Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-13
average salary of s45. so per month. and 50
female teachers at an average of $50 per
week exclusive of board in most cases.
CONDITION OF THE SCHOOLS.


We take pleasure In saying that the
schools, IS q whole, have been attended
with more than ordinary success during the
past year. In the City proper, by virtue
of the efficiency and fidelity OF the teachers,
the schools, we think have been unusually
satisfactory. Outside of the districts 3, l5
and Is, many of the schools have enjoyed
a good degree of prosperity; and probably
all have been as successful. taking every
thing into consideration as could be ex-
pected.
Too many of our teachers are young and
inexperienced; too many have formed an
exceedingly low estimate of the abilities
required TO teach school with success
Whatever else we may have, we may be
certain that we cannot have good schools
without good teachers; and the fact that
the supply Of good teachers il BY no means
equal to the demand. is a serious obstacle.
| yet to be surmounted, in the way of the
prosperity of our schools. In very many
cases the only choice Is between poor iu-
/ structors aud none at all. How this evil
may be remedied. is a question Of memen
! tou, interest to every intelligent citizen.
! Our outside schools demand more vigi-
| liant supervision on the part OF the Commit
tee than they have hitherto received. Time
/ Is visits by some member of the Committee
/ TO these schools exert very important in
/ terest on scholars. teachers and parents.
/ The outside schools have generally been
/ under the supervision OF Mr.. Burnham who
/ has made II his business to see If every
thing was going on right, and that proper
and judicious expenditure Of the money
Appropriated for those schools Was duly
carried out TO the letter OF the law. Nr.
\ Burnham has visited all the schools of the
I City in every district from four to xix time,
with a very few exceptions. when he was
either away or was not notified by the agent
when the schools commenced or closed
TnE HIGH SCHOOL
More than once the Committee have no.
iiccd that some of our intelligent citizens
have exhibited toward the High school, 4
feeling of hostility. which seemed TO eman-
7
doubtful utility. that Is early discontinue
ance would be justihahle. such hostility
is an act OF gross Injustice to a school
which. unQuestionably, j. one OF the best
in the City, and which is doing its work
Z thorou.hiy-a work no other school can
do.
Under the direction OF its present faith
4 tul Principal. Il ha. reached degree Of
4 efficiency hitherto unk nown. In conformi-
/ " with some important changes made in
| the school during the past year,two courses
OF study-an English and classical course
are now open 10 the choice OF all who enter.
+ In the English course. Arithmetic. Geogra-
phy, History. English Grammar, Compost
I ton, and Book Keeping nave prominent
places. This fact alone ought To be SUM-
cient 10 refute the charge that the course
OF study doe, no, meet the wants ofthe
community.
We have no hesitation in saying that the
school has been placed on 4 basi. unususlly
practical, and that al its pupils have ample
opportunity 10 learn there, just what they
viii need 10 carry cut with them into the
business OF life.
In short. the school has become a neces-
sity, and its abolition would be lasting
disgrace to the City.
IIfE APPRESTICE SCHOOL,
now in session under ths instruction OF
Mr.. John F. Royal, has been of great ad.
vantage to those attending it. This school,
meeting as IL does the wants Of a class of
pupils which no other school can reach,
should have the future appreciation and sup
port of the City. The experiment has been
tried OF admitting young ladies, with great
success. especially as the school being sup
ported only by District No. 3, the number
OF male pupils WAS smaller than usual.
DISTRICTS nos. AND 10.
These are contiguous districts situated
within the limits of the City proper. Any
of the schoo-houses within either district
may easily be reached by pupils from eth
er Of said districts. without travelling any
unreasonable distance. In the opinion of
the Committee the best welfare of the
schools demands that these two districts
shall be united. II this We're done, the in
habtants might not only have a better
grade OF schools. but the expense Of one
school agent, at least one teacher, as also
the expense of fuel and apparatus for one
school-room might be dispensed with.
More than this such consolidation would
] ahv nf
children into an i'll ventilated and poorly
constructed room in the attic Of the school
house in No. To- The writer OF this visited
that school-room on a moderately warm
DAY of last summer. The hot rays of the
sun. pouring down on the roof in close
proximity to the heads of the inmates, rem
dered the heat almost intOerable to teach
er and pupils. and so fully SO to the writer
that he felt compelled to make very short
visit; and as he made good his retreat,
most deeply did he lament the necessity(?)
which doomed fifty sentient human beings
to suffer in place like that.
UNION OF OTHER DISTRICTS.
Relative to this subject, Mr.. Burnham
contributes the following: Ii it can be
brought about. would very gladly see the
two schools now united with Orland, de-
tached, and united with district No. 20.
think it might be done to the general ad-
vantage Of all our scholars in that part of
the City, as each one of those schools by
itself is too small to be prosperous, but a
union of the three would constitute one
school of importance.
| would also suggest the propriety Of
uniting the two districts, one on the East
side of Union River and the other on the
West side, Nos. G and 10, above Halls
mills. These schools could be united and
graded. and the advantage accruing to
both schools by union, would give long
| er and better schools