The Portland daily press., 1875-03-09

ton, at which those who failed could not try
second time, since the latter might be
studied for with reference to the specific
questions proposed at the first examination.
BY this course the standard of scholarship
has been raised in both grades of schools.
SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT.. HIGH SCHOOL.
The committee, the past year, established
scientific department in the High School, and
elected Mr.. c. B. Varney as its head, giving
him charge of Mathematics, Natural Philoso-
ply, Chemistry and other English studies.
While great interest has been evinced in this
Department the teachers have been en-
barrassed by sore need of suitable philoso
Phical and chemical apparatus and material,
and by using obsolete textbooks. Mr.. Var
ney's salary was obtained by dropping a
supertiuous teacher, so the school expendi-
ture was not increased. The committees efforts
to complete the department were discouraged
by the evident indisposition on the part of
the city officers, to whom recourse must be
had for appropriations, to sanction any
changes until permanent school supervisor
was established. 1t is hoped the new school
committee will give this matter early atten-
ton.
ELECTION oP TEACHERS.
The committee refer to the difficult and
delicate task of selecting teachers, and state
that where there is list of forty or fifty can
didates whose qualifications have been ex-
amined and certified and who, in person and
by their friends, are constantly urging their
wishes and necessities to obtain situations,
there seems to be no reason why the city
should be served by any but the very best
teachers, and no incompetency, defect OF
dignity, power of command, unamiable temper,
or lack of self control should be tolerated for
moment. Successful experience in teaching is
of lo.k
consideration by the employer. Incidence and
routine must be guarded against, and failure
to keep up with improvements in teaching.
That tenure of employment seems best that
makes the actual engagement temporary, and
leaves every place in school open afterwards
to the person who can do better work. The
conscientious supervision that disregards
thoughtless accusations of being influenced
by personal, political, or ecclesiastical con-
sideratons, and adheres firmly to the rule of
obtaining the best possible service the salary
will purchase, will do most to advance the
character and usefulness of the schools.
SPELLING, PENMANsHlP, DRAWING.
The prevalent ignorance of correct spelling
in our schools has, in great measure, been
done away with, by the care of the teachers
the past year, while the penmanship is excel
lent and has shown the wisdom of the choice
branch. The Importance of drawing cannot
well be overstated. 1t serves as an admirable
discipline for those too young to engage in
continuous study, trains the hand and eye,
gives an accurate knowledge of FORMS devel-
ops habits of minute observation, gives alert
ness and apprehensiveness to those faculties
the possession of which distinguish one class
of men above others as men of talent. The
observation that makes a scholar familiar
with the outlines of the object he draws, ena-
bles him to notice the juxtaposition of coun-
tries and their relations to rivers, oceans, and
lines of latitude and longitude. Natural
philosophy and mechanics cannot be COM
pretended without some correct ideas of pro-
portion and perspective, and painting,
sculpture and photography must be
prefaced by the art of drawing. The
committee recommended the adoption of the
Walter Smith text books and drawing series
as fit preparatory training to enter upon the
branches of decorative and industrial art and
mechanical and architectural drawing. They
made provisional arrangement with the pub
fishers to introduce the books into the
schools without expense to the scholars, but
the plan only met with the approval of one
branch of the City Government. 1t is hoped
the new committee will continue to encourge
drawing in the schools.
The care of the school houses and school
property, has, during the year, been commit
ted to the agent, Mr.. Frederick Fox, and the
city has been peculiarly fortunate in his wise
and vigorous administration. He found at
least two crowded schools in I'M
fit localities, where teachers and
pupils were suffering from sickness caused by
bad drainage. He suspended these schools
till accommodations could be provided them
elsewhere. With great energy. economy and
despatch, he entirely remodelled the North
School, which was falling to pieces, making it
an admirable structure, capable of indefinite
use. He added wings to the primaries on
Monument and Casco streets, making the
original rooms light, commodious and suffi-
Gent He decided the Walnut street primary
was incapable of repair. 1t is a scandal to 4
the city, looked upon by parents and scholars
as place of confinement and punishment. A
suitable substitute should be provided.
NEW GRAMMAR SCHOOL.
The committee state that owing to the in
crease of population, the Bracket street,
Park street and Fourth grammar schools are
over crowded to the great hardship of the
teachers and serious inconvenience and peril
to the scholars. The pressure is mainly in
the central districts of the city, and new
school accommodations are a necessity in that
LOCALITY. ne DIdCkelI StItCI SCuOOI lOt uaS
capabilities for new building, or by enlarg
ing the Casco street lot and adding story,
that building might accommodate a new
grammar school.
FINAL.
The report closes with touching tribute
to the memory of the late Mrs. Greer, and
the usual tables from which we CLEAN the
following.
STATISTICS.
High School.
Whole number enrolled, 4l6
Average attendance, 39S
Number admitted 10
Number graduated, 70
Number teachers, IA
Amount appropriated for teachers salaries, $12,sOO
Grammar Schools.
Whole number enrolled, 1885
Average attendance, 1,l09
Number TEACHERS 30
Number pupils prepared for high school, 14
Amount appropriated for teachers salaries, $ls2oO
Primaries and Intermediate.
Whole number enrolled, 1888
Average attendance, 2I44
Number teachers, "
Amount appropriated for teachers salaries, $4,000
Salary teacher of Penmanship, 1900
Whole number teachers in city schools, .107
Total appropriated for their salaries, $59,l50
Census Of School Children.
Whole number between the ages of4 and 81, 10,1l6
The Yo Semitic.