The Portland daily press., 1882-03-04
HARRoR MASTER,


G. Fl. Knowlton, harbor master, reports as
follows:
The usual business in the harbor during the
past year has been much the same as in former
years.
During the year have moved out of the
channel offthe harbor two hundredsand seventy
four vessels, viz: one hundred and seventy-six
coasters, eighty-three fishermen, thirteen three
masters and two barks. OF these forty-six
were in the track of ferry boat, ninety-four in
the main channel and thirty-fve ia the course
of the English steamers.
AS before stated this trouble is mostly caused
by the change of anchorage ground from the
summer to the winter season.
That the masters of vessels lying in or going
out of the harbor may be kept informed OF
their obligations I have distributed among
them tae past year four hundred copies of the
Harbor Regulations.
Let me say in conclusion, that / have en-
deavored to faithfully discharge the duties de-
volving upon me as harbor master, and have
made it my special care the first thing in the
morning and the last at night to see that the
channels were all clear.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Gray, from the school committee reports
as follows:
In compliance with the statute, the superin-
tending school committee present to the citi-
zens of Portland their annual report.
The usual routine of of business has been
properly attended to and the care and general
supervision of the schools have received as
much attention as their Importance demanded
and as time would permit.
Considering the high degree of excellence
to which our schools have attained it could
not be expected that there would be any
marked change for the better in any one year.
Still we thinkthere has been steady gain and
that the schools as a@hole are in more salts
factory condition than they were one year ago.
The present course of study prepared by a
special committee from this board, has now
been in use one year, and has been productive
of good results.
It has met with some opposition but mainly
we think from those who have not fully un-
derstood its scope and meaning, or possibly
from those disinclined to put forth the proper
effort to make the thorough preparation
necessary to meet its requirements in the
school room.
The course was intended to be so ar
ranged as to give the pupils enough of what
are generally understood to be the more i'm
portant studies, to occupy the greater portion
of their time during school hours, and some
thing of the many other studies of general
interest, to awaken in their minds if possible
desire for further knowledge of the subject
treated, or any other subject within their range,
thereby inducing them to seek for whatever
information may be obtained out of school, by
observation, conversation or general reading.
which may be of greater benefit to them in
after life, when they become the men and
women of the day.
OF those, who, it is said, require large
portion of their time out of school to prepare
their daily lessons, by careful observation it is
L e.. Ia~1
those who have too many outside matters to
take up their attention, or those, perhaps, who
find close application to study during school
hours distasteful, relying too much upon luck
or their teachers in cases of emergency.
Those who are in love with school and its
duties have no difficulty in preparing their
daily lessons and that, too, for the most part,
during the hours of school.
The course as it is now arranged, with all its
defects, if its aim and measures are fully un-
derstood by the teachers and faithfully carried
out, can not fail to produce the best of results
1t would be an exceedingly difficult task to
prepare course that would especially suit the
taste and meet the wants of every pupil
With the best course that it would be possible
for human wisdom to devise and also with the
best and most faithful teachers that could be
found to carry out its provisions, even then we
should fail to obtain the excellent results de-
sired, unless we have diligent and earnest
students and the hearty cooperation of the
parents in all matters pertaining to theil
school duties.
The plan adopted by committee some foul
years ago of dividing up the large room in oul
school buildings, used principally for the pur.
pose of study and general exercises of the
whole school into smaller ones, and enlarg-
ing the small class rooms, making them all o.
a suitable size for one class only, placed ii
charge of one teacher, who is held respon-
sible for proper instruction and discipline Of
the class, has given such entire satisfaction
that the committee have been pleased to con.
tinue the plan to some extent this year.
The rooms on the second floor of the Centre
street building have been Ientirely remodelled
making of the large room and the two small
recitation rooms adjoining four school rooms
of a seating capacity for about forty pupils
The old hall has been extended to the front O.
the building, which serves not only for pas
sage way to the rooms, but also for clothes
room for the pupils. Windows have beer
| placed in the upper part of the hall partitions
for purposes of light and ventilation. They
are furnished with single combination seat ant
desk. These are now as commodious, wei
| lighted and ventilated school rooms as can b.
found anywhere in the city.
The rooms on the third floor need to b.
similarly remodelled, and when this is done i
| will be one of the best buildings for schoo
| purposes to be found anywhere
The old vaults to this and Park stree