The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-12-05
THE SCHOOL QUESTION.
Unanimiiy of OpiniOn-Tae Question
Yet Undecided.

school committee. There was full attendance
and much interest was manifested. Several
members of the former school committee were
present and expressed their views.
The meeting was called to order by the chair
man of the committee, Alderman Smith, who
called upon Mr.. G. f. Talbot of the school
committee.
Mr.. G. F. Talbot thought it important that
so large an expenditure as the schools require
should he cared for by responsible men. In
reference to the past supervision he had no
complaints to make, though much dissatisfac.
ton hap existed. His own experience showed
that faithful work had been done by some one
The bad point in the old board was the fact
that the responsibility fell upon three or four
who were enthusiastic in their duty. In max
ing change we must guard against caprice,
against any passion or prejudice, and conse-
quently all political feeling The committee
should change once in three years. There
should not be twenty. one, elected on general
ticket. Local interests should be consulted,
and the elections should. consequently, be by
wards. There should be one from each ward,
md two at large, and three should go out each
year The committee should elect a superin.
tendent of schools who should be the secretary
of the board and perform the drudgery. The
committee should divide into subcommittee,
ON text books, SC. The active labor would de-
volve upon the superintendent, but the choice
Of teachers should not rest with him. He
might temporarily suspend a teacher or a
scholar. Many complaints are made, espec-
tally regarding arithmetic. The present COM
mittee has abated this study as much as posi-
BILE. Tt should be removed from the primary
schools. One duty of The committee is to see
that teachers do not fall into ruts. When they
do they must be dropped. Since he had served
on the committee he had come to the conclusion
that the public primaries were better than pri-
vate schools of the same grade. Had he had
his present experience years ago he should
have avoided the private primaries.
A lady made some remarks in regard to the
instruction of pupils especially in the matter
of the encouragement of dull scholars and the
learning of mere rules without any understand
ing of them.
Mr.. S. e. Spring said that Mr.. Fox made
statement at the previous meeting that he did
not like. He did not think the teachers were
afraid to tell the truth. He thought the COM
mittee should consist of seven, with salaried
superintendent and secretary. Four thousand
dollars would give good men. The secretary or
superintendent should act as agent. For his
part he wanted chance to help elect the men.
The Mayor should be en- o6tcio chairman. The
school houses should be under the charge of
the committee ON public buildings, but the orig
inal movers in such matters should be the
school committee.
Mr.. Talbot thought all vacancies existing in
the boards should be filled by the committee
until the next election.
Mr.. j. M. Palmer suggested that the COM
mittee be chosen irrespective Of the wards. 1t
should consist of eight, ten or twelve men. 1t
should elect superintendent and then divide.
One-half with the Mayor as chairman should
attend to the financial part, the other half with
the superintendent as chairman to the literary
part. The latter part should choose and exam
ile teachers and attend to the text books
Teachers should not 6e obliged to make new
applications each year for the same position.
Mr.. Charles F. Libby would have city SUI
perintendent; thought the method of the selec-
ton of the committee is of minor Importance,
inasmuch as the committee would be simply
advisory, still their duties would be such that
they should be men of integrity. A liberal sal
airy should be paid the Superintendent, especial
ly to man such as ought to be Superintendent
of the schools of Portland. The duties of the
committee should embrace the determination of
the kind of school buildings the changes in the
text books and such matters. No good results
were ever obtained from the old board in the
matter of supervision, because there were SO
many different minds. One of the most i'm
portant features of the bill must be the control
of the finances, and perhaps the Mayor, by
being the chairman ex-o6icio, would regulate
the old difficulty.
Mr.. Talbot, in answer to a question, thought
all matters of finance should be controlled en-
tirely by the Council. When they understand
this matter they will always give such appro-
priations as may be demanded. And every
school house is now full and overlooking, and
next year new school house must be built.
After listening to Mr.. Libby's remarks he had
occasion to change his views, and a committee
of one from each ward was sufficient
Dr. Gordon stated that he had been on the
board, and if the City Government had had
confidence they might have given the money.
He has also been on the school board, and there
was lack of harmony. There ought to be a
special superintendent, and a committee of
nine, with the Mayor, and this committee ought
to be chosen from some tendency that showed
their qualifications for their office in an educa-
tional way; from those who have been active
teachers, who have done practical work. The
committee should have all the power that the
statute gives them in regard to the building and
control of the buildings. In the arrangement
of buildings all such diseases as consumption,
typhoid fever, diphtheria were certain to be en-
gendered in the buildings as they existed when
1 knew them.
Mr.. Spring said that the city government
the call of man in whose ability, honesty and
experience they had confidence. They did not
hesitate to respond to Mr.. Fox's requests.
The chairman stated that the appropriations
asked for by Mr.. Fox would have been granted
had not the cry of economy been raised by out
siders. Then Mr.. Fox was called in and the
appropriations were reduced where they could
be.
Mr.. Spring said that under these circum-
stances the agent would be justified in resign
ing.
Mr.. Fox-"He did,"
Mr.. w. s. Dana thought There was much to
critcise in the past, and also plenty at the
present. l ana jealous that in any movement
the election Of committee will not be free
from political influence. I think that we need
superintendent and the committee in some
way elected. 1 remember in olden times that
card was placed upon wall and that each
citizen had a right to present candidate as
suited him.
After general discussion Of the matter of
school houses, the meeting was adjourned to
Friday evening, Dec. II, 1874.
ABOUT Christmas time all eyes are eagerly
turned to the whirigig in Lobenstein's window,
for there they are sure to see all the latest
novelties of the season. This year the display
is remarkably good. The Russian bear, the
Swiss cottages with their music boxes and
toilette sets, the gift boxes in papier naache and
rare woods, the smoking sets, &C., are but