The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-06
superintendent Of schools, Report.


ed to the City Council last evening and order
ed on file.
The committees report has already been
given to the public. The following is a brief
synopsis of the superintendent report, the
report itself being very full presentation Of
the work of the schools for the past year, such
as we hope will be read by our citizens when
published in full:
STATISTICS.
Number of persons between and 5 mot adj
Number r Of persons between and ga S33
| 6 and 16...... 6,O54
16 and 21...... 2, 47O
" of school age in the
city this year. ....:..........o 73a
Number Of persons of school age in the city
last year, .......... ................... 1854
Increase. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ............ 155
The school accommodations are represented
as greatly improved in repairs on old buildings
at very moderate expense for the purpose, LIST,
OF making these buildings more healthful, and
I'd, to make them more convenient for school
work The cellars in all the school houses
have been cleansed and several of them
drained SO that they are sanitarily unobiec-
tionabe, and it is proposed to keep them so.
Steam heating has been applied to the Monu-
ment street building at an expense of 1852 rs
in all, and there has been saving this winter
in fuel in that building of over $16O, besides
other convenences in addition.
Steam from the high school boilers has bee n
| carried into the Chestnut street building, a
| distance of 60 feet, at an expense of about
| $1,000, and there has been saving in fuel of
| $500 this winter, besides other savings from
| the same source. Considerable changes and
repairs have been made in the third story of
the High School building to accommodate it
| to the consolidation of the two Grammar
| schools occupying those rooms. The result of
| this consolidation is said to be satisfactory
| Some changes in the lower story Of the High
| School building are recommended.
The erection of the Butler School buldin g
is also referred to and some of its excellences
pointed out. The consolidation of the Park
street Grammar School (boys) and Bracket
street Grammer School girls is well spoken
OF by the superintendent as improving the
Grammar School system, and as leaving more
room in the Park street and Bracket street
buildings for Primary Schools. Thus the
scholars in the western side of the city seem
w w we'll pAOfiuOu Uut Ou Uue EASTERN size
more school room seems imperatively demand
ed both to accommodate children now in
crowded rooms and hundreds now kept out of
school for want of school room. The erection
of new building capable of seating 400 pu-
pills is strongly urged on the City Council, to
be ready in September next. The present
City Council is said also to be moving in this
matter with entire unanimity by referring
plans, estimates and lot to the next City
Council. Other improvements already made
or recommended are referred to under the diff
ferent schools, and the schools are referred to
as satisfactory-the more satisfactory bee ause
improving
The desirableness of making some arrange
ment with the town of Cumberland so that all
the children on Crotch Island may be educa-
ted by one or the other municipality is repre-
sented on tae score of economy and better
schooling for the children, there being only
children enough on that island for one moder-
ate school.
While progress in the schools and school
system is pointed out, the committee are earn
estly requested not to allow the old and we'll
tried plans and usages, when satisfactory to
be rudely pushed aside by the new and I'M
l.
the good is an equally binding command.
Order and discipline are represented as good;
less corporal punishment is resorted to, and
still the order does not suffer-
The methods of teaching the various branch.
es is referred to as follows:
More reading is recommended, and less oral
spelling from the reading lessons. Considera-
Bile outside reading is now in use with excel
lent results, and even more is desired
More Arithmetic and fewer arithmetical
fnlo ar1dr lac i'll
idea is elaborated at some length in the report,
and it will deserve reading and consideration
1t is suggested that Geography and History as
now studied take too much time and too much
effort OF mere memory. Something should be
lett to the Ingenuity OF teachers, and to the
pupils themselves to look up research being al
ways interesting to the young.
English Grammar is to be taught more by
the real writing and speaking of the language
in the lower grades, even through the Gram
mar schools, with less of analysis and parsing.
the correct use of language being the great
aim.
The inferiority Of some of the textbooks in
use is pointed out, they having long been IN
use. No change of textbooks in the Primary
and Grammar grades of the schools of Port
land, of consequence, has taken place for eight
or ten years. AS children are promoted from
grade to grade annually, new and higher books
have to be procured. This seems to parents
purchasing the books like change of books, but
it is only the change of children from class to
class. They have outgrown their books, and
books, half worn, have to be thrown aside
as worthless, because unSuited longer to
the children: To remedy this loss
for her schools as recommended in the report
Of the Committee is alluded to by the Superin.
tendent of Schools and spoken of approvingly
LII this plan is adopted, as it may be under a
present State law, and as now done very ad-
vantageousy in many towns and cities in our
State, and largely in other States, it is re-
commended by the Superintendent of Schools
that the purchase of text books, stationery and
other school supplies shall not be confined by
contract to one party, but that the one whose
duty it is to procure these shall not only be at
liberty, but be required to divide this patron
age among all our merchants who will accord
satisfactory terms. Our merchants, MANY of
them, deal heavily as jobbers and run into
special lines in books and stationery, and are
in position to give the city the best of terms;
and, as the city's patronage would bring ready
pay and no loss, they would be quite willing to
do SO. This trade fairly divided, requiring no
heavy stocks kept on hand, would be more
convenient and profitable to the merchants
themselves than their present school book
trade.
The "free text book PLAN would better sup
ply. the schools, allow more variety in books,
and save both money and time.
TEACHERS
Many changes among the teachers during
tne year are HoJlced, some 10 or ID having re-
linquished their places, and as many more
have been appointed to their places The
present corps Of teachers is represented as able,
faithful and efficient Teachers hold, in con-
nection with the Superintendent of Schools,
regular monthly meeting, and members of the
School Board are often present giving advice
and instruction on the topics under discussion.
Monthly grade meetings are also held, at
which all the teachers of the grade are expect
ed to give their experience and advice for the
benefit of all. The Superintendent presides
at these meetings. and the Committee are often
present.
THE NORMAL TRAINING SCHOOL
on Spring street, under the charge of Miss S.
M. Taylor, is spoken of in the highest terms,
and its plan described at length. Eight young
ladies are here under constant training for
their chosen profession, at no expense but with
an actual saving to the city. How much saw
| ing this will be to the city in after years. as
| these young ladies are employed in schools of
| their own, is beyond estimate. The children
| in these rooms under instruction of the Practi-
| cal Glass, there being two teachers constantly
| in room, and the Principal there many times
day, are better attended to than can be posi-
BILE in the ordinary school, and their tests show
them well up with their grades.
| EXAMINATIONS AND PROMOTIONS.
Two written examinations have been held by
| the school cOmmittaa in all tho nrodao ohouo