
and in Aroostcok county. tits recommended
that the law be so amended as to require an
enumeration of all persons between and lG
years, inclusive, in addition to the present
census, and that the school moneys paid from
the State treasury be apportioned to the sew
era' towns according to the actual number of
scholars enrolled, and not, as now, according
TO the census population.
The whole number of towns making re-
turns of free high schools is ITO, number of
districts "a, total returns 1874. In several
towns two or more schools have been held
making the number of different schools 100;
students in attendance, 1926; amount of
money expended, SS3,524; awarded by the
State, S29. 1856. A large majority of the towns
arpppfiny tho frpa hiub school towpa
of medium population and wealth. Nearly
three-quarters of the awards by the State to
free high schools were distributed to the
country towns. The figures give the best and
most convincing argument that the free high
school act should be continued.
A school building has been erected at Cas-
tine for the use of the Eastern State Normal
School, at an expense of S25, 600, a fine edi6ce
ard well adapted to the use of the school.
The Trustees report favorably in regard to
the quality of the instruction given at these
schools, at Castne and Pennington. Reports
are given from the normal departments at the
Maine Central Institute and Oak Grove Sem
mary.
Twenty.four teachers institutes of five days
each have been held the past year, in as many
different places. While the attendance has
been fair, the great mass of teachers in the
rural sections failed to be present-and this
is the very class that needs the special in
struction of the institutes. The institutes
were conducted by three experienced and
successful teachers-Prof. F. A. Allen Of
Pennsylvania, Prof W. j. Corthell of Calais,
and Mr.. n. A. Luce of Freedom.
There has been great lack of general in.
terest among teachers, educators and school
officers in the educational conventions and
associations. This is especially apparent
among the experimenting school committees.
The interest awakened among these commit
tees was lost with the abolition Of county su
pervsion. Better school supervision and
inspection did not seem to be demanded by
the legislature, and so the supply has ac-
corded with the demand. 1t is not at all
surprising that but little professional enthu
sasm is felt by that class of our educational
workmen (school committees and supervisors
who receive so LITTLE remuneration for their
services.
The primary, mixed and grammar schools
are rapidly being placed in the charge Of fe
male teachers. This is as it should be. Ev
cry true man will cheerfuly yield the palm
of superiority in this field of school work to
women. Several towns have very wisely
chosen ladies on the board of school commit
tees and supervisors. From personal obser-
vation and theoretically it is advised by the
Superintendent that the employment of worn
en- as School Supervisors be further extended
than at present.
The plan of towns furnishing free text books
is discussed, and a course Of study presented
for the common schools.
One Of the noticeable defects in the course
of study in our schools is the limited instruc-
ton allowed in the elements of the natural
sciences, applied mechanics and drawing,
free hand and instrumental. The chief bust
ness of the State in the future is to be manu-
featuring and we must come in competition
with other States; the schools should in a
measure fit our children for this honorable
competition. A modification in our school
work is demanded by agriculture, by manu-
features, by mechanical trades, by general
intelligence, by the mental discipline Of the
youth themselves, and by the general pur-
poses of public education.
The report has other valuable suggestions
and closes with extracts from the recommsn-
datons of the S. 5. Committees, and copious
tables and extracts from the school reports of
nearly all the towns in the State.