The Portland daily press., 1892-03-11
enc Committee's Report.

The Committees Report.
The report of the committee was writ
ten by DR.. John T. Thompson. 1t says
that the year has been a satisfactory one,
characterized by judicious conserva-
tism. The teachers have shown their
usual zeal and the attendance has been
larger than in the preceding year not
withstanding the great amount of sick
ness during the year, Of the new build
ing on Green street, the report says:
Gas a school building it compares
fayorably with the structures erected in
recent years in this city. The heating
and ventilation are in the main satisfac-
tory. 1t is believed, however, that the
cellar ventilation might be improved by
increasing the number and size of the
inlets and outlets. The building is un-
fortunately situated with reference to its
surroundings. For two reasons, its loca-
ton is unfavorable, namely, insufficiency
of light and lack of room for the pur-
poses of recreation. The question of
light is serious one, and may be more
so in the future.
''The property on the side of the build
ing towards Congress street should be
owned by the city. The private owner
ship of this land is a constant menace to
the value Of certain rooms in the build
ing. If the city owned the lot this dan
ger would be obviated and at the same
time the children of the Jackson school
be given playground of sufficient size.
The Present High School Building
is far behind what the times demand for
a school of that grade. Built at time
when ideas of heating, ventilation and
convenience were crude and unformulat-
ed, it stands at the present time without
any other reason for being than that it
exists. Just what we should have for
the school is matter which requires
careful consideration. 1t is certain that
better hygienic surroundings and better
classroom and laboratory facilities are
almost absolutely essential. The ques-
ton will naturally arise as to whether it
will be practical and economical to re-
model the present building.
sit seems that any attempt to so mod
ify the existing structure as to make 1t
conform with the modern ideas of school
construction will involve necessarily the
outlay of a large sum of money. Such
UCiuS UilG CdSC, WO 1OoGlJ dlISOu ClIS
attention of our citizens towards the
consideration of the ACCESSIBILITY Of an
entirely new building on the site of the
present structure.
1.-THE growth of the western section of
the city has been noticeably large and as
matter of course there has been an in
crease in the school population of this
district. In a comparatively short time
a condition of things will confront us at
the West End, for the settlement of which
immediate provision should be made.
Both in the grammar and primary depart
ments at the West End school there will
soon arise the
Absolute Necessity of New Rooms
to accommodate the pupils of that school.
The nearest school is the Vaughan street
primary, which is now crowded beyond
its capacity,
"The committee urges the erection of
new building in the district west of
Grove and Vaughan streets. In the event
of the adoption of this recommendation,
could be used for some other purpose
Systems of physical exercise varying
with the countries of their adoption,
have been examined by the committee.
Acting on its belief in the superiority Of
certain systems, the committee has en-
gagged the services of Dr.. Whittier of
Bowdoin College for the purpose of in
structing the teachers in the schools
The Swedish and German systems have
been introduced into the grades below
the High school.
The committee is unanimous in recon-
mending that teachers who are demon
strating superior capabilities be paid
salaries commensurate with the work
they are doing.