The Portland daily press., 1883-01-12
MAINE SCHOOLS.
Annual Report of the State superinten-
dent-Changes Recommended in the
Present School Laws.

The annual report of the Superintendent OF
Schools, soon to be issued, shows healthy
educational condition in all parts of the State
The past two years have been years of new de-
partures in some respects, and these have in
each case brought gratifying results. In April,
1881. the attempt was made by the Superinten-
dent to obtain higher grade Of teachers for
the common schools by the use of specially
prepared lists of questions at the examination
OF teachers desiring certificates to teach in the
ungraded schools during that summer. These
questions were sent out to the various town
committees, with instructions that no person
should Re certifcated who failed to answer
correctly at least six out of every ten or three
out of every alternate five, the examination to
be written in every case. This system was
continued throughout the year, and carried
the number of experienced teachers from Alb
up to 6523. The advanced classes in the three
Normal Schools were heavily drawn upon, but
the result proved advantageous in an unexpec-
ted way. The new classes entering the Nor
NAL Schools were largely incre ased, and
larger attendance of ctual teachers upon the
Free High Schools than ever before, was ac-
tually proven by statistics It was also shown
that some form Of uniform State examination
would be acceptable to the committees gene
rally, and the system has been continued
throughout the past year with ev en- more graft
flying results. 1t is now contemplated to ask
for State authority to compel the adoption of
such an impartial, uniform and sufficiently
authoritative system of examinations as may
be found conducive to the best interest Of the
schools of the State.
A change in the local supervision of the
schools will also be urged as follows: First,
the repeal of so much of the existing laws as
allows towns to choose super visors of schools,
SO compelling the election of committees in
stead; second, allow town., which may abolish
the district system, to elect committees Of
three, five or seven members, at their option,
with terms of Office SO arranged that majority
shall never, except in exceptional cases, be
new members; third, require such committees
to appoint annually one of their number in
spector, whose duty it shall be to visit and ex-
anime the schools, and to regulate their work
in accordance with law AMI the rules made by
themselves, and to make all records, reports
and returns required by law. The present su-
pervlslon OF the schools lacks efficiency, be-
cause OF division of functions, lack of per-
O0.
above change it is hoped will enable the de-
sired results tc be obtained.
Inc present method of apportloning the
school funds is found 10 give very unequal
privileges and rights to the schools, and it also
leads 10 wastsfal, improper and sometimes dis
honest expenditures. The superintendent will
therefore recommend such change as will
nrst oH0r premium on attendance OF schol-
ars and reform in school management 1t is
Desired to so amend the law in regard to the
in of AhoDl
interest OF the towns to abolish the present dis
trict system. The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES: "Give
Annually TO every town that has abolished or
VIII abolish that system an additional amount
OF scnool money equal to only ten cents for ey-
cry scholar returned-whch is very near the
amount per scholar of the income of the State
school fnAd-and the effect would be TO bring
the question OF abolition int prominence at
every town meeting, and there can be but lit
tie doubt as to the fual result"
Other changes will be recommended SO that
the Free High School year shall end June /
instead OF december !, and providing penal
ty for failure TO make financial report,
same as at present exists for failure to make
the school returRs 1t has also been found that
the system of teachers institutes now in vogue
can be conducted for much less sum of mon
ey than the law of 1881 provided should be ap-
propriated, and the superintendent will recon-
mend reduction in the next appropriation
from $500 to $40 per annum. These meetings
differ from those formerly held in this State in
three particulars, viz: LIST, They are conducted
by home educators; I'd, They continue but
two days each; and Sd, Those conducting them
and doing the work required are paid nothing
for their services The work in these meetings
10 made to centre around and upon the general
subjects of school organization and manage
ment, and as whole the work done has proved
eminently satisfactory.
The average attendance of the gross number
OF scholars registered in the summer and win
nj hos Tr,o- nCr.11 H.
number in 1881, land the amount paid for school
supervision has also increased $1199. Fifty
seven new school houses have been built dur
ing the year, eight of which are in excess of
the total number in the State during the year
1881. The cost of these 81 buildings was $780,
522,so that now the estimated amount of school
property is $3,070,326. OF the teachers en-
ployed, 53l were graduates oil Normal schools.