The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-25
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
REPORTS Of the Chairman and the
superintendent.

~tsc SssS 49,
Superintendent.
AT the meeting of the School Board last
evening, all the members were present ex-
cept Mr.. Dunn. Mayor Melcher presided
The supervisors reported their schools IA
vorably.
The resignation of Miss Mabel z. Jordan
Of the Smaller grammar school was read and
accepted. Miss Emma J. Cortland was
elected temporary teacher to ill the place
thus made vacant.
The leave Of absence of Misses Hyde and
Robinson of the North school was extended
for six months, and that Of Miss Rich OF the
Practice school for one month.
Teachers certificates were given to Miss
Alice E. Jones and Miss Ella w. Page.
Miss Alice E. Jones was elected perma-
nent teacher for the Peaks Island school.
and Miss Evelyn Page for the West school.
The resignation Of Miss Anita S. Fox, of
the Park street school, was read and accept
ed.
Mr.. Webb read his report of the commit
tee for the year, which was accepted.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT.
The report of the School Committee, made
by Mr.. Richard Webb, chairman, begins
with reverence tn the death Of Mr.. Thomas
fash and to his services to our schools and
his influence upon them. On May IL, 1889,
MI D. NJ Lord was elected to fill the vacan-
cy In the office of superintendent, and his
work as such has been entirely satisfactory,
by the committee but, it is believed. by the
citizens generally. The course in the prima-
ry schools has been changed from six years
to five, and the Saturday sessions Of the
High School have been abolished. These
more nearly In line with those of other larg-
er cities of New England, in nearly every
one of which the combined primary and
grammar school course takes nine years, and
the High School has but five sessions
week. The full effect Of these changes up
on the condition Of the schools cannot now
be definitely measured, but it Is believed
that the present condition compares favora-
bly, with the condition of a year ago, and
shows many. signs Of Improvement In the
vacancies in the. various corps of teachers
with those who have had special pyepara-
ton either at our own Practice school, or at
some good Normal school, has brought about
excellent results, and the methods Of in
struction throughout the city are thus more
nearly uniform and more in accordance with
the true rules of the art of education.
Flags have been provided for all school
buildings, but IL this feature is to be contin-
ued the City Council should make an annual
and repair. Attention is again called to the
necessity of new building for the Cumber-
land street grammar school. and 1t Is hoped
That an appropriation necessary for begin
ming may be made this year. The building
now in use for the Lone Island school is un-
condition, and 1t Is recommended that two
new buildings be erected, one at each end of
the island, each building. to accommodate
about 40 pupils, and each to cost not more
buildings of the North school are anti
quated and unhealthful, and change is i'm
peratively needed. The free text book law
which goes into effect next fall, suggests the
ACCESSIBILITY of an amendment to the city or
dinances. SO that the superintendent of
furnish the schools with Stationery and
school apparatus and ordinary school sup
plies" under the direction of the committee,
may be also required to perform a similar
duty as to books. The matter of evening
schools is referred to, and the. act of the last
session of the legislature, giving towns and
cities authority to support such schools.
While no distinct recommendation is made,
1t Is suggested whether among those of our
population who are likely to attend evening
education at public expense is owed.
The Superintendent read his report, and it
was accepted.
sUPERINTENDENT's REPORT.
Mr.. o. M. Lords report gives these sta
tistics:
During the summer vacation a new room
was fitted up In the Cumberland Street
Grammar School. This is the last available
room in this building. The school is steadily
there is hardly doubt but that more pupils
will be present than the school house can ac-
commodate. The need sf-afiew building for
this school is imperative.
Permit me to quote from my predecessors
last report: "i'he Cumberland Street Gram
mar school imperatively demands at least
two rooms more; 1t also needs better loca-
ton for all its rooms. Other considerations
than danger ought long since to have con-
demned the third story of the High school
grammar school. The height of the rooms
above the ground, the insufficient light of
several Of them, the necessity of passing
through half the rooms to reach the other
half, the lack of sufficient ventilation, are
Add to these considerations the fact that
the school house has not seating capacity for
the pupils Of the district, and 1t seems to me
not unreasonable to ask that suitable build
ing be provided for this school without de-
When the Butler school began in Septem-
Der 1t was necessary to fit up for school use
the only unoccupied room In this building
The twelve rooms are now fairly we'll filed
and indications are that next September we
shall be obliged to fit up room In the Nc.
Lellan school house to accommodate some of
the Butler grammar school pupils.
The West school Is growing every year, and
one new room must be provided during the
next summer vacation. This can be done by
dividing one of the rooms which Is some
what larger than 1t need be. Either a new
school house or an enlargement of the pres
ent one will soon be demanded In this dis
trict.
During the summer new heating and ven-
tilating apparatus was put into the North
building at an expense Of about $4,000. This
system of heating and ventilation has so far
proved to be great improvement over the
former system. For the accommodation Of
1000 pupils the only sanitsry arrangements
Of this building are old fashioned vaults.
This fact needs no comment.
From the third floor of the Centre street
school house, where there are daily assem-
bled % pupils. there Is but one exit. The
building Is heated throughout with
the building escape from this floor would be
almost impossible. This should be remedied
at once.
Extensive alterations were made on Peaks
Island school house this year. The roof was
new room was fitted up in the second Story
for the principal of the school, the two as
sistants Occupying rooms In the fret story.
There is one unfinished room in the build.
ing.
Long Island school house is disgrace to
the city. 1t is old, dirty and dilapidated,
and wholly unfit for school uses. 1t is stu
ated in a part of the island remote from the
roads. so that at times in the winter it Is al
most inaccessible. In October at the regular
monthly meeting of the school board, a COM
mittea was chosen. consisting of DR. Files