The Portland daily press., 1882-05-01

amount OF work they have to DO
Mr. Thaxter asked the doctor II he was "a
| miliar with the methods OF heating anu Non'i'
| lating the school rooms.
He replied that he had visited them ana was
somewhat familiar with them "a,
Mr.. Thaxter asked how they compared Win
| our houses
| DIR. Foster-They are fairly ventilated and
| would do but for the number in them. IL is
| the fact that SO many are confined In one roon'
| for SO long time.
| Mr. Thaxter-Are you aware of the efforts
that have been made to have the rooms prop
| erly ventilated?
| DR.. Foster-I am sadly aware of it. In their
efforts to ventilate the rooms the teacher oiten
allows drafts through over the chlldren
| heads that give them bad colds and do tnem
! much injury.
| agreed with Mr.. Drummond and DR.. Foster.
| She thought the last week was too haro, po.n
| for the teacher and scholars. Years ago sne
| had heard teachers say they were mucn
| dragged out in holding the children TO tnelr
work. The system are very hard. Two years
ago she went through the SCHOOLS
| and it seemed as though the grammar
| school was hardest on the, gi iII
| There was more confinement than In the nign
| school, The work might not be too hard % Out
| they were not given time enough TO 40 II. no !!
system is at fault in some way ana iargei s,t ~
| the time they are kept at school. The hesitn J
| is of the most importance and educanon shouiu
be a secondary matter.
r. III. Hinkley did not sign the petition as ne
did not think it best to add four weeks to the
vacation. But still he thought they shouia q, Do
given more time than they now have. Inc
children are over-burdened and worried quite
too much Too much is given them to 40.
The teachers say, "We have SO much Work 10
do in the year, He would liketo have year
added to every grade.
NJ n Rich said his preference would De 10
have n His ayn0rl6uC0 WltH
children was that they were rather crowded.
They felt that they must study out OF school 70
keep up, being required to do so much IL was
the general opinion thattshe scholars were doing
to rccite. In Decring the schools did not do SO
much, but the scholars advanced as last as
they do here. He thought the committee were
trying to crowd them ahead too fast. Many
children are injured by the care and anxiety
in preparing for examination. 1t is certainly
not beneficial to stheir health, and he hoped
that the two weeks would be taken on.
DIR. G, L. Holt concurred with the physicians
that had spoken; that the children were over
worked. In regard to ventilation he was oblig-
ed to keep his children from school to keep
them from getting cold in drafts. 1t is one
great fault Of the schools. Ihe system is also
at fault When you make rule to tit all
classes the nervous and all--you make mis-
take. In his observation large percentage OF
the girls break down by overwork and are
q system that renders them unit simply that
we may crowd a certain amount OF education
into the m?
Mr. Verrill then called for Mr.. S. H. Meal
pine to make statement in regard to parties
being urged to sign the petition.
Mr.. McAlpine said that of the number that
had signed he had seen 700 or 500. Noone had
been urged, but where objections had been Of
fered he had left them. Many had said that
they wish they could sign it three or four
times. The proportion of those who signed
who were asked was about 20 out of 80. In re-
gard to unmarried men, dozens OF them were
not allowed to sign it. There were many OF
the signers who had no children, but were
more or less interested, having nepheWs,
nieces or wards under their charge. No one
who had no interest were expected to sign. 1t
was general thing for them to say that the
children we're doing unnecessary work.
Mr.. Thaxter asked if it was not in the
amount of work and not in the length OF terms.
Mr.. McAlpine replied that there was need Oh
reform in both cases.
Mr. Thaxter asked DR.. Holt If the breaking
down of children was not due to work per-
formed outside of school as well as in.
DR.. Holt thought it was due largely to the
overwork of the school and the constant strain.
II wears them out.
Mr.. Thaxter-Do not the teachers neglect
their work and try to cram the scholars at the
end of the term?
DR.. Holt do not think this is the case.
The teachers do their Work well.
Mr. Thaxter said he did not wish to criticise
the teachers but wanted to draw out all the
facts of the case.
Mr.. Fl. w. Shaylor thought the teachers
should have word to say. He thought there
was enough vacation in the summer but there
should be more in the winter. He also
thought the marking system was doing much
injury. The teacher should be able to de-
terr1ine at the end of the term what percent
age of the scholars should advance to higher
grades without keeping the scholars ali the
time working to obtain high marks. 1t this
was done away with . great deal OF the strain
would be removed.
Mr.. ,Burrage thought it was due to the COM
mittee to say that some attention had been
paid to the marking system. Monthly tests
had been abolished and now tests were given
only once in two months. This is where the
strain comes on the children. The tests come
argely through the teachers and should be
done away with. 1t was not matter OF ysca-
ton.
Mr.. Thaxter thought it would be much bet
ter to refer the matter to the school committee
than to the city government. They were bet
ter acquainted with the matter. He thought
it was wrong course to bring itup in this way.
1t takes very important matter from them.
We should make the schools matter OF pride.
The remarks seem directed to the higher
grades. Our primary school system is intended
to give an elementary education to as many as
possible and it is the poorer class that leave
with the primary school that should be looked
after. If the petitioners knew how the matter
stood they would not have presented it in this
manner.
Mr.. G. s. Fobes thought the petitioners
knew what they asked for and that the most
of the parents knew of the details of the school
There was feeling that the petitions. were
not presented TAT the proper place.. what We
want is an extra vacation. We shall not all be
agreed as to the time but we want it. He be-
lieved the schools were made for the children
and not the children for the schools, He sign
ed the petition believing that there was more
time needed out of school and he thought the
petition voiced the feeling of the greater part
of the people.
Mr.. X. Mcdonald asked what proportion of
the children finished their education in the pri-
mary school.
Mayor Libby replied that there were now
1886 in the primary school, 1885 in the grammar
and 301 in the High.
Mr.. G. W. Verrill said he had presented the
petition to 800 ior 600 of those who had signed
and had talked with every one of the physicians
but one. In regard to understanding the Duni-
Der of weeks, it was discussed and talked over.
In drawing up the petition it was not deemed
advisable to ask as much as the physicians rec
commended, but they struck an average. Not
q person signed it without understanding it fall
~, as pains were taken to make them UNDER
stand. The petition does not represent the
whole population as it was only presented
age is what swe must 60 by. At least So per
cent of the intelligent people have signed the
petition. Out of the number he had inter-
viewed there were perhaps 70 who would not
sign it.
Mr. Byron D. Verril made the closing re-
marks He wished to point out Hthe fact that
the petition simply raised the question OF
school vacations nothing more, nothing less.
If the law gives the committee the power to do
this thing, let them do it. But here and now
it is the duty of the City Council Opinions
differ in regard to the time the vacation should
| be had but that ssn't of SO much Importance.
| You must fix it at some time. One reason for
| fixing the time mentioned is that vacation in
| the summer season is the greatest benefit to the
| greatest number Of children. But if the COM
| mittee deem it proper to put in some other part
| OF the year they have the power and right to dc
| So He believed the greatest strain on the
| children came from the tests mentioned. In
regard to keeping the children confined, 1t
told on their systems and was most important
| question.
Chairman Thurston here announced the hear
| ing closed.
A meeting of both committees was held II
| the Aldermen's room at the close and IL wa'
| voted by the committee on Public Instructor
| to recommend to the City Council tonight te
| have the schools close June Both, and com
mence September 18th, thus adding two weeks
| to the summer vacation. The school com
mittee voted to concur in this report with tne