The Portland daily press., 1878-03-06


trust will be increased from year to year. and
do much towards awakening an interest and
enthusiasm in the classes as they pursue the
branches of Natural Science.
Valuable additions have also been made to
the library of that school, which under its pres
emit judicious regulations, affords much assist
ance to the pupils in investigating subjects per-
tani0g to their studies. And the Committee
are able to report that they consider the High
School In prosperous condition as whole, and
accomplishing q good work in educating the
youth of our city.
Among the changes of teachers which have oc-
CURED in schools of lower grades, the committee
would make mention of the retirement of two
who for more than score of years each, have
held an honorable place. One of these, Miss
Lydia A. Harris, late Principal of the Erackett
street Grammar School for girls, was released
from service at her own request at the close of
the school year in June last. She was a LADY,
whose many amiable and excellent Qualities ad-
mirabiy lifted her for the important position
she held, and whose long continued, faithful
and successful service deservedly wen for her
the respect of the many hundreds of pupils who
were under her instruction and care, and alsb
the confidence and esteem of the parents and
guardians of those pupils aud of the communi-
ty at large. The other, Miss Mary A. Owen
has been during her whole term of service as
teacher, connected with the Primary depart
ment OF our s ;hoOls. For several years past she
hell the office of Principal in Primary No. g.
on Vaughn street. She has labored with fidel-
ty and been successful in her endeayors. She
voluntarily closed her connection with the school
atthe recent close of the first term of the current
school year. Rarely does the city have teach
ers who serve 80 long and so well as those two
nave done, and such service deserves
both a grateful acknowledgements and
grateful remembrance by whomsoever it may
be rendered. For more particular account of
the schools severally, the manner in which
they have been conducted, the number of pupils
attending them, the studies pursued, the inn
provements sought, the success gained, the
difficulties to be removed, the wants to be sup
piled and in fine all that pertains to the schools
10 details, the Com refer to the reports of
the Superintendent, of the teachers of writing
and drawing, OF music, and of the sub-commit-
tee on the "School for the Deaf" when statis-
tics and various facts and suggestions will be
infinitely and discriminatory given.
SCHOOL HOUSES
The Committee would suggest that the neces.
sity of increased accommodations for our
schools is not only obvious, but imperative,
Our rooms in several instances during the year
have been crowded to Overlooking. And to
provide for such as could not possibly be ac-
commodated in the rooms or buildings devoted
to school purposes, it has been found necessary
to open three branch schools in different parts
of the city. This, which seemed to the Com.
mittee to be the most feasible thing, was at
tended with great Inconvenience and disadyan-
tage, iDasmuch as the rooms provided were not
well adapted to such purposes aud were at
some distance from the schools of which thew
were branches. The increasing population Of
the city, and the larger number of those who
desire to attend our public schools make this
call for more ample accommodations necess-
ty which judicous economy will not allow
us to ignore.
And it is also too obvious to be denied that
few OF the rooms and houses now used for
school purposes are not such as the comfort
md hair %aao
demand. Owing to poor ventilation and other
causes, the air which those children and their
teachers are compelled habitually to inhale is
strongly impregnatsd with impurities which
are positively injurious Hence it Is evident
that there should be at the earliest day practi-
cable, considerable expenditure in providing
not only more ample but more suitable accom-
mediation for our public schools. The Committee
are aware that under the existing charter this
matter OF school houses is not entrusted to their
care, yet as supervisors of the schools perceive
ing aud knowing the convenences and incon-
veniencss to which the children are subject,
they cannot but state facts and make SUCCESS
lions as the results of their own observation and
experience. In common with all our citizens
they have an interest in this subject and under
their intelligent convictions urge that meas
ures be taken as speedily as possible for in |
creased and improved school accommodations. |
CoNcLUsIoN.
Nor would the Committee close this brief re- |
port of their labors for the year without CRATE.
full acknowledgement of the interest which his |
donor, the Mayor, has manifested in the cause |
,f education in general, and the prosperity of |
Dur schools in particular and of the ability and |
courtesy with which he presided over their de- |
iberations The Committee are glad to bear |
testimony to the wisdom and fidelity with |
which he has performed his duties in this de- |
partment OF his various and manifold labors,
As the Committee thus review their work for |
the year, it affords them pleasure to say that
their meetings and deliberations have been
uniformly characterized by manifest desire
and intention to do that and only that which |
would promote the interests and secure the |
greatest efficiency and usefulness of our schools
The labors of such a Committee are arduous.
sometimes difficult, annoying and burdensome, |
Lt IS not to ba expected that the parents and |
guardians of soma six thousand children will |
all have their views met or their wishes |
sratified by any one course the Committee may |
mark out or adopt. The Committee however. |
are to have regard to the interests, adopt meas
lres which will be conducive to the highest |
good OF the whole, rather than to the gratfica- |
lion OF any individual or class. In doing this |
they are aware that often they must arrive at !
and adopt courses of action which |
will conflict with the views of some for |
whose opinions and judgments they have
[ personally very high regard 1t is uader
tee ara obliged to perform their duties, act
ing on reasons which to them in their position,
appear to be the most weighty, if not always
conclusive. They need therefore, the forbear-
ance and cooperation of those who place them
in office and commit to them interests SO vitality
connected with the welfare of our city. They
labor without compensation of any kind, ex-
cept the satisfaction derived from an honest
to bear their portion of labor in this
way, while other citizens bear their portion in
different ways; and they do this cheerfully and
to the best of their ability Therefore this
Committee, in closing their duties for the year,
bespeak for those who may succeed them in
office, the generous confidence of our citizens,
hoping that our city,so noted for the unequalled
beauty of its locality and unsurpassed advant-
ages of commerce, may be at least as noted for
whatever tends to elevate and adorn society,
by furnishing to all our children and youth
through the excellence and perfectness Of the
pnblic schools, the largest opportunities for
sound Intellectual and moral training and cul-
ture.