Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-26


A. nothing concerns all our citizens more
than education few facts and figures are
vorthy Of consideration. During the last
decade Of years Augusta has increased In
wealth and population Churches, public
buildings, stores and factories are credit to
the city. Our material prosperity 10 encour-
aging, and in nothing, excepting our schools
are we behind our sister cities. While our
educational standing is . Cause Of regret and
anxiety to many, some seem ignorant OF the
fact and others are Indifferent 70 it. For
nearly forty year, Ausufta has had . double
system Of schools, and while nearly every
other city in the State has abolished the dis
trict system, we still retain it. The "Village
District" formed by the union of several OF
the old districts, has = graded system Of
schools, consisting of High, Grammar, Inter-
mediate and Primary departments managed by
. Board of Directors, whose duties are to en-
ploy teachers, inspect the schools and attend
to other necessary matters. The school year
consists of thirty-.ix weeks and all depart
ments are in session at the same time.
The teachers are employed by the year.
though when faithful and efficient they are
generally retained As long as they may de-
sire. The people residing in this district are
entitled TO the excellent school privileges
which they enjoy, as they raise large amount
of money BY local taxation and give to all
pupils equal privileges. But how stands the
case outside this village district?
There are twenty-three other districts en-
tirely independent of one another in school
matters. A supervisor examines the teachers
and inspects the schools, district agents en-
ploy the TEACHERS and furnish fuel and other
school supplies. The school year is short,
varying from fourteen weeks to thirty-two
weeks, averaging less than twenty -four weeks.
All must realize that . term of fourteen
weeks, followed by a vacation of thirty-eight
weeks can be of little value, while two terms
of twelve weeks each, followed by vacations
of fourteen " eeks cannot be Of great educa-
tional advantage.
Not only are our district schools much too
short, but they are necessarily often poor in
quality. In most cases there is q change of
teachers during the school year of less than
twenty -four weeks. If all the teachers were
good they could accomplish little. being
strangers to the work and the pupils. But
in many cases the teachers are not qualified
for their work the short period of employ
ment and small compensation will not secure
talent and experience.
Fortunately, sone good teachers are found
in our schools, from time to time. but they
cannot remain there under the present sys.
tenn. No town can afford to have less than
thirty weeks in its school year. forty weeks
are more profitable. In six cities Of Maine,
where the district system has been abolished,
the shortest school year 10 thirty weeks, the
longest forty -one weeks. and all the pupils
have equal privileges without regard to loca-
ton.
In this city, a pupil living in district No.
ID can attend school only fourteen weeks per
year. while pupil in district No. 20 may
attend school thirty-two weeks per year.
As the city, not the district, raises the money
for school purposes. how under govern
raent Of justice and equal rights, can money
be distributed as at present according to
the number of pupils in district"
According to last years school report,
more than two-fifths of all the money ap.
portioned to the twenty-three districts wxs
credited to three Of them, number 26 receiv.
ing more than twelve and q half times a.
much As number %.
The law. authorizing the distribution OF
twenty per cent of the school money raised
by the town among the smaller districts. il
designed to remedy, in q degree. this in.
equality of school privileges
The wise provision of this law should be
utilized to the full extent, but by the school
report Of 1880 it appears that the assessors
allowed but a little more than seven per cent.
of the sum raised, for such distribution.
The three largest districts, Nos. l, 20 and
shonlA vnito IN upodo tbosr
first class Grammar School and three Primary
Schools could be secured by this union. In
some localities two of the smaller districts
should unite. thus materially increasing the
length and efficiency of the schools.
The High School is soon to be free to all
the qualified pupils of the city. and our dis.
trict schools must be greatly improved tina,
pupils may be prepared to enter it. To this
end parents, school Agents and Supervisor
must work tremendously and earnestly.
G. T. FLETCHER