The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-10

table that in the last twelve years there
is net gain of only 279 scholars; and
that since 1885 there has been falling
off of 140 scholars. We also notice that
the number of class teachers employed
has steadily increased from 81 IN 1866 TO
1853 in 1891, and that the salary bill and
the other ordinary expenses have grown
in still greater proportions. lt appears
that the excess of scholars in 1891 over
those in 1874, viz: $50, cost us 10000;
S53 each schol, and the excess of 279
scholars of 1891 over 1879 cost us S22, 900;
equal to $50 each scholar, without taking
into account the $4,000 spent in 1891 for
free text books. Notwithstanding fall
ING off of 40 scholars since 1885 the pub
lie cost of the schools were ST., 900 great
er in 1891 than in 1885, and if we include
the free text books it was S22, 900 greater
than six years ago. The decline in num-
Der of scholars attending the High School
since 1885 is over so, with IL teachers in
1885 and ID in 1891; number OF scholars
to each teacher in latter years was "A.
Perhaps the fraternity OF teachers will
look upon the foregoing statistics with
complacency if not with delight, but the
showing will not have that effect upon
the ordinary taxpayer There must be
somewhere fair standard by which to
gauge our educating expenses. For in
stance: assuming that 40 scholars to each
teacher would be a proper maximum
(Which we find in 1879, the same ratio
would give us 40 teachers less in 1891
than were employed in the latter year.
This would be pretty substantial saw
ing. Is anybody prepared to prove that
the results are better now than IN 1879?
Examine the school reports of the past
and every year you will find no lack of
commentator of the educational work
achieved and the high standard main
tanned. In one of these reports when
our schools cost us about 100000 per
year the spokesman for the committee
abiding to that expenditure, boldly
challenged thus: 'SThe public may we'll
ask, are the results obtained commensu-
rate with this yearly expenditure%' If
lie justified it then, could there be
justification of an increase of over 50per
cent in the cost of each scholar since
then? ~ V.
I'VE have made no critical examina-
ton to discover the causes of the in
creases above noted, but we have not
much doubt that they will be found
largely in two facts: first, the increase in
number of branches taught in our
schools; and second, in the spreading or''
of the city over larger territory. Every
body at all familiar with our schools
knows that the number of branches
| taught in them has increased very large
| ly in the last twenty years. This In
| crease has been the result of a popular
demand and it is the public that is
| IL C. IN ri
have successfully resisted it if they had
been disposed to. The only result would
have been that they would have been
| turned out and committee elected that
would respond to the public de-
mand. Of course this increase of studies
has necessitated more teachers. 1t is well
known also that within twenty years,
though there has not been remarkable
increase in population, the city has
spread out very much. There has been
strong tendency to move from the
| central part of the city to the westward.
| This has created a necessity for new
schools unless the pupils were to be
compelled to walk very long dis
! tances. And of course with
more schools more teachers are needed.
The closer together the population the
fewer schools will be needed; while the
more it is spread out the more will be ne
cessary These two causes are at the
| bottom, we think, of almost all the in
| crease in the number of teachers above
oh no ,11an
agement of the schools had no control
over and for which they have not been
responsible. Whether the increase in
the number of branches taught has been
wise is questionable. Some of the addi-
tions have undoubtedly been advantage
Gus, while others have not. But they
have all been made in consequence OF a
public demand well nigh irresistible.
The increase in school expenses has
been largely due, no doubt, to the in
crease in the number of school houses
and the introduction of improvements in
the way of heating and ventilation.
Years ago our school houses were
generally small and heated by
stoves, which the teachers and
scholars could and generally did attend
to. But the introduction of more elab-
crate system has rendered necessary the
employment, of many men to manage
them. While, therefore, the increase of
expenditures, as noted in the above COM
munication, may at first glance seem un-
reasonably large, it will, we think, when
it is examined, be found to be due to cir
cumstances over which the school man.
agement has had no control, and to pub
lie demands which were practically ire