The Portland daily press., 1881-03-04
City Reports.

Is an aDstract OF the same, presenting in brie
the points presented. 1t will soon be pub
lished in full, with accompanying statistics
with other city reports, and, as usual, in a sep
arate form:
This fourth report of the present Superin
tepdent reviews the present organization O.
the schools, they consisting of primary schools
covering six years, receiving children of five
years and preparing them for the grammar
schools at II years; the grammar covering foul
years, from IL to 10 years, and High school OF
four years, preparing pupils for graduation
from the shoots at 10 years of age regularly.
The exceptions on entering the schools and in
promotions in the lower grades, owing to loss
of time and other circumstances, are so fire.
quent that pupils in the higher grades are
often younger or older than their classification
would indicate.
The average age of the present graduating
class in the High school will, at the end of the
year, be IL years ) months days; will be 16
years old or under; IA will be II years old; 81
will be IS years old; will be 10 years old; 3
will be 20 years old or over; the youngest
member will be 16 years months and the old.
Oldest will be 20 yeors 8 months
Teachers III all classes, especially in the low
er grades. are to watch the strength and pro-
gress of the individual pupils and recommend
for promotion whenever they can bear it, The
schools, owing to the difference in the size of
the buildings and to the unfortunate location
of many of them, some buildings having for
six classes three rooms, some four, some five
and some six, cannot be uniformly arranged.
This irregularity operates unfavorably, and
whenever buildings are modified or new ones
erected these irregularities should be avoided.
More rooms are necessary for the lower classes
than for classes later even in the same grades,
for school population diminishes as children
grow older following the law of population,
only more rapidly owing to withdrawal from
school, 1. e.. the children who this year are
five years old number many more, especially
those in school than the same class of children
will five years hence when they are ten years
old. The primary buildings especially shou Id
furnish more rooms for the lower classes than
for higher ones. The contrary has often been
the case, SO that parents have felt obliged to
withdraw the younger children from school
when their school time is worth more and
their services at home least. This is poor
economy and is being practiced less than for
merly. ls
The new school house on North street is re-
ported as likely to be one of our most valuable
school buildings. 1t is to contain eight fin
iShed rooms, and there is room in it for two adj
ditional rooms and a school hall, which are not
now to be finished. Many of the lowest class
rooms in the primary buildings in various parts
of the city are now often crowded in the warm
er months.
A brief account of the various schools is
given at some length, and they are reported as
in good condition, although some of these
schools. as Primary No. 2, Chestnut street,
and No. s, Bracket street. have suffered by
the absence of, and the change in, the teach
ing force. The large size Of some of these
classes shows its inconvenience when substi-
tutes have to be employed.
The present organization of the Cumberland
street and Butler grammar schools, as mixed
schools, is favorably noticed.
The improvements recently made in the
in vUh oh
pupils are accommodated, are said to benefit
both the schools in that building, and that this
building will not for a long time need further
modification or repairs to any extent.
The Butler school building is spoken of as
one of the best of its cost to be found in anv
city. 1t is we'll lighted, we'll heated and well
ventilated-three things not ofen found COM
bined in public building.
Conditions necessary to efficient school work
are spoken of at length. Among these are
mentioned good teachers, suitable school build
ings, proper direction or supervision in sys-
tenn OF schools, generous support in the COM
munity, including cooperation of parents and
proper home training.
GAS is the teacher so is the school" is
maxim almost trite, but the converse, as are
the schools so will be the teachers, is equally
true and quite as deserving of consideration.
Parents and citizens must not forget that they
are the employers, and as such the success of
the school depends largely upon them. They
are to determine whether rooms shall contain
40 or 60 pupils, and whether the best teaching
talent shall be retained, or whether by an un-
wiser 'scrimping" policy, the excellence for
be impaired. Our state school laws passed by
aid of our Representatives, require us to pay
largely for High Schools and other instruc-
ton in less favored parts of the state. Shall
our own children be less literally provided for?
In answer to this question our City Council
a al mn oil ohool To-
curing more close supervision of our schools;
has repaired and made unobjectionable old
buildings, improving them in various ways
has added two new buildings containing to-
gether twenty good rooms; has established and
partly maintained valuable school for the
deaf, which is becoming a state institution;
while the school board, following this lead of
the City Council, has remodeled its schools to
conform to the improved state of the build
lngs; has revised and improved it's course of
study, and made other Improvements as Cir
cumstances have seemed to warrant. That
there is a public sentiment behind this de-
handing and approving judicious expenditure
for our schools, if economically administered,
none can question.
School work is considered at some length,
the prominence given to language, and to oral
is explained and the advantages
to be gained therefrom fully illustrated. Our
children will be expected under this mode of
to be able TO do better tn an to say
II know but cannot express it," The course
of study in the Primary and Grammar schools
is shown to be formidablesin appearance only,
and hardly that, when understood; while in
every part it is most useful and practical, and
is in accordance with that of the best schools
in the country, the best that the friends of the
public schools can make it. Good reading
is especially commended and inculcated in the
school course. Other studies, as arithmetic
geography, history, &C., are treated at some
larfr in fhn anpf rnn 80,
struction in drawing and music are mentioned
as successfully given.
Teachers are spoken of as able and faithful.
Trenty-one new teachers have been APP
pointed during the year to fill the places Of
those resigning for various causes, most of
which have been from ill hoalth, or entering
into now domestic relations of which last
there have been at least ten. OF those ap-
pointed ten have been fitted in our own
practice class, six or seven have been graduates
of State Normal Schools, and the rest have
been teachers of experience.
Summary of recommendations are:
1-Preparing vacant room at West School
for the increasing number of pupils there.
2-Division of several school yards to save
time in recesses.
3-Furnishing additional primary schoo
desks. /
"A careful consideration of the wants of
the lowest grades which are now becoming
most crowded.
5--The placing both Grammar and Primary
grades in the new school house on North
street.
The report closes by fitting tribute to the
late DR.. Smaller and by voting thanks to the
City Council for what they have done for the
schools in improvement of school buildings
and in other ways; to the Truant Officer and
of school buildings for efficient
work for the schools; to the Provident Associa-
ton for preparing so many INDECENT children
for the school room, and to the School Board
for their counsel and support, and to parents
for their uniform courtesy. Further statistical
information in relation to the schools will be
given as soon as tabulated.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Superintendent Pray, in his report, refers to
the new building on North street in process of
erection, also to the extensive repairs and alter
atoms in the High school building (Which have
already been published) and those in Casco
street, Spring and Vaughan street houses,
which have given great satisfaction, and the
of Sebago into into the second
and third stories of the Clark street school.
The other buildings have had the usual ordi-
nary repairs during the year and are in very
fair condition. There are some that might be
greatly improved by changing the privies and
and he would recommend the work
be done this present year. There is but one
school house where wood is used for heat
ing; that is at Peaks Island, and it is pro-
posed to change that during the summer yaca-
lion. The amount expended to the first day Of