Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-03-29


of this most excellent institution will be de-
liyered by Rev. II. q. Tolcs, the Supsrinten-
dent of the Home, and fine speaker. \
choir of children from the Home will be
present. and sing some choice pieces of mu-
sic. All are invited. \ collection will be
taken. Exercises at the Baptist church 1880
\. NJ. tomorrow. at the Free Baptist at
noon, and at the congregational church at
2.30 in the afternoon. The evening meeting
will be announced on Sunday.
The students of Dirigo Business College
had on Wednesday evening, Il mock trial,
which was conducted in an interesting man
ncr. All the officers of a regular court were
in attendance. The case for assault and
battery, with intent to kill, and was well ar
ranged. The parts were taken by the stu
dents The for plaintiff and defendant
who after being out a few moments. rendered
verdict of Not Guilty" An error being
found in the Indictment, Il new trial was or
dercd for Friday afternoon, which resulted in
disagreement by the jury. The shrcwdness
manifested during the trials was worthy of
older heads. This trial was under the aus
pieces of the debating society, connected with
the College. This society was organized in
December, and has been in Il tourishng con-
dition since, and furnishes to the students ex-
ccllent advantages for Improvement in de-
bate.
Mr.. $. \. Wood has returned from New
York and Boston, with all the new styles. and
j. ready at his bonnet bleachcry to attend TO
the wants of hi, customers
Dea. T.. A. Mason and Erastus Haskell.
Esq, both decline serving on the board of
Oversecrs of the Poor.
The last Quarterly Conference, previous TO
the meeting of the General Conference at
Portland, will be held at the Methodist church
tomorrow. The business session will be held
this Saturday evening i o'clock in the v.s-
try. Love feast Tomorrow morning at .
o'clock. The sermon will be preached BY
Rev. G. c. Mason. the pres idng elder. Mr..
Mason will also deliver a lecture in the church
sabbath evening on the subject. 'Character
the measure of man Although this
mon is particularly 10 the Young men of this
city. it will be interesting TO all, and gcner-
al invitation is extended. Let all the Young
men attend.
slight mistake occurred in our fish item
yesterday. The fine trout received by Mr..
Nickcry the gift of Thomas $. Colder of
the late legislature. The gift was appreciated
Tickets for the lectures and concert at the
Free Baptist church may be found at the book
stores of Messrs. Pierce and North.
Rev. c. {. Mason will address the Reform
club Sunday afternoon at > 30 o'clock
Report Of the state ndent OF
Common schools.
We have received from the State Supcrn-
tcndcnt of Common Schools the annual re-
port on the schools of Maine for the past
year Whole number of scholars between
four and twenty-onc. PA, 191; decrease from
the previous year 2.620. Average attend
ancc in summer schools. l02 sos: increase.
l.s22. Average attendance in winter schools.
lOs.?i0: increase. .2S7. Whole number of
different scholars registered in schools dur
ing the year. ljj. $50; decrease, 37s. Num-
Der of districts in State. { .ouj decrease, "a.
Number of parts of districts. 344 decrease.
10. Number Of school houses. 42l5. de-
crease, :. Number built during the wear.
-, costing S92.146. Estimated value of all
school property. S3.063.4ls. Number of
male teachers employed in summer, pa in
winter, 22sO Number of .smale teachers
teachers employed in summer. +,j+o; in win
ter. 2.3s?. Average wages of male teachers
per month. excluding board So 90; average
wages Of female teachers. per week exclud-
ing board. s3.9s. Amount of money ex-
pended for common schools. S936.G4>: de-
crease from last year. sij,229. Balance un-
expended. 500 POS.
The figures presented above show healthy
growth; more and better work is being done
at a reduced cost. There has been an increase
in both the number of registered scholars and
the average attendance. caused by more ef-
fective supervision. better teaching. and
more intelligent public interest. The free
high schools have eXcrted an influence in
this direction. There has been "A toning up
of parental interest. Improvement in the
public schools indicates an anteCedcnt i'm
provcment in popular interest and intcli-
gcnce.
The present needs of the schools, consist
first. in reduction in the number of
schools. a. from the undue multiplication of
school districts there is wasteful expcndi-
tire of school money and educational for
ces. There are many districts hose school,
both summer and winter. will average each
less than dozen pupils in attendance. And
this serious evil is constantly growing. re-
sulting in short. poorly taught and ineffec-
tive schools Another evil is the multplica-
tinp of nOr and il fin shpI srbnnl housa.
While during the ten wears past there has
been a marked Improvement in this drcc-
ton. there is still large room for further i'm
provcment. a iudicious Encouragement of
the school districts. or their entire abolition.
is a thing much to be desired. 1t would
give Us larger and longer, more interesting
and more profitable schools Another