The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-24
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Annual Report of the Committee foF
the year 1856.

The following is the report of the Superin-
tending School Committee for the wear 1885 & {:
Very little of special note has happened in the
schools the past year. But few changes of leach
ers have been made. The schools have been
prosperous. The teachers have dome THAR work
faithfully and well, and deserve commendation.
The law "Telatlng 10 scientific temperance in
struction in public schools" approved Feb. 10th,
1885. made necessary the examination Of ali
teachers in anatomy, physiology and hygiene. An
examination was held June 18Th TO accommodate
the teachers, many Of whom wished to leave the
city at the close of the school term One hundred
and thirty six passed the examination then; the
remainder passed at the regular yearly examina-
tion. The yearly examination was held July 7th
and 8th. Twenty candidates presented them
selves. Nineteen completed the examination; I;
one withdrew; twelve received first grade certin-
Gates; four did not reach the lowest standard.
Excitement nearly approaching panic, occur
red IN the monument street school district IN De-
eember because Of several cases Of diphtheria
which developed among the children there. Many
believed that something about the school building
caused the disease. Without discussing the ori-
GIN q the disease, attention is called to the fact,
0I Which there can be no doubt, that in some ma
Hgnant cases there was gross neglect of ordinary
care 10 prevent the spread of this very contagious
dlsease i.s we closed the school and requested the
clty government, by It's committee on public
buildings, to inspect the school house and right
whatever was found wrong. We also requested
tnat the cellar be cemented, which was refused.
Except by closing schools this committee Is pow
erleSs in such cases. The public should under
stand that the city government is solely RESPONSE
neglect to rectIfy them. When repairs or changes
are made In accordance with the advice Of this
committee, it is of grace and not Of right. Were
this FULLY understood by the public, the city gov
ernment would receive a great many doubtful
compliments, which this committee now get and
yentilating and heating are all important in
school buildings. No one can do mental work eff
hclently while breathing foul air. Very little at
tention apparently has been given to these NAB
tiers. 1t seems well nigh impossible to rouse the
proper authorities TO their Importance. We have
but one well ventilated school building in the city
The Butler schoOlhouse is model school build
ing. 1t is well ventilated, well lighted, well heat
ed, well furnished and well arranged. In Yentila-
ton no other school building In the city approach
es it in excellence. We believe no one complains
that this building is too good. 1t only meets the
every school QUILTING. Since children are re-
qulred to spend most of their days schools il Is
their right TO nave pure air to breathe plenty OF
and pleasant surroundings. 1t is also their right
to have the best safeguards against the dangers
Of drainage and the unhealthfui exhalatlons from
damp cellars. The city can discharge its oblga-
tions to the school children in full by making all
its sch00lhOuseS as good as the Butler. This
building is heated by steam by indirect radiation,
thus bringing into each room during the season
when windows must be keptel0sed an ample sup
ply Cf pure air. 1t is impossible to keep the air
IN school rooms reasonably pure in any other way
than this. In small buildings the same result can
be secured by using hOt-air furnaces. Flues for
the egress OF foul air, without adequate provision
less.
Among the buildings notable for lack of ventl.
iatlon Iloi are tne High, North Centre Street and
Plans for heating and ventilatlng the High
school building have been procured. This build
ing is not ventilated. The heating apparatus Is
very poor, Ill-contrived, inefficient badly worn,
and wasteful Of fuel. The piping was arranged
carded and high pressure substituted. 1t is hoped
that this building will be put In good condition
the present season, and that the plans procured
will be followed when changes are made.
The Centre Street and West End buildings, be-
ing warmed by stoves, are not adequately heated
and cannot be said to be ventilated at all. AS
now warmed these buildings are not comfortable.
frequent colds aftltct both pupils and teachers.
Steam heating by indirect radiation should with
ing summer.
The Bracket and Vaughan Street primary
schools are crowded The erection Of a new
building SO located as to relieve the Bracket and
Vaughan Street districts has been recommended
from year to year, and the recommendation is
hereby renewed. A new building is necessity
and should be built without further delay.
The sixth grade at the Vaughan Street school
now occupies the ward room. The school rooms
Lhls is very unsatisfactory school
building as at present arranged. The closets
freeze up IN moderately cold weather The play
ground IS so wet that it can be used only few
months in the year. The cellar IS wet and uD-
finished. The heating apparatus is poor.
A radical change in the primary course has been
made by introducing mental arithmetic in the
first, second and third grades. The pupils in the
primary and grammar school were found very de-
ly not from lack of ability, but from want Of
mental exercise. The return of this study was
hailed with delight by teachers and parents II
will give great increase of mental power which
Will tell in the better mastery of all studies. 1t
is hoped that it will end the purely mechanical
work in written arithmetic which has so long OBJ
tanned This study trains the mind in the habit
OF clear and accurate thinking, and so is the most
valuable of any that can be used in primary
school,
Swiuton's Introductory Geography has been in
troduced in the third grade primary. 1t has now
been used six months with excellent results By it
one year will be gained in the study of geography
which can be well used in making the grammar
school course more complete.
The following table is Interesting as showing the
number of children in the city at various ages and
thenumber that are enrolled in the different public
and private schools. 1t shows that the school age
is from five to seventeen, and suggests that the
course OF study should be arranged with special
reference 10 that fact. II raises the query why
so large number Of children of proper school age
are not even enrolled in any schools:
School Number Enrolled in the
Between Census Public Schools.
Ages 1885.