The Portland daily press., 1894-02-27
PORTLAND SCHOOLS.
Gratifying Progress Has Been Made
in the Past Year.

A Teacher Secured for the Dear SCHOOL
Annual Report of the Committee
Other Matters.
The last school committee meeting for
the year was held yesterday afternoon,
Mayor Baxter presiding.
Superintendent Lord mace report to
tine effect that he had visited Philadel-
phia and seen Miss Elizabeth r. Taylor,
who had been proposed as principal OF
the school for the Deaf. He reported
favorably, and the board elected hef
unanimously at salary of $3.50.
Miss Taylor is about thirty years Ola
For nine years she taught in the Gram
mar schools of Philadelphia, ana loi
several years past has been one ol ono
most valuable teachers IN the NV
Airy institution for the Deaf at Phlladel-
phia. She is editor of the Sllent "orlo'
a valuable publication which clr"uia1es
amono the deaf and teachers of the dear.
She is woman of literary ability as
we'll as an able teacher. Among those
who recommend her highly are DIR.
williams, principal Of the Hartford
school, Misses Sweet and Kellogg OF
the same school, DIR. Gallaudet of
the National Deaf Mute, college at Wash
ington, Mr.. Crouter of the Phlladel-
phia school, and others.
There is every reason to expect tnat
Miss Taylor will accept the place and
arrive in Portland within a month.
Both the oral and sign methods VIII
be used in the school, ccolding to the
requirements of the pupils.
Bills to the amount of SIS. s35.7S were
approved.
Miss Baker of the High school was
given leave ofsabsence for the rest OF the
year.
Miss Carrie E. Elder of Deering and
Miss r. Ella Davis of the Practice school,
were chosen temporary teachers in the
High school,
Miss Alice ?. Gray was chosen tempo
rary teacher in the Practice school.
The leave of absence of Miss Parks of
the North school, was extended for the
remainder of the year.
The annual reports were presented.
The most important portions of the COM
mittee's report are as follows:
To the citizens of Portland: !.
The experimenting school commltte or
the cityof Portland, complying with the
law of the state, herewith submit Jnelr
report for the municipal year OF 1854:
The total expenditure for the MAIN
year exceeds 100000, comprising salaries
of teachers, janitors and Others, school
books and repairs, but not including the
remodelling of the High school building.
In view of this liberal provision for the
education of their children, the citizens
of Portland are justified in the demand
that their schools shall show correspond
ing excellence and shall be ehclent IN
every department. To make improve
ment among existing lines where 1T has
been needed, to preserve all the char
acteristics of our system which have
long met with general approval. and to
introduce new methods whenever they
have seemed wise and within our means,
has been the constant aim of the COM
found in the schools at the beginning of
the year has been maintained. NO
backward step has been taken, but on
the contrary, there has been a general
advance in the direction indicated by
diliyent study of the experience OF the
ablest educators in other cities and
states.
The mast year has been unusually event.
full In our school history. The High
school building has been remodelled,
manual training department. has been
added to the Grammar schools, drawing
has been extended into the lower primary
classes and the system of instruction in
the School Tor the Deaf has been
broadened to meet the requirements of
IL wi ~
their education there. These are the
principal subjects which have occupied
the attention of the committee, in addi-
tlon to other minor improvements and
the ordinary work of the year.
1t is desired to lay special stress on the
needssof more persistent
instruction in English Composition
in the High school. 1t is common
complaint that the pupils when they
graduate are not able TO write good,
idiomatic English, and this fault can
be overcome only by constant drill all
through the course. 1t may become
necessary to increase the force of teachers
in order to properly provide for the
growing needs of this department.. 1t
is suoe ested, too, that in the near future
some teacher should be procured who
can give intelligent instruction in elocu-
ton. and it may be we'll to consider the
desirability of filling possible vacancy
with lady who has had trimming in this
branch, and who can also assume some
of the work of instruction in English.
Passing notice is directed to the need of
some form of
Physical Culture for the Female Pupils.
To supply this requirement for the boys
it might be we'll to make military drill
compulsory for all, though not to the ex-
tent of requiring any expenditure for
uniforms or fees for mem bership in the
Cadets The courses of study in the
High school have been made somewhat
more flexible than they formerly were.
In the English course, French is now
made elective. in place of physiology and
botany. In the English classical course
French may be beeun after one year OF
Latin. and continued two years or may
be begun after two years of Latin and
continued one year, provided that. III
each year sufficient number SO elect
to form class. Other changes may be
had in the future it the expanding re-
uuirements of the school make 1t plain